14 September: FEDIAF, the European Pet Food Association, announced its disappointment at the failure of the European Parliament today to introduce provisions in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) which prevents the use of category 3 animal by-product in biofuels.
The use of category 3 animal fat, a key ingredient in pet food, to facilitate the transport industry’s reduction in carbon emissions is a misstep. In essence, this is taking food away from our pets and putting it into fuel tanks instead.
Rosa Carbonell, President of FEDIAF explains: “We are disappointed that European Parliament has prioritised biofuels over the health and welfare of our companion animals. As a result of this decision, the risk of shortages might heighten and the food crisis may soon reach our pets, too.”
Rosa adds: “FEDIAF firmly believes that food, not intended for human consumption, should be recycled by using it in pet food first, which sits well above energy use in the EU’s own hierarchy of most-preferable options for food waste disposal. Other types of animal fats, such as animal by-product category 1 and 2 animal fats, which do not fulfil the necessary standards to be used in pet food due to safety and contamination reasons, are much more suitable for use in biofuels.”
The EU’s pet food sector serves over 300 million companion animals in Europe each year and provides direct (and indirect) employment to more than 1 million European citizens.
For more information:
Contact: Alice Tempel Costa, Technical Director
FEDIAF – European Pet Food
Rue de l’Industrie 11,
Box 10, B – 1000 Brussels
Email: fediaf@fediaf.org
About FEDIAF
FEDIAF represents the interests of 15 European national pet food associations, together with five pet food manufacturers operating in Europe. FEDIAF members provide safe products that benefit pets and society. FEDIAF believes that pet ownership can enhance the lives of all Europeans. Today there are 90 million European households benefitting from the love and companionship of their 300+ million pets. In Europe, there are an estimated 110,000 people directly employed and 950,000 indirectly employed throughout the pet food industry. FEDIAF is the voice of the European pet food industry.