Global Spread Of Feed Safety Assurance Scheme

The number of participants in the GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance (FSA) scheme is increasing rapidly. On 1 July, the GMP+ FSA scheme had 11,285 participants in 67 countries throughout the world. Stricter market requirements, changes in the certification scheme and positive effects for the certified companies have meant that the scheme administrator, GMP+ International, expects a further increase in the number of participants.

Consumers are demanding stricter requirements for food safety in more and more countries. They want to be sure that dairy products, meat and eggs can be eaten without risk. GMP+ International helps businesses in the feed chain to comply with these requirements. The GMP+ FSA scheme is the only certification scheme which provides for the assurance of safe feed for animals, in order to produce safe food, with operates worldwide. The GMP+ FSA scheme covers the whole feed chain (production, storage and transport, and the trade in feed and its raw materials). The scheme ensures that the entire chain meets the legal regulations on feed safety, for example in the EU, says GMP+ International in reaction on the publication of the EU-guide for manufacturing safe feed. The advantage of the GMP+ FSA scheme is that, because it is not restricted to one link in the chain, the feed safety assurance principles in the whole feed chain are uniform.

More than ever, GMP+ International is involving the participating companies in the development of the GMP+ FSA scheme via partners (trade associations). GMP+ International currently has 16 trade associations as its partner, in Germany and the Netherlands. The aim is to expand this number greatly including in other countries. Involvement in the development of the GMP+ FSA scheme is achieved through the participation of experts in the International Expert Committee. This IEC was set up recently with candidates proposed by the current partners.

In the coming period, GMP+ International will make changes to the certification requirements so that they match even better with what happens in practice in the companies in the feed chain. In addition to the international standards, there is also a facility for adding additional requirements which are specific to a particular country (so-called country notes) to the certification scheme. This enables countries to meet local market conditions and requirements in addition to the international requirements for the feed safety assurance.

In mid-September, GMP+ International will start a worldwide 'roadshow' in order to develop the GMP+ FSA scheme in direct consultation with the participating companies. Also in mid-September, the Feed Safety Database (FSD) will be launched. The FSD is a portal to consult the current databases and information sources much more easy. It is a new tool for mapping out the safety of feeds rapidly and accurately. GMP+ certified companies in the feed chain and the GMP+ International's partners can use the information in the FSD to minimise the risks to safety in their production process and in feed products and for their feed safety policy.

The GMP+ FSA scheme covers feed safety management, risk analyses, use of good production practices (prerequisites), early warnings and traceability. In November 2008, the number of participants passed the 10,000 mark. At the end of last year, there were 10,950 feed chain companies certified for the GMP+ FSA scheme.

For more information about the GMP+ FSA scheme, the participating companies, the approved certifications bodies and about GMP+ International, click here.