SPRING 2016 ANIMAL FEED INSPECTIONS KEEPING IT CLEAN Feed hygiene: what to expect when an inspector calls Trading Standards ocers regularly visit agricultural holdings to ensure compliance with the ocial food and feed hygiene controls legislation. The UK has about 200,000 businesses involved in importing, producing, handling, storing and distributing animal feed. A large proportion of these premises are farms. If you own or work for an animal-feed business, you ought to know why Trading Standards ocers need to visit these premises and what you can expect them to do. In most cases, visits are made to oer businesses advice, information and support, to help them remain legally compliant and adopt best practices. Ocial controls include inspections, so these visits are necessary. All farms can be inspected and it may be more ecient for a local authority to carry out a combined food and feed hygiene inspection. In some cases, animal health and welfare may be checked on the same visit. Trading Standards ocers have wide powers and can enter and inspect feed and food premises at all reasonable hours. Inspections can be carried out unannounced during a businesss hours of operation but, in most cases, an appointment will be made so that the right person is available to answer questions and produce records. It is advisable to ask a visiting Trading Standards ocer for their authorisation. Visits are made to oer businesses advice, information and support, to help them remain legally compliant and adopt bestpractices How often a business is visited will depend upon a number of factors, but being a compliant member of a Food Standards Agency-approved assurance scheme can mean that the premises are visited less frequently. So, when an inspector calls, what can an animal-feed business expect? Ocers should introduce themselves and explain the purpose of their visit. They will behave in a courteous manner. Ocers may do the following: l Carry out a visual inspection of the buildings and environment, focusing upon areas where processing, handling and storage of feed and food takes place l Check whether there is adequate segregation and secure storage from other hazardous material, such as fuel, fertiliser, packaging or manure waste l Check that areas are clean, dry and protected from rodents and pests l Check that medicines, pesticides, herbicides and other chemicals segregated from feed and food are securely stored l Take samples of feed or food for testing by the public analyst l Ask for documentation relevant to the feed and food business l Ask questions and speak to sta members FIND OUT MORE Further information can be found on the FoodStandards Agency website or on the Business Companion website. Alternatively, contact your local Trading Standards service. Ocers may ask to see records such as: l Previous audits of quality assurance scheme membership, including nonconformances and evidence of corrective actions l Invoices or delivery notes of purchased and sold feeds, including statutory statements l Recipes for feed mixes, including evidence of traceability l Evidence of how feed traceability is maintained, covering: delivery; storage; manufacturing production; processing; and sale l Veterinary medicine records l Cleaning processes and chemicals used for cleansing or sanitising l Pest-control measures to identify use of bait and bait plans At the end of an inspection, the ocer will advise the business of any noncompliances identied. Depending on the nature and seriousness of any non-compliances, a business may also receive a written report of the inspection, together with conrmation of any remedial actions to be taken, distinguishing between recommendations and legal requirements. Credit: Suki Johal Images: CHAIWATPHOTOS / Shutterstock While inspections can appear to be a disruption to the smooth running of a business, they are vitally important for the protection of the food chain. A safe food chain fosters consumer condence, which in turn benets the whole food and feed industry.