Experts meeting assess progress in evaluating chemical contaminants in animal feed

The International Workshop on Feed Risk Assessment – Chemical Safety took place on 10–11 March 2025 in Utrecht, the Netherlands. It was co-organized by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) supported by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature (LVVN). The event brought together experts from government agencies, academia, international organizations, and the private sector to assess progress in evaluating chemical contaminants in animal feed, address emerging challenges, and explore advancements in risk assessment methodologies.

The workshop was opened by Sandra Doevendans , Senior Policy Officer for Animal Nutrition at LVVN, Daniela Battaglia, Livestock Production Officer at FAO, and Astrid Bulder, Senior Risk Assessor at RIVM. They stressed the importance of feed safety and risk assessment for both public and animal health and the role of international collaboration in ensuring the safety of feed.

Key discussions and findings

Participants discussed advancements in feed risk assessment methodologies, including the increased availability of open-access transfer models and harmonization of risk assessment approaches at national and regional levels. These developments have contributed to greater consistency and more reliable decision-making in feed safety evaluations.

However, challenges remain, particularly regarding inadequacy of regulatory frameworks in many countries and varying availability of occurrence data and toxicity studies for all animal species involved. The workshop highlighted the need for enhanced capacity development and better international quality data-sharing mechanisms, as these inconsistencies in data collection hinder comprehensive risk assessments.

Feed sources of increasing interest, such as feed derived from circular economy, were also discussed. While these sources contribute to sustainable feed production, they introduce new risks that require updated assessment methodologies.

Participants acknowledged the potential of in vitro methods in kinetic modeling and to fill gaps in toxicity data to improve risk evaluations while reducing reliance on animal testing. The integration of environmental factors, such as contaminants in drinking water and soil, into risk assessment models was also emphasized, as these elements are often not considered.

Conclusions and recommendations

The workshop provided a valuable platform for stakeholders to exchange insights and discuss emerging issues in feed risk assessment It concluded with a strong call for greater international collaboration and communication among all stakeholders to advance feed safety and risk assessment and to establish a centralized, user-friendly platform for high-quality data sharing.  

Expanding research and capacity development efforts was identified as a priority, particularly to address gaps in animal health toxicity data. FAO and other key stakeholders will continue to support policy development, promote regulatory alignment, and enhance global risk assessment frameworks for instance through the FAO-led Feed Safety Multi-Stakeholder Partnership.

A key concern remains the gap in international animal health risk assessment related to contaminants in feed. Many countries and organizations operate under different frameworks, which creates inconsistencies in data collection and risk evaluation.

The outcomes of this workshop will feed into ongoing discussions at the Global Forum for Animal Feed and Feed Regulators at FAO Headquarters in Rome on 2-3 October 2025, where stakeholders will further address emerging challenges and strengthen global cooperation in feed safety.