Feed Hygiene
ANIMAL FEED HYGIENE - GUIDANCE FOR FARMERS
From 1 January 2008, the requirements of the EC Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005) will come into force for most businesses that make, market or use animal feed.
This includes most livestock farms and arable farms that grow, use or sell crops for feed use. Such farms will have to follow basic hygiene procedures in relation to the feed they use or grow and ensure that hazards are properly controlled.
All of this is designed to help ensure that feed provided to animals is safe and can be traced in the event of a safety incident. It is complementary to the standards that apply to the production of food, as contained in the food hygiene regulations.
What are the requirements?
The Feed Hygiene Regulation applies in all Member States of the European Union. The detailed requirements are mainly set out in the Annexes to the Regulation
Annex I - covers the requirements that primary producers (farms) have to follow. Operations should be managed to avoid hazards and to ensure that feed products which are produced and used are protected against contamination and spoilage.
Annex II - sets down more detailed requirements for those farms that buy-in additives and premixture products (e.g. vitamins and trace elements) and add them directly to feeds. Such farms must also apply the principles of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Points (HACCP) system.
Annex III - is a code on animal feeding practice, which all producers are obliged to follow when feeding food-producing animals.
You can read the Annexes here.
It is expected that most farms will already be following the requirements of the Regulation – for example because of their membership of assurance schemes or compliance with food hygiene regulations.
Further guidance on feeding practices/hygiene is available from the following website links:
- The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs Review of On-Farm Feeding Practices report. This includes information on identifying hazards and minimising risks in the use of feed at farm level.
- Industry Code of Practice for On-Farm Feeding. This Code applies to primary producers and covers all aspects of on farm feeding, including on farm mixing.
Statement of compliance
The Feed Hygiene Regulation also requires most feed businesses to make a statement of compliance to their local authority to confirm that the establishments under their control comply with the requirements of the Regulation. This includes most farms (but see below for farms not required to make a compliance statement).
To assist feed business operators (including farms), over 600 local premises have been contacted in November 2007 and supplied with a model statement of compliance form - if this is completed it fulfils the legal requirement for feed businesses to make a compliance statement. There is a separate list which provides the approval and registration activities covered by the scope of the Regulation. Any premise within the Stirling Council area which has not received a letter by 3 December 2007 is asked to contact Brian Wilson, Trading Standards, on 01786 432058.
There is no fee for making a statement of compliance.
Farms not required to make a compliance statement
There are some exemptions from the need to supply a statement of compliance. These include:
- private domestic production of feed, for food producing animals kept for private domestic consumption, and, for animals not kept for food production
- the feeding of food producing animals kept for private domestic consumption
- the feeding of animals not kept for food production
- direct supply of small quantities of primary produced feed at the local level by the producer to local farms for use on those farms
- retailing of pet food
Exempt businesses have been asked to return a form advising which exemption applies. For those businesses where an establishment or intermediary was previously approved or registered under EC Directive 95/69, the responsible feed business operator does not have to make a statement in respect of these entities provided the business notified us before 1 January 2006. These are mainly businesses that manufacture, market or use additives or premixtures of additives. Such businesses have already made a statement of compliance under the terms of Directive 95/69, which contained similar requirements to those under Regulation 183/2005.
Where to find further information
Further background on the Feed Hygiene Regulation can be found on the Food Standards Agency’s website. Alternatively, Contact Us or find your local Trading Standards Service at Trading Standards Central
