Key data
| Regulation | Commission Recommendation (EU) 2026/2297, of 16 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Official reference | OJ:L_202602297 |
| Publication | 20 October 2026 |
| Entry into force | 16 October 2026 |
| Affected parties | Feed manufacturers, agricultural raw material suppliers, veterinary and food control authorities |
| Category | Agriculture and Fisheries |
| Nature | Non-binding (recommendation), but with potential to lead to mandatory regulation |
Compound feed manufacturers and agricultural raw material suppliers are facing a clear warning signal from Brussels: Recommendation (EU) 2026/2297, published on 20 October 2026, asks Member States to monitor levels of nitrates and nitrites in feed and in certain plant-based raw materials.
It is not a regulation with direct fines today. But in European regulatory language, a recommendation of this type is the step prior to mandatory regulation. If data from monitoring programmes reveal significant risks, the Commission has grounds to act with binding measures. Ignoring it now could be very costly later.
What does this regulation establish?
Recommendation (EU) 2026/2297 has two main recipients with different obligations:
| Recipient | What is being asked of them |
|---|---|
| Member States (competent authorities) | Design and execute sampling plans for nitrates and nitrites in feed and raw materials; communicate results to the European Commission |
| Sector operators (feed manufacturers and raw material suppliers) | Review and strengthen their nitrates/nitrites analysis processes and traceability systems |
The raw materials expressly identified in the recommendation are:
- Sugar beet
- Beet pulp
- Other plant-based sources used in feed manufacturing
The objective is to collect sufficient data on the actual presence of these compounds in the feed production chain. If that data reveals significant risks to animal health or food safety, the Commission has the technical and legal basis to propose mandatory maximum limits or binding control measures.
Economic and operational impact
The immediate impact is not a direct economic sanction, but an operational adaptation cost that companies must anticipate:
- Laboratory analysis: Companies will need to incorporate or expand nitrates and nitrites analysis in their quality control of raw materials and finished product. This entails additional sampling and analytical costs.
- Traceability: Traceability systems must be able to identify the origin of plant-based raw materials (especially sugar beet and beet pulp) and the analytical results associated with each batch.
- Future regulatory risk: Non-compliance with recommendations may anticipate stricter regulatory measures. Companies that do not have their own data when mandatory regulation arrives will be at a disadvantage in inspections and audits.
- Intensive livestock farming: Intensive livestock operators who manufacture or purchase compound feed must require their suppliers to provide corresponding analytical documentation.
The cost of not acting now could multiply if the Commission establishes mandatory maximum limits and companies must reformulate products or change raw material suppliers urgently.
Who does it affect?
- Compound feed manufacturers: Required to review their nitrates and nitrites analysis processes in finished product and in the raw materials they incorporate.
- Agricultural raw material suppliers: Especially those supplying sugar beet, beet pulp and other plant-based sources for the feed industry.
- Intensive livestock operators: Who manufacture their own feed or purchase it and must ensure traceability of ingredients.
- National competent authorities (in Spain, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and regional governments): Must design sampling plans and report results to the European Commission.
- Food and veterinary quality control laboratories: Will see increased demand for specific analysis of nitrates and nitrites in feed matrices.
Practical example
A compound feed manufacturer for cattle that uses beet pulp as an ingredient in several of its products must, from now on, include analysis of nitrates and nitrites in the quality control protocol for each batch of that raw material.
If until now it only analysed moisture, crude protein and mycotoxins, it will need to expand its analytical panel. Furthermore, its traceability system must record the results of those analyses linked to the batch of beet pulp received and to the batch of finished feed in which it was incorporated.
When national competent authorities carry out the official sampling provided for in the recommendation, this company will be in a position to demonstrate that it already has its own data and an active control system, which reduces its exposure to possible subsequent mandatory regulation.
What should companies do now?
- Audit the current analytical panel: Review whether quality controls of plant-based raw materials (especially sugar beet and beet pulp) already include analysis of nitrates and nitrites. If not, incorporate them immediately.
- Update the traceability system: Ensure that each batch of plant-based raw material has an associated analytical result for nitrates/nitrites and that this data is traceable to the finished product.
- Communicate requirements to suppliers: Require agricultural raw material suppliers to provide analytical certificates for nitrates and nitrites per batch supplied.
- Follow official sampling plans: Be alert to monitoring programmes established by national competent authorities (Ministry of Agriculture and regional governments) to actively collaborate and not be caught off guard by inspections.
- Document everything: In the context of a recommendation that may lead to mandatory regulation, documentation of controls performed is the best defence against future audits or penalties.
Frequently asked questions
Is it mandatory to comply with Recommendation (EU) 2026/2297 on nitrates in feed?
Not directly. A recommendation from the European Commission is not binding, so it does not generate immediate legal obligations or direct penalties for non-compliance. However, the recommendation itself warns that if the data collected reveals significant risks, mandatory regulatory measures may follow. Ignoring it is a real strategic risk.
What feed raw materials are under surveillance for nitrates and nitrites according to this regulation?
Recommendation (EU) 2026/2297 expressly identifies sugar beet, beet pulp and other plant-based sources used as raw materials in feed manufacturing. These are the ones that should be prioritised in monitoring and control programmes.
What should feed manufacturers do to comply with this recommendation?
They must review their nitrates and nitrites analysis processes in raw materials and finished product, and strengthen their traceability systems so that each batch is documented with its analytical results. They must also require their agricultural suppliers to provide corresponding analytical documentation per batch.
What role do Spanish authorities play in this recommendation?
Member States, through their competent authorities (in Spain, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and regional governments), must design sampling plans for nitrates and nitrites in feed and raw materials, and communicate the results to the European Commission. These monitoring programmes are the basis on which it will be decided whether to move towards mandatory regulation.
What happens if no action is taken on this recommendation on nitrates in feed?
Non-compliance with recommendations may anticipate stricter regulatory measures in the future, according to the regulation itself. Companies that do not have their own data or control systems when mandatory regulation arrives will face urgent and costly adaptations, and greater exposure to inspections and audits.
Official source
Consult complete regulation at official source
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202602297
