Key results of its independent Benchmarking Study on existing national quality-assurance systems for animal feed have been released by FEFAC, a legislation on feed hygiene, presented by Commissionerstep it considers as important in restoring consumer confidence. The results reflect the industry’s commitment to anticipate the new EU framework Byrne at the last Farm Council meeting and which is supported by FEFAC.
On the occasion of the FEFAC Annual General Meeting on 5 June 2003, FEFAC President Mr. Yves Montecot, recalled that “Since the year 2000, FEFAC has introduced the HACCP principle in its guidelines for the implementation of national codes of good practice for the production of compound feed. The results of the independent benchmarking of existing national quality assurance schemes show that our sector has made significant progress by introducing quality-assurance systems based on risk analyses and therefore anticipating the new EU legal requirements (the key results of the study can be found in annex). According to our estimates, more than two thirds of the compound feed manufactured in the European Union are produced according to HACCP principles. In addition to the eight existing national codes (D, F, UK, E, P, I, NL, B) three further codes are expected before the end of the year (IRL, A and CZ).”
Mr. MONTECOT underlined that “The latest EU Commission report on the implementation of the feed ban shows a compliance rate higher than 99.5% for 2002 in all Member States as well as a low number of official rapid alerts in 2002/2003 related to the feed sector. These have to be considered as encouraging signs that we are going in the right direction”.
“FEFAC will pursue its efforts in collaboration with its partners, particularly with regard to harmonizing the requirements for the supply of raw materials and additives, with a view to improving their traceability and to be able to react even more rapidly in the future in case of new emerging risks in the feed chain”.
FEFAC has developed comprehensive guidelines, since 1998, to implement national Codes of Practice for the manufacture of animal feedstuffs, currently being updated for the 4th time. Those guidelines and the main results of the benchmarking exercise of existing national Codes are available on request at the FEFAC Secretariat: http://www.fefac.org
