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AgVetLink: Number 53, December 2005

Animal Feeds – Fit for Purpose

The ACVM Group reminds feed manufacturers, including pet food manufacturers, that they have a statutory obligation to take due care in ensuring that their products are fit for purpose. The criteria for ‘fit for purpose’ are specified in Schedule 4 of the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2001.

If the manufacturing of the products include the primary processing of animal products or the feeds (containing animal products) are to be exported and require official certification, then the manufacturer must operate under an approved risk management programme under the Animal Products Act 1999. It is anticipated that compliance to an approved risk management programme will be sufficient to meet the ACVM requirements as well.

However, even if manufacturers are not obliged to operate under an approved risk management programme under the Animal Products Act (because the products do not contain animal products or are not intended for export, requiring official certification), it is expected that every manufacturer will operate a programme that manages the manufacture of their products and ensures the products do comply with the criteria in Schedule 4 of the ACVM Regulations 2001.

During 2006 the ACVM Group will review the level of compliance of the feed manufacturing industry to the statutory requirements. This information, which will help us to become familiar with what the industry considers good manufacturing practices, will be used to inform the Group’s compliance programme and any amendment to the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Regulations. Independent of the review, the ACVM Group will investigate any suspicions or allegations of non-compliance to the ACVM Regulations.