Animal feed production is an important sector of agricultural activity. Approximately 230 million tonnes of feedstuffs are fed annually to farmed animals in the EU. The emphasis of animal feed rules has shifted over time from productivity of livestock farming to protection of human and animal health.

The EU has developed a wide range of measures aimed at ensuring feed safety at all stages of production. Feed hygiene requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) 183/2005 have introduced key elements for ensuring feed safety.

Feed additives are products used in animal nutrition in order to improve the quality of feed and food of animal origin or to improve animals’ performance and health. Authorisation for marketing of such products is given following scientific evaluation demonstrating that the additive has no harmful effects on human and animal health or the environment.

Training in the field of animal nutrition begins within Better Training for Safer Food in 2009. It is aimed at spreading knowledge and best practice in order to increase feed safety expertise during production, processing and distribution.

Who has been awarded the contract for arranging the workshops?
The Euro Consultants-JVL-BSI Consortium, for further information please visit: http://www.btsftrainings.euroconsultants.be/.

At whom is the training aimed?
The course is mainly for competent authority control staff of EU Member States and candidate countries responsible for verifying compliance with EU feed rules. Places are also available for competent authority staff from European Free Trade Association, European Neighbourhood Policy and selected third countries. Each workshop should train approximately 30 people.

How do I participate?
Anyone interested in taking part in training should contact their relevant national competent authority. The national competent authority proposes participants to the Better Training for Safer Food National Contact Point, who sends the list of participants to the contractor. The contractor submits the list to the Commission for approval. The list of Better Training for Safer Food National Contact Points can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/food/training_strategy/participants/ms_contact_points_en.htm. Interested parties from the private sector should contact the contractor directly.

How many events are taking place?
Ten five-day training courses are planned.

What activities are planned?

• Presentations will be given on a range of relevant subjects;
• Case studies and practical exercises will be carried out on subjects such as HACCP requirements for feed manufacturers, sampling and inspection, labelling and transport documents;
• Participants will visit production plants and/or border inspection posts.

What topics are covered?
The training will include the following subjects:

• General feed hygiene rules and application of HACCP procedures;
• Registration, approval and inspection of establishments;
• Authorisation of feed additives and bio-proteins;
• Genetically modified feed;
• Feedstuffs intended for particular nutritional purposes;
• Medicated feedstuffs;
• Permitted and prohibited ingredients.

When and where are the workshops taking place?

• Four workshops take place in Brussels on 4-8 May and 28 September-2 October 2009 and 15-19 March and 6-10 September 2010;
• Three workshops take place in Warsaw on 7-11 September 2009 and 17-21 May and 21-25 June 2010.
• Three workshops take place in Barcelona on 19-23 October and 30 November-4 December 2009 and 25-29 January 2010.