Against a backdrop of ongoing geopolitical and political uncertainty, regulatory priorities across the EU and the UK are evolving. Security concerns, shifting public funding priorities and wider economic pressures continue to influence how food and feed regulation develops in practice. Despite this challenging context, a number of positive and forward-looking regulatory changes are emerging in the feed additives sector.
In this blog, I explore what lies ahead for the feed additives regulatory landscape in the European Union and the United Kingdom. While the focus is on feed additives, the developments discussed also have broader relevance for food safety regulation and innovation across the food chain. While this article focuses on regulatory developments in the EU and the UK, significant changes are also being expected in the United States. For an overview of current and potential regulatory shifts affecting feed additives in the US, see our separate blog on the future of the GRAS pathway for food and feed.
Across the EU and the UK, regulators are (slowly) moving towards a more proportionate, streamlined and future-oriented approach to feed additive authorisation. These changes are welcome news not only for manufacturers and farmers, but also for regulatory professionals supporting market access and compliance.
United Kingdom: moving to unlimited authorisations
In 2025, UK authorities responsible for feed additive authorisation announced that feed additives in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) will be authorised for an unlimited period. This removed the previous requirement to renew authorisations every ten years, effective from 1 April 2025. Only urgent (provisional) authorisations remain limited to a maximum duration of five years.
This change significantly reduces administrative burden for both industry and authorities, while allowing regulatory resources to be redirected towards innovation and oversight where it is most needed.
European Union: the food and feed safety simplification Omnibus
The EU is now following the UK’s example. In mid-December 2025, the European Commission published the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus (COM(2025) 1030 final/2), a proposal to amend multiple pieces of EU food and feed legislation.
The Omnibus includes amendments to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 on feed additives and aims to simplify procedures while maintaining a high level of protection for human, animal and environmental health. The proposal responds to repeated requests from stakeholders and Member States for faster and clearer regulatory processes. Its legislative finalisation is expected to continue until late 2026.
Key regulatory changes for feed additives in the EU
Key proposed changes include:
Unlimited authorisation periods
Feed additives (with the exception of coccidiostats and histomonostats) would be authorised for unlimited periods, eliminating the need for 10-year renewals and aligning feed additives more closely with the regulatory approach for food additives.
Increased transparency of authorisation holders
The name of the authorisation holder will be included in the Community Register of Feed Additives rather than in individual implementing regulations.
Ongoing monitoring of authorisations
EFSA may, on its own initiative or at the request of a Member State or the European Commission, assess whether an existing authorisation continues to meet legal requirements in light of scientific or technological developments. Where necessary, the Commission may modify, suspend or revoke an authorisation.
Simplified administrative updates
Changes to the name of the authorisation holder (e.g. due to restructuring or transfer) will be handled via updates to the Community Register, without amending the original authorisation regulation.
Updates to analytical methods
The Community Reference Laboratory for Feed Additives (EURL FA) will oversee updates to analytical methods used for official control, allowing methods to evolve without triggering a full re-authorisation.
Digital labelling
Digital labelling will be permitted for non-safety-related information, while safety-critical information must remain on physical labels.
Clarification on GM production organisms
The Omnibus clarifies that food and feed produced using genetically modified microorganisms are not considered “produced from GMOs” when the production organism is not present in the final product and residues are appropriately controlled.
Botanicals and PARNUTs: long-awaited guidance
EFSA has identified the revision of its 2009 guidance on botanicals as a priority. Work on updated guidance is expected to begin in early 2026, with publication tentatively planned by the end of 2027. This will be highly relevant for feed additives, where uncertainty around data requirements has long been a challenge for applicants.
In parallel, the European Commission has recognised the need for guidance on PARNUT applications. EFSA’s feed additives experts are currently preparing this guidance, with a deadline of 31 July 2026.
Looking ahead in the EU and UK
Taken together, these developments signal a shift towards a more predictable, innovation-friendly regulatory environment for feed additives in Europe. Reduced administrative burden, clearer procedures and better alignment with scientific progress will support competitiveness while maintaining robust safety standards.
Medfiles closely follows these regulatory developments and supports clients throughout the full lifecycle of feed additive authorisations in the EU and UK – from strategy and dossier preparation to post-authorisation support.
Mari Eskola, Ph.D. | Team leader, Regulatory Science and Reports // Senior Regulatory Affairs Expert, Food and Feed
Mari Eskola joined Medfiles in 2021 and leads the Regulatory Science and Reports Team. Since starting at Medfiles, she has been involved in a wide range of projects relating to food, feed, and cosmetics safety.
Mari has nearly 30 years of broad international expertise in the chemical and regulatory safety of food and feed, acquired across the European Union, national authorities, and industry. At Medfiles, she brings over 15 years’ experience as a regulatory food and feed risk assessor. Mari developed her risk assessment expertise working for 10 years at the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), where she conducted regulatory risk assessments of contaminants in food and feed. She also served as Acting and Deputy Head of the EFSA Contaminants Unit. She is a food chemist specialising in analytical chemistry and obtained her PhD in food science in 2002.
In addition, Mari has extensive food and feed research and regulatory experience from several European institutes, including the European Commission Joint Research Centre (EC JRC), the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), Teagasc in Ireland, the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria, and the former Finnish Food Safety Authority. She has international experience in project and people management and has authored numerous scientific publications, including many EFSA scientific opinions and risk assessments.
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References:
- European Commission. Food and feed safety – simplification omnibus. https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14824-Food-and-feed-safety-simplification-omnibus_en
- Scientific Committee ongoing work-programme 2025-2027 for cross-cutting guidance development. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-10/sc-work-programme-2025-2027.pdf
- Request to develop a guidance document on the information needed to support the evaluationo of the applications for feed intended roe particular nutritiona purposes as provided for in Regulation (EC) No 767/2009.
