An improved FEDIAF safety guide and updated FEDIAF dog and cat nutritional guidelines were presented and agreed at the European Pet Food Industry Federation’s annual meeting in Manchester.
Brussels/Manchester, June 2017 – “We are proud having adopted an improved pet food safety guide as well as updated nutritional guidelines for cats and dogs.” FEDIAF president Marinus Pannevis concluded at FEDIAF’s annual meeting in Manchester.
Safe, nutritious and balanced pet food
Pet food companies’ mission and duty vis-à-vis pets and their owners is to provide safe, nutritious and balanced food. FEDIAF provides guidance on how to best fulfill this mission:
Safety: The FEDIAF safety guide, previous versions of which had already been endorsed by the EU, was improved to incorporate new legal requirements and represents thus a state-of-the-art manual for manufacturers throughout the EU for producing safe products. Training of personnel, machinery, HACCP, raw materials, contaminants, supply chain… – all elements are covered and explained for the users, which include also the national control authorities.
Once endorsed again by the EU, probably before end 2017, the safety guide will be posted on the FEDIAF website for free download by any interested party.
Nutrition: There are 37 essential nutrients (vitamins, trace elements, fatty acids, amino acids…) that dogs need in their daily food, cats require 41 essential nutrients. For many years FEDIAF, together with a Scientific Advisory Board composed of renowned scientists from European universities and vet schools, annually updates its publicly available nutritional guidelines: What are the minimum needs of calcium for puppies, how much vitamin A do cats need, what is the maximum for the trace element zinc for dogs? A practical tool for producers to achieve the right quantities and balance of nutrients, a guidance on how to conduct product analyses or feeding protocols and on energy requirements, to name just a few examples.
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FEDIAF represents the European pet food industry with around 200 production sites. It is an umbrella organization of national pet food industry associations. FEDIAF’s mission is to be the credible and responsible voice of the European pet food industry collaborating with authorities, regulators and academics for achieving favourable conditions for the supply of safe, nutritious and palatable products to pets and their owners. Based in Brussels, FEDIAF is fully committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, to the wellbeing of pet animals, to their important social role and to the respect of sustainable development.
Contact: Thomas Meyer, Secretary General, + 32 (2) 536 05 20 – fediaf@fediaf.org