International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM)
Information Package
Another meeting for the feed sector? Why should I attend?
In order to tackle the complex challenges in the feed sector, both the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) believe in the power of dialogue and collaboration among interested parties. Feed safety and security, animal health and welfare, and environmental, economic and social sustainability of feed and livestock production - these are all shared responsibilities that call for joint action.
One of the highlights of the long-standing IFIF and FAO cooperation, is the effort to facilitate a dialogue between the private and public sector on key issues affecting the feed and food chain. Several conferences and fairs address the feed sector. However, the International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM), organized by IFIF in cooperation with the FAO, is a unique forum for regulators and feed industry professionals from across the world to come together, informally exchange their thoughts and information, and to explore concrete ways to address jointly common challenges.
Since the first IFRM in 2007, this annual event has become a regular, well-established appointment. Many professionals of the feed sector look forward to it as a source of information, an opportunity for networking and a start to many successful partnerships.
An increasing number of international standards and national legislations are targeting the feed sector. New technologies are available, but also new challenges need to be faced. Participating to the meeting is an effective way to keep abreast of current issues and try to predict what is ahead for the sector.
The IFRM meetings have contributed to and resulted in a number of important initiatives for the feed sector. This includes:
- the set up and outcomes of the ad-hoc Codex Intergovernmental Task Force on Animal Feeding;
- Updates on IFIF, FAO activities on animal feed
- Information on new Codex Alimentarius work on animal feed
- Update on national feed legislation
- Additional topics: capacity development, feed safety risk assessment, management and communication, role of animal feeding to prevent and control antimicrobial resistance, and many more
We are looking forward to hearing from participants about the feed sector in their home country, the challenges faced, their feed legislations and regulations, and much more.
Suggest topics to address and new activities, keep informed, contribute to discussions, ask for answers to your problems, network and take part in joint activities. Contact us at feed-safety@fao.org and info@ifif.org.
The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have a strong collaborative relationship dating back many years. In April 2005 FAO and IFIF, recognizing their common interest in promoting the safe supply of animal feed throughout the world by signing a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which continues to form the basis of collaboration between the two organizations. This collaboration has become a prominent example of how the public and private sector can work together in a number of key areas, which positively influence the feed and food chain.
Some history
About FAO
Within its overall mandate of achieving food and nutrition security for all, FAO addresses animal feed and feed safety as a prerequisite for food safety and human health, a necessity for animal health and welfare, and a component of access to trade, income generation and economic sustainability of the feed and livestock sectors. FAO programme of work on feed safety comprehend the provision of scientific and technical advice on which to base standards and guidance, the development of capacities and the facilitation of dialogues and partnerships among stakeholders in the feed and food sectors.
Find more information on feed safety and FAO in the Global Feed Safety Platform.
For more information, please contact Daniela Battaglia, FAO responsible Officer, at feed-safety@fao.org.
About IFIF
The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) is made up of national and regional feed associations, feed related organizations and corporate members from around the globe, representing over 80% of the feed production worldwide. IFIF provides a unified voice and leadership to represent and promote the global feed industry as an essential participant in the food chain that gives sustainable, safe, nutritious and affordable food for a growing world population.
In order to fulfil IFIF’s vision and mission, and to support the feed sector on the road to the future, IFIF’s work is centred on three strategic pillars: Sustainability, Regulatory and International Standards, and Education and Sharing of Best Practices. To find out more about our work supporting animal feed and the feed sector please have a look at https://ifif.org/about/annual-report.
For more information on IFIF please visit https://ifif.org or contact Alexandra de Athayde, Executive Director, at info@ifif.org.
In total 215 different participants from 40 different countries participated in the IFRM from 2014 to 2017.
1. How can I participate?
The participation to the International Feed Regulators Meeting is by invitation only, it is for direct IFIF members and invited government officials. Should you be interested in joining the IFRM please contact us at info@ifif.org and feed-safety@fao.org
2. What are the participation costs?
For government officials there is no meeting participation fee. However, all participants are responsible to organize and pay for their own travel, accommodation, and visa if applicable.
