Feed materials are raw or processed materials intended for use as animal feed or for manufacturing compound feedingstuffs. Council Directive 96/25/EC sets out rules for the marketing and labelling of feed materials. Feed materials may only be put on the market if they are "sound, genuine and of merchantable quality". They must not represent any danger to human or animal health or to the environment.

The Annex to Directive 96/25/EC gives a non-exhaustive list of the feed materials that need to be identified on the label. This Annex has been entirely replaced and updated to technical and scientific progress by Commission Directive 98/67/EC

Report from the Commission on the feasibility of a positive list of feed materials - COM(2003) 178 final - 24 April 2003

" Feasibility study"

After roughly 5 years of preparatory work and based on intense consultation with all stakeholders and Member States, the Commission adopted on 03 March 2008 a modernisation and simplification package for the placing on the market and use of feed. It covers provisions for feed materials, compound feed and "dietetic" feed (Feedingstuffs intended for particular nutritional purposes).

 Citizen's summary: Commission proposes simpler, clearer and more modern rules for the marketing of feed and pet food

 The proposed Legal Act

The Summary Impact Assessment

 The Impact Assessment