Animal feedingstuffs

 

Animal feedingstuffs

Animal Feedingstuffs

The legislation covers the composition, marketing and use of animal feed (which covers feed for farmed livestock as well as horses, pet food and farmed fish).
The Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS) oversees the enforcement of animal feed law.

Labelling

Animal feed must be labelled with a statutory statement which contains information such as the following:

• The name and address of the person who guarantees the statement is accurate (normally the manufacturer).
• The description of the type of feed, for example: 'Complete' or 'Complementary Feeding Stuffs' or 'Complementary Pet Food'.
• The type of animal for which it is intended.
• The amount of protein, oil, fibre and ash which is present.
• Directions for use.
• The presence of any antioxidants, colour or preservatives. The amount of certain trace elements/minerals.
• The amount of certain vitamins and the date to which they will remain present at the declared level.
• A 'best before' date.
• A batch number or, alternatively, a date of manufacture. 
• Ingredients list in descending order by weight.

Any other information on the label must be clearly separate from the statutory statement.

'Farm to Fork'- Feed Hygiene Legislation

In January 2006 the Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2008 came into force.

The requirements relate to safety of feed for food producing animals. The regulations are part of general food law which not only protect animal health and but also ensure safety of animal products for human consumption.

With very few exceptions, the legislation applies to all feed business operators.

Do you need to register?

Do you:

Manufacture animal feeds?

Market animal feeds?

Import animal feeds?

Store animal feeds?

Transport animal feeds?

Sell co-products of the food industry as feeds?

Carry out on-farm mixing?

Feed food-producing animals?

Grow crops to be used as animal feeds?

Carry out other controlled activities?

If the answer is YES to ANY of the above then it is likely that the legislation applies to you - and you should be registered.

Registration

The Feed (Hygiene and Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2005 require feed businesses to register with Trading Standards.

All previously registered Establishments and Intermediaries should have confirmed their activities, in writing, to the Perth & Kinross Council by 1 January 2006.
 
Feed businesses already registered as food businesses and/or registered under official schemes are deemed to be registered.

Please note: farm assurance schemes or trade body memberships do not classify as official schemes and therefore you must notify us about your activities.

Remember - Registration is free.

Feed Hygiene Registration form (pdf) can be downloaded - see 'downloads' on right
Feed Hygiene List of registered activities (pdf) - see 'downloads' on right.

Statement of Compliance

All feed businesses will need to comply with the requirements of the EC Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005) from 1 January 2008.

Feed businesses, including majority of farms, must submit a statement of compliance to their Local Authority by 1 January 2008.

The following explanatory notes and required forms can be found in the download section to the right of this page.

• Explanatory note: 'Feed Hygiene for Farmers' from the Food Standards Agency Scotland.
• Explanatory note: 'Statement of Compliance' from the Food Standards Agency Scotland.
• Form: 'Statement of Compliance for Farmers'.
• Form 'Statement of Compliance: Others

Remember: It is a legal requirement that all feeds are sourced from registered and/or approved establishments. Please check with your supplier whether their business is registered/approved.

General rules

All feed businesses have to comply with general rules and also with specific requirements depending on their activities.
The rules are laid down in the Regulation (EC) No 183/2005. Please see the additional information provided in the "Downloads" section to the right.

Annex I Requirements for primary producers (pdf)
Annex II Requirements for businesses other than primary producers (pdf)
Annex III Good Animal Feeding Practice (pdf)
(see 'downloads' on right )

Businesses other than primary producers must also implement written procedures for hazard analysis based on HACCP principles.

All feed businesses previously registered under Establishments and Intermediaries Regulations need to comply as from 1 January 2006. Other businesses not previously caught by the registration requirement have until 1 January 2008 to comply.

The new legislation includes most livestock farms, arable farms that grow, use or sell crops for feed use, and also fish farms.

Further guidance for farmers is available from the FSA .

Approval

Certain businesses handling higher risk products require to be approved. Currently we are not aware of any businesses in Perth & Kinross requiring approval. For further information please contact us.

What Activities are not covered?

• Feeding of animals kept for private domestic consumption
• Feeding of animals not kept for food production
• Private domestic production of feed for food producing animals kept for private domestic consumption and for animals not kept for food production.
• The direct supply of small quantities of primary production of feed at local level by the producer to local farms for use on those farms.
• Retailing and wholesaling of pet food only (other animal feed sellers will need to register)

Key legislation

The Agriculture Act 1970
The European Communities Act 1972
The Animal Feed (Scotland) Regulations 2010
The Genetically Modified Animal Feed (Scotland) Regs 2004
The Genetically Modified Organisms (Traceability and Labelling) (Scotland) Regulations 2004
The Feed (Sampling and Analysis and Specified Undesirable Substances) (Scotland) Regulations 2010
The Feed (Hygiene And Enforcement) (Scotland) Regulations 2005
The Official Feed and Food Controls (Scotland) Regulations 2009
The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (Scotland) Regulations 2010

Useful links and advice

Guidance on animal feed 
DEFRA animal feedingstuff regulations
DEFRA (Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs)
 
See 'downloads' on right for further information.