Recommendations concerning standardisation of melamine

At the end of November 2008 high levels of melamine were found in batches of soy meal used as a raw material for animal feed. Furthermore, similar levels of structural analogues of melamine, such as cyanuric acid, were also found. 
We may conclude that, owing to a possible synergy between melamine and cyanuric acid, this exposure may have had an adverse effect on animal health. Given that the exposure of consumers to melamine and its structural analogues through potentially contaminated animal products was low, we may conclude that there was probably no risk to public health as a result of this animal feed incident.
In the light of our evaluation of the findings I would advise as follows:
        -    Since the risk assessment for consumers is based on an estimate of the transfer of melamine and its structural analogues (from feed to food), I advise you to commission in vivo research. This research also offers the possibility to examine the assumed synergy between melamine and cyanuric acid.
-    Under the current European legislation, enforcement can only be based on the standard for melamine. The European Commission should therefore be advised to set product standards, for both animal feeds and foodstuffs, for the sum of melamine and its structural analogues.