A detoxification process is a process through which an undesirable substance is removed from non-compliant contaminated feed. This can be achieved using one of the following methods:
- physical - removed on purpose from non-compliant contaminated feed
- chemical - broken down or destroyed by a chemical substance into harmless compounds
- biological or microbiological - metabolised or destroyed or deactivated by a biological or microbiological process into harmless compounds
Feed detoxification processes need to be authorised before they can be used in Great Britain (GB). Regulation (EU) 2015/786 defines the acceptability criteria for the physical, chemical, (micro)biological detoxification processes.
Physical methods where an undesirable substance is reduced or eliminated by cleaning, sorting or mechanical removal are generally permitted. However, authorisation is needed for chemical, biological or microbiological detoxification.