Government feed regulators from less economically developed countries who lack travel funds, may apply for a limited number of bursaries to support their flight and accommodation during the IFRM. To apply, please contact us at feed-safety@fao.org and info@ifif.org.
Daniela Battaglia
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
daniela.battaglia@fao.org
www.fao.org
Alexandra de Athayde
International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF)
alexandra.athayde@ifif.org
www.ifif.org
Useful documents on feed safety
FAO Publications
Executive Summary of the Report of the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meeting on Hazards Associated with Animal Feed, 2015
Animal Feed Impact on Food Safety - Report of the FAO/WHO Expert Meeting, 2007
Animal Feeding and Food Safety - Report of an FAO Expert Consultation, 1997
FAO/IFIF Publications
FAO/IFIF Manual on Good Practices for the Feed Industry, 2010
Codex Texts relevant to animal feeding
Standards:
General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed (CODEX STAN 193-1995) (last revision: 2016)
Codes of Practices:
Code of Practice for the Reduction of Aflatoxin B1 in Raw Materials and Supplemental Feedingstuffs for Milk-Producing Animals (CAC/RCP 45-1997)
Code of Practice for Source Directed Measures to Reduce Contamination of Food with Chemicals (CAC/RCP 49-2001)
Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Mycotoxin Contamination in Cereals, including Annexes on Zearalenone, Fumonisins, Ochratoxin A, Tricothecenes and Aflatoxins (CAC/RCP 51-2003) (last revision: 2016)
Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding (CAC/RCP 54-2004) (last amendment: 2008)
Code of Hygienic Practice for Meat (CAC/RCP 58-2005)
Code of Practice to Minimise and Contain Antimicrobial Resistance (CAC/RCP 61-2005)
Principles for Traceability/Product Tracing as a Tool within a Food Inspection and Certification System (CAC/RCP 60-2006)
Code of Practice for the Prevention and Reduction of Dioxin and Dioxin-like PCB Contamination in Food and Feeds (CAC/RCP 62-2006)
Code of Practice for Weed Control to Prevent and Reduce Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Contamination in Food and Feed (CAC/RCP 74-2014) (last revision: 2010)
Guidelines:
Guidelines for the Exchange of Information in Food Control Emergency Situations (CAC/GL 19-1995) (last revision: 2016)
Guidelines for the Exchange of Information between Countries on Rejections of Imported Foods (CAC/GL 25-1997) (last revision: 2016)
Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods (CAC/GL 32-1999) (last amendment: 2013)
Methods of Sampling for Pesticide Residues for the Determination of Compliance with MRLs (CAC/GL 33-1999)
Analysis of Pesticide Residues: Guidelines on Good Laboratory Practice in Pesticide Residue Analysis (CAC/GL 40-1999) (last amendment: 2010)
Guidelines for the Design and Implementation of National Regulatory Food Safety Assurance Programmes Associated with the Use of Veterinary Drugs in Food Producing Animals (CAC/GL 71-2009) (last revision: 2014)
Guidelines on the Application of Risk Assessment for Feed (CAC/GL 80-2013)
Guidance for Governments of Prioritizing Hazards in Feed (CAC/GL 81-2013)
Guidelines for the Control of Nontyphoidal Salmonella spp. in Beef and Pork Meat (CAC/GL 87-2016)
Guidelines on the Application of General Principles of Food Hygiene to the Control of Foodborne Parasites (CAC/GL 88-2016)
Principles and guidelines for the exchange of information between importing and exporting countries to support the trade in food (CAC/GL 89-2016)
MRLs:
Maximum Residue Limits and Risk Management Recommendations for Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CAC/MRL 2)
(online database: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/standards/veterinary-drugs-mrls/en/) (last revision: 2015)
Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) for Pesticides (CAC/MRL 1) (online database: http://www.codexalimentarius.org/standards/pesticide-mrls/en/ )
Miscellaneous:
Classification of food and animal feed (CAC/MISC 4)