Animal feed
Animal feed plays an important part in the food chain and has implications for the composition and quality of the livestock products (milk, meat and eggs) that people consume. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for drawing up the rules on the composition and marketing of animal feed.
The Agency's main aims in this area are to help protect consumer and animal health. Another aim is to ensure that those buying the feed are provided with sufficient information to allow them to make informed choices.
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Animal feed legislation and guidance
Legislation on animal feed is harmonised at European Union (EU) level. It applies principally to feed for farmed livestock, but also covers feed for horses, pets, farmed fish, zoo and circus animals, and creatures living freely in the wild.
EC Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health
This committee was established following the adoption of Regulation (EC) 178/2002, which set out the general principles and requirements of food law in the EU.
Feed premises register
Under the EU Feed Hygiene Regulation (183/2005), there is a system for the approval and registration of feed business establishments (premises) that manufacture, market, distribute or use animal feeds, including feed additives.
Animal feed and enforcement
The Food Standards Agency is responsible for drawing up the rules on the composition, labelling and marketing of animal feed and ensuring the enforcement of animal feed law is co-ordinated and consistent.
Letters to local authorities
This covers generic correspondence that is specifically concerned with food and/or feed hygiene/standards enforcement issues and that is sent to all authorities in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Stakeholder meeting on animal feed issues
The Food Standards Agency holds annual meetings to discuss a range of topical feed-related issues with a variety of stakeholders.
GM material in animal feed
Before a genetically modified organism (GMO) can be marketed in the European Union (EU), it must be granted consent (i.e. authorised) under European legislation - EC Regulation 1829/2003 laying down the authorisation procedures for GM food and feed (the 'GM Food and Feed Regulation').
What farm animals eat
Animal feeding practices have developed over time, and have generally been validated by their use.