A staggering 70% needs to come from improved efficiency through the use of technology*. The challenge is to meet this demand without losing sight of safety and sustainability. Improving existing technology and discovering new ones will help in meeting the growing demand. Growth and profitability will be challenged by raw material pricing and availability, development of new technologies, feed safety issues, consumer demands, regulatory issues and political influences.

Better feed, better food
Food safety starts with feed safety. That is the most important thing to remember for all producers in this highly regulated business. With the EU Commission taking the lead, it was decided to make efforts to restore consumer confidence in European food. New laws would be passed, old ones repealed. The new approach was that animal feed and human food were linked in the same chain. Food safety was the key area, and that food production starts with animal feed on the farm was emphasized. The same laws would apply throughout Europe, and antibiotics would be saved as one of our most important medicine.

Feed Additive Regulation & Feed Hygiene Regulation
Two specific laws emerged that affect us: the Feed Additive Regulation (EC No.1831/2003) and the Feed Hygiene Regulation (EC No 183/2005). In brief, the first regulation states what may be produced while the other states who may produce it. With the passing of the Feed Additive Regulation, antibiotics were no longer permitted for use as a growth promoter in animal feed. Animals may only be given feed with antibiotics on prescription if they are diseased.

The second regulation, the Feed Hygiene Regulation, regulates producers of animal feed. The regulation demands that good production methods are used, staff is trained, hygiene standards are high, risk analyses are conducted and everything bought and sold is documented. Traceability and safety are the key words. If something goes wrong, it must be possible to quickly withdraw the product from the market, and it must therefore be possible to know who bought it.

Feed additives are controlled by the Feed Additive Regulation. All products on the market must be proven to be safe for:
- The animal which consumes it
- The human who handles it
- The consumer who eats the end-product (meat, milk, egg)
- The environment

Furthermore, the product must be shown to be effective. All of these areas must be checked and quality must be assured. For feed additives we have a quality system called FAMI-QS (included in GMP+). By implementing it we also show that we meet legal requirements.

Import regulations
We live in a global society and we receive food and animal feed from all over the world. Every product reaching Europe must meet the regulations and laws established in the European Union. Unfortunately, there are exceptions and not everyone meets their legal requirements or even does what they say they do, so checks are vital. Every day a wealth of inspections and tests are made on goods entering Europe. Samples are taken and suspected rule infringements are investigated. A lot of products never get beyond customs officers, and offenders are put on a public list. Common reasons for failure to comply with EU regulations include the use of illegal additives, unapproved substances used in food, heavy metal content that is too high or the presence of aflatoxin.

Every day when we buy food we should be comforted by all of the checks being made. As consumers we should not be worried or even consider whether food contains something poisonous or if the packaging is printed with ink that could contaminate the contents. In this instance we usually think laws and inspections are reasonable.

Feed additives
Those of us who work with animal feed additives must understand that we are the first link in the food chain. If we do something wrong it will affect the animal feed which will affect the animal and the product that reaches the consumer. It is therefore essential that we, like every other producer in the food chain, understand this and live up to it.

General principles for animal feed safety include:
- not placing any product on the market or feed an animal a feed that is not safe
- ensuring traceability of animal feed in all stages of production, processing and distribution
- animal feed producers must have systems and processes to identify who they receive deliveries from and who they deliver their products to.

Legislative bodies
Because of our long-standing feed additive expertise, Perstorp has been invited to participate in various legislative bodies governing the registration, composition and application of feed additives. Our product knowledge and close cooperation with customers also enable us to lobby convincingly for important improvements we feel are necessary to relevant feed legislation. 

Development of Perstorp’s feed additives
Product innovation and R&D activities lead to feed additives that protect animal health and contribute to improved efficiency. Therefore Perstorp makes a significant investment in R&D to investigate the properties and applications of its feed additives. Not only is R&D carried out in our own laboratories, but also in acknowledged independent research institutes and universities. Animal trials are carried out to evaluate the effects of feed containing our additives on animal performance and health. These studies enable us to develop innovative products and formulations for the feed industry that not only increase productivity for farmers, but also contribute to safer feed and food.

All of the feed additives we produce at Perstorp are antibacterial products, feed preservatives or silage additives. This means that they are used in animal feed to support animal health or to prevent feed from being damaged by bacteria, yeast and mould or they are used for preservation of silage. These types of products are therefore directly linked to animal health and to animal feed safety because they keep the feed fresh and healthy until it is given to the animals.

* Source: W. Dwight Armstrong – JDA Consulting, LLC, Key Biscayne, FL, USA (dated 16/09/2009)

Perstorp’s contribution to better food – better feed. Part 1>>