Farming - Feed Hygiene RegistrationThe Trading Standards Service is responsible for animal feed and fertilisers.
Feeding Stuffs and Fertilisers
We check that the quality, composition, labelling, advertising and presentation of fertilisers and feeding stuffs comply with legal requirements, in particular the Agriculture Act. Trading Standards conduct inspections, take samples for analysis, and react to complaints.
Feed Hygiene
Trading Standards enforce the Feed (Hygiene & Enforcement) (Wales) Regulations 2005. These apply to all businesses that produce, use, transport or market animal feeds, including livestock and arable farms. Retailers that only sell pet food are not caught by this legislation. The aim of the legislation is to complete the farm to fork approach of food law so that the whole of the food chain is covered by hygiene legislation.
How does it affect me?
Trading Standards officers regularly inspect feed businesses and farms with regard to the requirements. The regulations require that businesses are registered or approved via their local Trading Standards service, comply with the requirements in the annexes, and send a “Statement of Compliance” to their local Trading Standards.
Registration/Approval and Compliance
The Feed Hygiene Regulations require registration with the local authority of all feed businesses, including for example green grocers or bakers supplying old stock to farms. An exception is the feeding of animals kept for sole consumption by the owner.
Some businesses which use certain additives will need Approval. The same application form can be used for both registration and approval.
If you are already registered with other official schemes for example the Rural Payments Agency, CAP Reform or registered under Food Hygiene then you do not need to make a new registration under this legislation. However, it is advised that you inform the local authority of this fact. Businesses that have previously been registered under the Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) Regulations will have that registration continued, but you should notify the authority that you are still carrying out the same activities.
Is there a Fee?
No - there is no fee payable in respect of a registration.
How do I register?
You can use the form below and the Activity Codes to complete the form:
Application for Registration or Approval under the EC Feed Hygiene Regulation.pdf
Feed Activity Codes.pdf
Statement of Compliance
The Regulation also requires feed business operators, including farmers to make a “Statement of Compliance” to their local authority to confirm that their business(es) comply with the requirements of the Regulation. The “Statement of Compliance” can be downloaded here:
Statement of Compliance.pdf
What are the Requirements?
Feed businesses are required to comply with specific conditions which are set out in the annexes of EC Regulation No 183/2005. These can be downloaded here:
Annex 1 requirements for primary producers.pdf- covers the requirements that primary producers (farms) have to follow. Operations should be managed to avoid hazards and to ensure that feed products produced and used are protected against contamination and spoilage.
Annex II requirements for manufacturers and on farm mixers.pdf - sets down more detailed requirements for manufacturers and those farms that buy-in additives and premixture products (e.g. such as vitamins A and D and trace elements (copper, selenium, zinc etc) and add them directly to feeds. Such farms must also apply the principles of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system.
Annex III good animal feeding practice.pdf- is a code on animal feeding practice, which all producers are obliged to follow when feeding animals that produce food products for human consumption.
The controls required include measures to:
- prevent contamination of feed
- keep equipment for mixing, transporting and storing clean
- record all details of the feed manufactured, used and or sold
- all livestock farmers must follow a Code of Practice for the feeding of food producing animals.
Further guidance on feeding practices is available from the following:
- The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs Review of 'On-Farm Feeding Practices' report includes information on identifying hazards and minimising risks in the use of feed at farm level;
- Industry Code of Practice for On-Farm Feeding. This Code applies to farmers and covers all aspects of on farm feeding, including on farm mixing.
It is expected that most farms will already be following the requirements of the Regulation - for example, as demonstrated by their membership of an assurance scheme or existing good practices on farm.
More information
If you need any more information on how these new rules may affect you please contact us.
Trading Standards Enforcement Policy.pdf (47k)
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