Agriculture Feed and Fertilisers

Animal feed plays an important part in the food chain and has implications for the composition and quality of the livestock products (milk, meat and eggs) that people consume. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for drawing up the rules on the composition and marketing of animal feed.

The rules mainly apply to feed for farmed livestock but also covers feed for what are called "non-food producing animals". This typically means animals kept in zoos, circuses and laboratories, creatures living freely in the wild, and pets. It does not include horses and rabbits, which since 1 September 2010 have been classified as food-producing animals.

If you need more information, contact trading.standards@iow.gov.uk.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for improving food safety right through the food chain. This includes improving hygiene on the farm and ensuring that human health is not put at undue risk through what is fed to animals. They also help to create the rules on animal feed.

Since 1 January 2006 new feed hygiene regulations came into place. These apply to all businesses that make, use or market animal feeds, including farms.

They contain various conditions which feed businesses must comply with, as appropriate.

These are split into three parts, as follows:

Part I

This covers provisions applicable to businesses involved in primary production (for example, farms).

It includes general hygiene and record-keeping requirements.

Part II

This applies to businesses operating other than at the level of primary production.

It contains standards similar to those that currently apply to those premises previously approved or registered under The Feeding Stuffs (Establishment and Intermediaries) Regulations 1999.

These relate to facilities, personnel, quality control, storage and transport and record-keeping.

Part III

This section relates to good animal feeding practices for food-producing animals.

It includes the requirements for stable and feeding equipment, storage of feed, distribution, feed and water and personnel.

Please note: the above is only a brief outline of the requirements and intended to provide basic guidance. It is not a complete or authoritative statement of the law.

Since 1 January 2006, feed hygiene legislation has applied to farmers, growers and other producers, in many cases for the first time, as part of the 'farm to fork' approach to food safety.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) website has guidance on the legislation for farming and feed businesses: Food Standards Agency - Farming and Animal Feed.

The aim of the legislation is to complete the 'farm to fork' approach of food law so that the whole of the food chain is covered by hygiene legislation.

Retailers that only sell pet food are not affected by this legislation.

To apply for Trading Standards Service registration or approval, complete the online form. Registration is free.

The registration and approval codes necessary to complete the application are given in the registration and approval activities list.

View the Registration and Approval Activities list (PDF, 27.83KB, 3 pages).

• Animals and agriculture – the law on the welfare of livestock.
• Mixing feed on a farm – the requirements for the mixing of feeding stuffs.
• Transport of animal feeding stuffs – feed hygiene for transporters and haulier.
• Hygiene of feed production, record keeping and traceability – feed hygiene for farmers and grower.
• Legal implications of making pet food at home – manufacturing your own pet food.
• Law regarding labelling of pet food – retail sale of pet food.