The European Commission (EC) proposed allowing the use of animal meal to feed fish, chickens and pigs.
Today, this practice is prohibited to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known "mad cow disease".
The commission approved a proposal to ease the restrictions in force because it believes that, thanks to the efforts to combat diseases of the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), there was a significant decrease in the number of animals affected.
"We're finally on the verge of eradicating the disease in the European Union (EU)," said EU Health Commissioner, John Dalli.
Any change in the measures do not affect the aim of protecting citizens," he added.
From 2011, a certain "tolerance" level of processed animal proteins will be accepted in the feed used for animals other than ruminants.
But the EU authorities want to maintain the ban on the use of animal protein for ruminating mammals.
Furthermore, the EC seeks to prevent 'cannibalism', that is, cattle that eats the remains of its kind. So far, only the use of fish protein is allowed, and only in some cases.
Moreover, the EC proposed to increase the age at which animals should be subjected to mandatory screening tests, as experts say that sick specimens are increasing.
It is expected that the Community initiative will be in force over the next five years until 2015.
By FIS