Statement on technical assistance on the format for applications for new alternative methods for animal by-products
Olivier Andreoletti, Herbert Budka, Sava Buncic, John D Collins, John Griffin, Tine Hald, Arie Hendrik Havelaar, James Hope, Günter Klein, James McLauchlin, Winy Messens, Christine Müller-Graf, Christophe Nguyen-The, Birgit Noerrung, Luisa Peixe, Miguel Prieto Maradona, Antonia Ricci, John Sofos, John Threlfall, Ivar Vågsholm, Emmanuel Vanopdenbosch
Acknowledgment
Acknowledgement: the Panel wishes to thank the members of the Working Group on Request for technical assistance on the format for applications for new alternative methods for animal by-products for the preparatory work for this opinion: Reinhard Böhm, John Griffin, Christophe Nguyen-The, Zbigniew Paluszak, Robert Somerville.
Contact
biohaz@efsa.europa.eu
EFSA’s Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) was asked for technical assistance in the development of a standard format for applications for new alternative methods of use and disposal for Animal By-Products (ABPs). Taking into account current informal non-binding guidelines jointly prepared by the European Commission and EFSA the BIOHAZ Panel prepared a proposed standard format. In comparison with the above mentioned guidelines, the proposed standard format i) further clarifies the information needed when submitting an application and ii) aligns the terminology used with that presented in the Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Assessment by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. A glossary of terms used,
mainly derived from the above mentioned document, was proposed to be added as an appendix to the standard format.
© European Food Safety Authority, 2010
Following a request from the European Commission, the EFSA Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) was asked to provide scientific advice on the format for applications for new alternative methods for Animal By-Products (ABPs).
The revised ABP Regulation[1], which will enter into force in 2011, has introduced a formalised procedure for applications for new alternative methods of use and disposal for ABPs. This procedure builds upon the existing informal non-binding guidelines prepared jointly by DG-SANCO and EFSA[2]. The Regulation foresees that a standard format for such applications shall be adopted by way of legislation under the responsibility of the Commission.
The Commission services prepared a draft format reflecting the content of the current informal guidelines and asked EFSA for technical assistance with the development of a standard format.
Considering the draft provided by the European Commission the BIOHAZ Panel prepared a proposed standard format. In comparison with the current joint DG-SANCO/EFSA non-binding guidelines[2], the proposed standard format i) further clarifies the information needed when submitting an application and ii) aligns the terminology used with that presented in the Principles and Guidelines for the Conduct of Microbiological Risk Assessment by the Codex Alimentarius Commission[3]. A glossary of terms used, mainly derived from the above mentioned document, was proposed to be added as an appendix to the standard format.
Additional comments were given by the BIOHAZ Panel in the context of the implementation of the revised ABP Regulation suggesting i) to define the requirements for the reduction of the representative pathogens or indicators according to the final use of the different ABP categories to be processed, with the different ABP categories representing different risks of microbiological contamination of the input material, ii) to use the term “validation” as defined in the glossary of the proposed standard format and as elaborated on in the EFSA 2005 opinion on the safety vis-à-vis biological risks of biogas and compost treatment standards of ABPs[4] and iii) not to use “end product testing” as a synonym for the term “validation”.
Applications, Animal By-Products, alternative methods
