Feed additives play a central role in modern formulations. Nevertheless, products are repeatedly withdrawn from the market or replaced by alternatives. The reasons for this are rarely trivial – and are particularly common with plant-based additives.
Feed additives are substances or preparations that are specifically added to feed to fulfill certain technological, nutritional, sensory, or functional requirements. They serve, for example, as preservatives, to improve feed quality, to enhance nutrient utilization, or to support certain bodily functions. Feed additives are legally regulated and may only be used in accordance with their approval and intended purpose.
Not every approved substance is automatically approved for every animal. Some additives are only approved for specific animal species and/or the dosage varies from species to species.
Why Feed Additives Are Withdrawn from the Market
An additive doesn't necessarily disappear because it "doesn't work," but usually due to external factors:
Regulatory Changes
Approvals expire, are not renewed, or their conditions of use are restricted. New evaluation requirements significantly increase the effort and costs.
Safety and Reassessments
New toxicological data, residue issues, or risks to users can change the assessment of a substance—even for products used for many years.
Quality Problems
Fluctuating batches, exceedances of limit values (e.g., heavy metals, pesticides, mycotoxins), or a lack of reliable analytical data can render a raw material unsuitable for auditing or market use in the long term.
Why Plant and Fungal Extracts Are Difficult
Plant and fungal extracts are considered "natural," but they are among the most complex types of raw materials in the animal feed sector.
- Complex mixtures instead of defined individual substances: Plant extracts consist of concentrated ingredients whose composition can vary—making standardization and risk assessment difficult. Different manufacturers deliver different qualities (maltodextrin content).
- Natural variability: Variety, climate, harvest time, and processing significantly influence the ingredient profile. Botanically identical does not automatically mean functionally identical. The same applies to pure powders.
- Extraction methods alter the product: Water, ethanol, or CO₂ extracts differ significantly in composition, concentration, and the risk associated with individual ingredients. While a pure ingredient, such as Reishi powder, poses no problem for animals, Reishi extract is no longer approved as a feed additive.
- Regulatory gray areas: The distinction between additive, single feedstuff, and sensory product is often blurred, increasing the legal risk.
- Higher risk of contamination: Plant-based raw materials are more susceptible to pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, or microbiological contamination—requiring corresponding analytical effort.
The EU's role in feed additives:
The European Union establishes the legal framework for the authorization, use, and monitoring of feed additives, thereby ensuring a uniform level of safety within the internal market. The central basis is Regulation (EC) No. 1831/2003, which governs which feed additives may be used in animal feed, for which animal species, and under which conditions. A data base has been established for this purpose.
The scientific risk assessment is carried out by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), while the European Commission decides on authorization, renewal, or restriction based on this assessment. The aim of EU regulation is to guarantee animal health, consumer protection, and fair competition, while simultaneously ensuring transparency and traceability throughout the entire feed chain.
How we handle this matter
When we receive inquiries for products that we know are intended for use in animal feed, we generally first check whether they are authorized for this purpose.
In doing so, we search the EU database for Feed Additives the list of permitted feed and theim Feed materials register. If a raw material has been removed from the feed register on the grounds that it is a feed additive, but is then not found in the Feed Additives database, it is generally withdrawn from the market. The website Agrinfo often provides helpful information on this topic
Did you know?
The authorization of some feed additives is being withdrawn. Raw materials that will no longer be permitted for animals from January 8, 2028, include Artemisia annua extract (sweet wormwood), chamomile tincture and oil, devil's claw extract, ivy extract, lavender oil, lemon balm extract (Melissa officinalis), dandelion extracts (leaf and root), thyme extract, and several others.
A complete list, including newly approved and renewed feed additives, can be found here.
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Disclaimer
For legal reasons, we would like to point out that some of the above statements require further research and studies to scientifically prove them. Therefore, not all statements can currently be accepted by conventional medicine.
The information contained in this article regarding legal regulations, approvals, and possible uses of raw materials is based on careful research and our current state of knowledge (as of July 2025). However, we assume no liability for the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information.
The legal framework for food and food supplements is subject to constant change. Therefore, the manufacturer or distributor is always responsible for checking the applicable regulations, EU regulations, and approval lists for the use of raw materials and health-related claims.
In case of legal uncertainty, we recommend consulting legal experts or the relevant authorities.