autumn 2015 FEED HYGIENE SomethIng to CheW oveR Why waste food suppliers need to register with their local Trading Standards Service FEED HYGIENE EC Feed Hygiene Regulation aims to raise hygiene standards and ensure that feeds can be traced and recalled in the event of a feed safety issue Do you supply waste food for animal feed? If yes, then it is likely that you will need to be registered with your local Trading Standards Service. While the law applies to businesses that grow crops for animal feed, manufacture or transport, or store animal feed, it also applies to businesses that sell or give away waste food to animals that will end up in the human food chain. Examples include: l Food and drink businesses supplying out-of-date products, goods l l l l that do not meet the required specification, or surplus ingredients (including bakery, confectionery, dairy or oil products) Supermarkets or smaller retail outlets, such as bakeries, supplying surplus material for feed use Food manufacturers selling co-products that is, materials generated as part of the food manufacturing process, for example, wheat bran or vegetable trimmings Drinks companies selling co-products, such as brewers or distillers grains Meat and fish processors supplying animal by-products for use in pet food and fishmeal but pet food retailers are not covered by the requirements The purpose of the Regulation, EC Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005), is to raise hygiene standards and, in particular, to ensure that feeds can be traced and recalled in the event of a feed safety issue. It is particularly important that systems are in place to ensure animal products, such as meat and fish, do not enter the farmed livestock feed chain. Catering waste from kitchens or restaurants cannot be used in feed for farmed animals; for example, a fish and chip shop cannot supply farmers with their waste for feeding to pigs. It doesnt matter whether the waste food is going to a collection agent or directly to the customer you still need to be registered as a feed business operator. To apply for registration you will need to complete an application form, indicating the category of registration you are applying for. There are different activity codes applicable to each registration. For example, companies such as bakers, dairies and food retailers that supply surplus foR moRe InfoRmatIon: food into the feed chain are placing Contact your local Trading Standards Service feed materials on the market and or go the Food Standards Agency website. will need to register under category R7. Food businesses supplying co-products that are destined as feed materials for example, brewers, distillers and food manufacturers supplying spent grains or vegetable waste will need to register under category R12. If engaged in both activities, you will need to register for both categories. You will also have to register for each premise if you operate from more than one site. ExCEPTION TO THE RULE there are some exemptions to registration for waste food suppliers, such as: l producers that supply small quantities of feed (less than 25kg) to local farms for use on those farms l Retailing or wholesaling pet food l feed grown for animals kept for personal consumption or pets Where businesses are supplying feed materials, there are requirements relating to facilities and equipment, personnel, production procedures, quality control, storage, transport and record-keeping. In addition, businesses are required to apply the principles of a hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system. As many food businesses will have a form of HACCP in place to cover their food operations, it should not be difficult to extend these procedures to products supplied as animal feed. Key aspects include ensuring material is not contaminated, and that products are traceable in the event of a feed incident through record-keeping. Registration is free. Once your registration is complete, you will receive a unique registration number, your premises record will be updated and feed registration information will be held on a central register. If you are in an assurance scheme, auditors will also check to ensure you are registered. Local authorities have recently received large numbers of applications from arable farmers. Credits: Gill Kelly Images: Goodluz / Shutterstock