Livestock and petfood chains provide an essential contribution to the optimised functioning and circularity of the food chain by valorising secondary resources which cannot be used in human foods. More than ever, circularity has become strategic for animal feed business operators, backed by a high-level of safety guaranteed by an effective legal framework, controls and traceability. However, a number of regulatory obstacles are currently limiting livestock feed circularity.

Eight industry sector federations and stakeholder organisations¹ have worked together to develop a catalogue of measures aimed at creating a supportive legislative environment that stimulates and increases feed circularity without compromising safety. We detail these proposals in this catalogue, illustrated by a non-exhaustive list of examples of regulatory restrictions faced by the feed chain to access certain materials and which deserve, in our view, a re-examination of their justification.

This catalogue of measures has the potential to increase the use of different secondary nutrient streams in animal feed. These measures would reduce competition for land use with food production, reduce imports of feed materials and reduce livestock system net greenhouse gas emissions, whilst maintaining safety, traceability and farmer and consumer confidence.

This would support an effective Nutrient Circular Economy, so contributing to food sovereignty, competitiveness and farm system resilience.

This catalogue of measures could be the basis for the development of an EU Feed Circularity Roadmap and should be considered in the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, in upcoming reviews of the Animal By-Products, Animal Feed Regulations and other EU policies.