FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE 7 July 2025 a result of commercial motivations, this instability poses a serious threat to the continuity of animal production. As a result, the EU is shifting its rhetoric from passive support for a “level playing field” to an active pursuit of strategic autonomy. For decades, reliance on low-cost imports undercut European producers, weakening local industries and supply resilience. EMFEMA supports the emerging recognition that autonomy — the ability to source and process critical materials within Europe — is essential to long-term sustainability and food security. This doesn’t mean rejecting international trade. Some raw materials are inherently scarce in Europe and must be imported. But it does mean reassessing our capacity to develop domestic sources. Unfortunately, opening or extending mineral extraction operations in Europe has become extremely difficult due to public opposition, environmental constraints, and regulatory burdens. The reality is that ensuring domestic access to essential minerals will require political will, societal compromise, and investment — particularly in times of global uncertainty. THE REGULATORY PARADOX: SAFETY VS. AVAILABILITY Market access is the second major concern. The EU’s feed additive regulation is one of the most comprehensive and safety-focused frameworks in the world. While this provides strong consumer and animal protections, it also presents a growing set of challenges for mineral producers. Some trace elements with decades-long records of safe use — such as selenium — are facing mounting regulatory hurdles. Environmental risk assessments, for instance, are increasingly demanding. While important in principle, these assessments sometimes extend beyond what seems proportionate to actual risk, particularly when they endanger access to basic nutritional components. This dynamic creates a paradox: Regulations designed to ensure safety are, in some cases, undermining availability. For niche minerals or substances used in non-mainstream animal categories, the cost and complexity of authorization can exceed the potential market value. Even more problematic is the perception of regulatory uncertainty. When mineral producers view the EU feed market as unwelcoming or unprofitable, they redirect products to other applications or geographies — reducing supply options for European livestock producers. A CALL FOR PROPORTIONALITY AND REFORM EMFEMA strongly believes that the EU regulatory framework needs an urgent recalibration. In particular, the authorization process for feed additives should be revised to introduce more proportionality, predictability, and socioeconomic context into decision-making. For more than five years, discussions about revising the regulation have been on the European Commission’s agenda, yet progress remains slow. EMFEMA urges regulators to recognize the growing impact of overregulation and to address the unintended consequences it creates — especially when it threatens the supply of vital nutrients for animals. Revisions must not compromise safety, but they must also reflect economic realities and ensure that authorization processes are accessible and appealing to a diverse range of producers. Without such reforms, the EU risks losing not just supply diversity, but its strategic autonomy in mineral sourcing. EMFEMA’S ROLE: A SMALL PLAYER WITH A STRATEGIC VOICE Though EMFEMA may be a relatively small player within the broader feed industry, it occupies a strategic position. By bringing together specialized mineral producers and serving as their voice in Brussels and beyond, EMFEMA is helping to ensure that Europe's livestock sector can continue to rely on a steady, safe, and sustainable supply of mineral nutrients. As the EU continues to grapple with geopolitical uncertainty, supply chain fragility, and the green transition, securing access to essential feed minerals is not just an industry concern — it is a matter of food security, economic resilience, and strategic foresight. In this mission, EMFEMA stands ready to collaborate, propose, and drive forward practical solutions that balance safety with availability, and regulation with realism.
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