September 14, 2010
European and American feed safety programmes unite
As a result of the strong collaboration between the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the European Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures (Fefana), the first issuance of their FAMI-QS/International Safe Feed/Safe Food (I-SF/SF) certificate is now a fact.
The I-SF/SF Certification Programme is the affiliate programme for the FAMI-QS program in the US.
The establishment of the combined Certification Programme was designed to help facilitate US exports with European feed and ingredient customers by providing a tool to illustrate compliance with the EU''s feed hygiene regulation, Regulation (EC) 183/2005, which requires certification to the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system.
FAMI-QS is a unique, third-party certification programme. More than 600 feed additive and premix companies participate in the programme globally.
I-SF/SF combines the requirements of AFIA''s domestic Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Programme with FAMI-QS certification requirements. The programme was developed by AFIA in close cooperation with FAMI-QS.
FAMI-QS is one of only three systems officially adopted by EU authorities. They recognise FAMI-QS as a suitable system for implementing the ambitious requirements of the feed hygiene regulation.
The first FAMI-QS/I-SF/SF certificate has been issued and granted to Kemin AgriFoods North America''s Des Moines, Iowa, USA facility by Eurofins Scientific Inc. (ESI).
Kristi Krafta, Kemin AgriFoods North America vice president for regulatory affairs, quality assurance and quality control said, "We think the International Safe Feed/Safe Food programme is a critical component to our food safety system at Kemin. It is paramount at Kemin that we deliver a high-quality, safe product to our customers. This is a great programme and we will continue to be a part of it."
There are currently other feed and ingredient companies which are proceeding through the certification process in the US.
As of April 1, 2010, ESI is the certifying body for the implementation of the FAMI-QS/I-SF/SF Certification Programme in the US.
Certified companies under I-SF/SF will have the same worldwide privileges and recognition as a FAMI-QS certified company. The I-SF/SF programme is operating under the FAMI-QS certification rules.