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
In the main, the legislation on the composition and marketing of animal feed (which covers feed for farmed livestock as well as horses, pet food and farmed fish) is derived from EU measures.
Feed Premises Register
European Council Directive 95/69/EC introduced a system for the approval and registration of feed establishments (premises) that manufacture, market or use certain additives and protein products, and for the register to be made publicly available.
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.
GM material in animal feed
Before a genetically modified organism (GMO) can either be grown or marketed in the European Union (EU), it must be granted a marketing consent (i.e. authorised) under European Community (EC) legislation (EC Regulation 1829/2003) laying down the authorisation procedures for GM food and feed (the GM Food and Feed Regulation).
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.
Nicarbazin Medicated Feed Additive Project
The FSA has facilitated an initiative to identify ways in which the poultry industry can reduce the incidence and levels of nicarbazin residues in British chicken, and to raise awareness of this issue among farmers.
What farm animals eat
Animal feeding practices have developed over time, and have generally been validated by their use.