Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Having regard to Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition^f1, and in particular the third sentence of Article 13(2) thereof,

Whereas:

Commission Regulation (EC) No 1334/2003 of 25 July 2003 amending the conditions for authorisation of a number of additives in feedingstuffs belonging to the group of trace elements^f2 establishes a maximum level for lead in zinc oxide and Commission Regulation (EC) No 2148/2004 of 16 December 2004 concerning the permanent and provisional authorisations of certain additives and the authorisation of new uses of an additive already authorised in feedingstuffs^f3 establishes a maximum level for lead in clinoptilolite of volcanic origin.

Maximum levels for lead have been established for additives belonging to the functional group of compounds of trace elements, including zinc oxide, and for additives belonging to the functional groups of binders and anti-caking agents, including clinoptilolite of volcanic origin by Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable substances in animal feed^f4, as amended by Commission Directive 2005/87/EC^f5. Since the rules governing undesirable substances should be collected in a single text for greater clarity, it is appropriate to remove the corresponding references from Regulations (EC) No 1334/2003 and (EC) No 2148/2004.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: