| Author (Person) | Davies, Eric | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Publisher | ProQuest Information and Learning | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series Title | In Focus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Series Details | 25.4.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Publication Date | 25/04/2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Content Type | News, Overview, Topic Guide | In Focus | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On 24 April 2003 the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation concerning the hygiene of animal feed. Figures from the European Compound Feed Manufacturers' Federation (FEFAC) show that the industry employs more than 85,000 people, producing some 125 million tonnes of the estimated 400 million tonnes consumed each year by farm animals in the EU. The industry is estimated to have a turnover of €31 billion. Companies already have to comply with a range of legislation concerning animal feed, but the Commission considers that improvements in the safety of feed require additional measures aimed at:
The draft Regulation will be discussed by the European Parliament and the Council. If adopted it will apply to all stages of animal feed production - including primary ('on-farm') production - and would require businesses to sell only safe feed. Manufacturers will have to comply with rules on hygiene and staff will have to be appropriately trained. A Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system (HACCP) intended to identify where control is critical to ensure feed safety will have to be implemented by animal feed producers other than those involved in primary production. The Regulation will require compulsory registration of all feed businesses and the development of good practice guidelines. Of concern to FEFAC is that those involved in production will be required to provide appropriate insurance (financial guarantees) to cover the potential risks, 'such as the costs arising from withdrawing products from the market, and the treatment or destruction of feed or affected food.' Animal feed imported into the EU will have to meet equivalent hygiene standards. There will be a number of exceptions to the new legislation, including: the private production of feed and the feeding of animals for home consumption; the feeding of non-food-producing animals; the retailing of pet food; and trade between farmers of small quantities of feed at local level. David Byrne, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection said: 'This is the last major action flagged up in the White Paper on Food Safety the 'missing link' to complete our 'farm to fork' approach. As we know, many food crises have their origin in contaminated feed, such as the recent dioxin scare. Therefore the hygienic handling and production of feed is absolutely vital to ensure safe food. Also of particular importance is the obligation for feed operators to provide financial guarantees to cover the costs if something is wrong with their feed. The polluter must pay public money should not be used to undo avoidable damage.' The President of FEFAC welcomed the proposed Regulation: 'We support this text because - although we know our direct suppliers - we not necessarily know the suppliers of the suppliers of our suppliers. This Regulation should therefore allow for a better traceability in our sector.' At the same time as presenting the proposal for a Regulation, the Commission also issued a report on the desirability of establishing a 'positive list' of animal feed materials. The report concluded that creating such a list 'would not be decisive in ensuring feed safety' and the Commission will therefore not be introducing a proposal for such a list. Commissioner Byrne said that recent food crises caused by prohibited or undesired substances used in feed would not have been prevented by a positive list, and that improved food hygiene was more a more important tool for ensuring the safety of animal feed. Links:
Eric Davies On 24 April 2003 the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation concerning the hygiene of animal feed. |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
