Commission clarifications and guidance help facilitate understanding of EU legal framework for conversion of former foodstuffs into feed.

April 24, 2018

2 Min Read
European Commission publishes guidelines on feed use of former foodstuffs

The European Commission on April 17 published its guidelines for the feed use of food no longer intended for human consumption, as the next key deliverable of the European Union Circular Economy Action Plan on food waste.

The European Former Foodstuff Processors Assn. (EFFPA) and the European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) said they highly appreciate the efforts that the European Commission has made in cooperation with the national competent authorities to develop a practical guidance document that increases the legal certainty for the former foodstuff processing sector while preserving the integrity and safety of the EU food and feed chain.

EFFPA said it considers the publication as additional support for the sector as a legitimate and professional solution to reduce food waste.

EFFPA president Paul Featherstone said, “This publication is a key milestone for the business practice of former foodstuff processing. It now makes it clear that when foodstuffs are unsuitable for human consumption, because of expiry dates or when they have fallen off the manufacturing line, for example, this does not automatically mean they are unsuitable for animal feed use.”

FEFAC, representing European compound feed manufacturers and the main customer of former foodstuff processors, said it sees value in the publication of the guidelines in light of feed safety management and traceability.

“We welcome the guidelines, which highlight the responsibilities of the different operators in this particular part of the feed value chain," FEFAC president Nick Major said. "It confirms that the feed quality and safety of former foodstuffs need to be verified before entering the feed chain.”

EFFPA and FEFAC believe the guidelines will increase the understanding and recognition of former foodstuff processing under controlled conditions as a valuable part of the circular economy in Europe and encourage the use of food no longer suitable for human consumption in feed to reduce food waste.

EFFPA represents businesses that process former foodstuffs into animal feed. EFFPA has national association membership from the U.K., France, Germany and the Netherlands and company membership from Belgium, Italy, Spain, Greece and Canada.

Typical former foodstuffs used are energy-rich products such as bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, crisps, chocolates and other confectionary. EFFPA estimates that around 3.5 million metric tons of former foodstuffs are processed into animal feed annually in the countries where it holds membership.

FEFAC represents 23 national associations in 23 EU member states as well as associations in Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia, Russia and Norway with observer/associate member status. The European compound feed industry employs more than 100,000 people on approximately 3,500 production sites.

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