The current revision of the Evaluation Criteria for Feed Additives aims to integrate the existing evaluation criteria and the test manuals based thereon, decrease the number of laboratory animals and measures from the perspective of animal welfare, and clarify tests to be conducted for each type of feed additive. The new Evaluation Criteria for Feed Additives are established based on the scientific level at present. These Criteria provide for the basic concept and methods for the evaluation of the effects and safety of feed additives necessary for the Feed Committee of the Agricultural Materials Council to conduct deliberations for the designation of feed additives and the establishment of standards and specifications for feed additives based on the Act on Safety Assurance and Quality Improvement of Feed (Act No. 35 of 1953). As feed additives are mainly added to feed at compound feed plants and are sold as feed products to many and unspecified persons for their use, effects and safety of feed additives should be checked while taking into consideration diverse feeding conditions of various types of livestock, etc.
Designation of feed additives should continue to be limited to the minimum extent necessary among additives that are highly necessary and are clearly effective and whose safety has been confirmed. Accordingly, any person who intends to produce, import or otherwise handle undesignated substances as feed additives must have sufficient consultations with the authority in advance and receive instructions of the authority. Effects of antimicrobial agents that are approved as feed additives should not exceed the following scope: (a) prevent the deterioration of the feed quality due to mold, etc.; (b) promote growth of livestock, etc.; (c) prevent the deterioration in productivity of livestock, etc. during the juvenile period due to specific pathogenic parasites.