Food Standards Agency Scotland runs series of seminars on implementing the Feed Hygiene Regulation

Monday 29 October 2007

Following positive feedback from a seminar held in north-east Scotland last year, the Food Standards Agency Scotland is running a series of seminars to explain what the European Feed Hygiene Regulation will mean for feed businesses, livestock farmers and arable farms growing and selling crops for feed and what they will need to do to meet the requirements from January 2008.

The seminars will take place in Ayr, Broxburn, Perth and Inverness during November and December and will provide an overview of the legislation and information on how it will be enforced, as well as explaining the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) safety management system, which feed businesses, including some farms, will need to have in place. The seminars are open to all feed businesses and all farmers.

FSA Scotland’s Elspeth MacDonald said: 'The new regulation will help to ensure safety throughout the feed chain and provide a high level of consumer protection, which can only be good news for consumers and farmers. Although it is expected that many farmers will already be meeting the requirements of the regulation, perhaps through membership of assurance schemes, or through existing good practice on farm, we encourage farmers and businesses involved in the feed chain to attend these seminars to help understand their obligations.'

Most feed businesses, including most farms, will have to declare that they comply with the new regulation by 1 January 2008.

Attendance is free, and those wishing to attend are requested to register no later than a week prior to the event by contacting Lynn Beverley at FSA Scotland, email: lynn.beverley@foodstandards.gsi.gov.ukor call 01224 285173.