Avian Influenza: a Biosecurity Protocol for farm deliveries;

Granted Defra GB Poultry Register extend to non-poultry keepers;

Legal guidance on food and drink industry byproduct classification;

Veterinary Medicines Directorate agreed to electronic records of medicated feedstuffs;

On feed Labelling, a pragmatic approach to ingredient listing on compound feed labels was agreed with LACORS;

Worked with Defra to achieve agreement at EU level on amendments to the TSE Regulations which will provide, in time, for changes to the feed ban controls and the introduction of a tolerance for fishmeal in ruminant feedingstuffs.

TSE Legislation

Over the last few months, the Commission's TSE Roadmap has been under discussion in Europe. Of particular interest to AIC members was the section discussing the modification of the controls on fishmeal.  AIC supported the proposal for a tolerance for fishmeal in ruminant feedingstuffs and briefed Government officials and MEPs.  Key points emphasised included the fact that fishmeal was not a TSE risk and the current legislation caused serious logistical problems for the feed industry and had an adverse environmental effect.

Progress continued to be made at EU level during the course of the year on amendments to the EU TSE Regulations in the light of the Roadmap. The European Parliament adopted the Compromise Package in May 2006. The text included the fixing of a tolerance for the adventitious and technically unavoidable presence of animal proteins at Standing Committee level. The proposal is to be discussed at Council of Ministers in the Autumn.

Classification of food and drink industry by-products

AIC provided the Environment Agency with comprehensive information on the use of surplus food products within the feed industry.  This resulted in guidance confirming that surplus food or off specification food from food and drink manufacturers was not waste when passed on directly to another undertaking for processing into a feed material.

Avian Influenza

In response to the concerns over Avian Influenza, AIC produced a protocol for feed deliveries to livestock farms for use by members.  This was accompanied by an appendix setting out the Rationale for following the Protocol. This advised what happened if disease was suspected. Discussions were held with Defra on how most effectively to notify member companies of an Avian Influenza outbreak. 

Committee work

AIC feed committees dealt with a variety of other issues during the course of the last twelve months. These included the implementation of the Feed Hygiene Regulation, the revisions of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, the Organic Production Regulations, recasting of the feed labelling legislation and nutrient management issues from the perspective of the feed industry.