Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1229 of 20 February 2024 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2019/4 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing specific maximum levels of cross-contamination of antimicrobial active substances in non-target feed and methods of analysis for these substances in feed

This Regulation establishes specific maximum levels of cross-contamination in non-target feed for the antimicrobial active substances listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2019/4, and methods of analysis for those antimicrobial active substances in feed, as provided for in Article 7(3) of Regulation (EU) 2019/4.

1 The specific maximum levels of cross-contamination in non-target feed for the antimicrobial active substances listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2019/4 shall be set: (a) where the last batch manufactured, processed, stored or transported before the manufacturing, processing, storage or transport of the non-target feed is medicated feed, at 1 % of the antimicrobial active substance contained in that last batch of medicated feed, relative to a moisture content of 12 % in the non-target feed; (b) where the last batch manufactured, processed, stored or transported before the manufacturing, processing, storage or transport of the non-target feed is an intermediate product, at 1 % of the antimicrobial active substance to be contained in the medicated feed derived from that last batch of intermediate product, relative to a moisture content of 12 % in the non-target feed.

2 By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the specific maximum levels of cross-contamination in non-target feed for the antimicrobial active substances listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2019/4 shall be set at the limit of quantification (‘LOQ’) laid down in the Annex to this Regulation, where the non-target feed is intended for the following animals: (a) food-producing animals other than fish where the non-target feed is manufactured, processed, stored or transported after the manufacturing, processing, storage or transport of medicated feed or intermediate products intended for aquaculture; (b) animals during the production of eggs or milk intended for human consumption; (c) food-producing animals intended for slaughter in the period for slaughter corresponding to the longest withdrawal period for the target animal species.

The reference methods of analysis for the quantification of the level of cross-contamination in non-target feed for each antimicrobial active substance listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2019/4, as referred to in Article 2(1) and (2) of this Regulation, are laid down in the Annex to this Regulation. However, alternative methods of analysis may be used provided they are validated in accordance with internationally accepted scientific protocols, are suitable to detect the same or a lower LOQ as the LOQ for the same antimicrobial active substance laid down in the Annex to this Regulation and are considered as equivalent by the competent authorities of the Member States.

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 20 May 2025.