Published: 8 April 2026
The EU Library gathers guidance documents related to food safety and produced by EU national competent organisations and risk assessors.
The EU Library includes entries collected by members of EFSA’s Advisory Forum with the support of the national Focal Points. It will be updated at least annually to ensure the inclusion of any new guidance and updates of existing ones.
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Original title:AVIS de l'Anses relatif aux lignes directrices pour l'évaluation des allégations en alimentation animale - Evaluation des dossiers de preuve des allégations fonctionnelles
Food Domain: Animal Feed
Abstract/Summary:This ANSES Opinion presents guidance for evaluating dossiers that support functional claims about animal feed (i.e. claims that a feed has specific beneficial effects). The document outlines the principles and criteria that competent authorities or experts should apply to assess whether submitted evidence is sufficient, reliable, and biologically plausible. Key elements include: (1) defining the claimed effect precisely; (2) establishing a credible mode of action or causal mechanism; (3) demonstrating effect size, consistency, and reproducibility across studies; (4) assessing the quality, relevance, and internal validity of trials (including controls, randomization, blinding, statistical methods); (5) integrating lines of evidence (in vivo, in vitro, mechanistic) and resolving contradictions; (6) considering dose-response relationships and exposure relevance; and (7) evaluating uncertainties and potential biases. The guidance emphasizes transparency in justifying judgments and the need for dossiers to present all relevant data, including negative studies or anomalies, and to allow assessment of robustness and generalizability of the claimed effect.