FEFANA – the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures – celebrates its 60^th anniversary.

Founded in 1963, the trade association is the united voice of the specialty feed ingredients business in Europe with currently 94 member companies all over Europe in the business of producing, trading or premixing feed additives. FEFANA has developed over the years to become a powerful platform for industry debate and discussion with authorities and other stakeholders on important topics such as upcoming changes in the EU legal framework and/or policy environment, while striving for a proportionate regulatory environment.

The FEFANA anniversary ceremony took place in Brussels on Thursday evening (28 September 2023) with around 240 guests in attendance. Speaking at the event held at Concert Noble, FEFANA President, Ms. Séverine Deschandelliers, emphasised that “We will continue to deliver, on behalf and for the specialty feed ingredients industry to make an even greater contribution to sustainable animal nutrition through the supply of innovative, safe and cost-effective specialty feed ingredients.” She also reconfirmed that “FEFANA and the industry behind stand for the highest standards of product safety, ensuring food security, minimizing environmental impact, and prioritizing animal health and welfare at every step of the way”.

During her address, Ms. Simone Schmiedtbauer, Member of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, recognised the important contribution of the specialty feed ingredients industry to safe and sustainable feed, stressing that “We are aware of and support the need for modernisation of the current EU Regulation 1831/2003 on additives for use in animal nutrition, which was created 20 years ago, to enable the faster introduction of innovative products into the EU market and to reduce red-tape.” In view of the current challenges, she added that “This is important for a more sustainable EU feed and food chain in the future and also in the context of retaining research and development, production, a well-functioning farming sector and, overall, jobs and economic growth within the EU. The European Parliament stands ready to work with the European Commission and Member States to modernise the legislation as soon as the Commission will present its proposal.”

For more information about the history and future of FEFANA, including a short explanatory video outlining the mission, objectives and current and future activities please visit: http://www.fefana.org/

About FEFANA

FEFANA (EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures) is the united voice of the specialty feed ingredients business in Europe. Our membership comprises manufacturers and traders of feed additives, functional feed ingredients, premixes and other mixtures of specialty ingredients that enter the food chain via feed. FEFANA facilitates dialogue between EU institutions and feed business operators while promoting feed and food safety and a fair and competitive market. For any additional information please contact the FEFANA Secretariat at info@fefana.org or visit our website at www.fefana.org

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Press Release

Brussels, 29 November 2022

On Monday, 28^th November, the Agri-Food Chain Coalition (AFCC) held an event at the European Parliament around the need to strengthen food systems’ resilience and autonomy during crisis, hosted by MEP Marlene Mortler.

The event brought together representatives from the European Parliament, Parliamentary Policy Advisors, the FAO Liaison Office of Brussels, and many other stakeholders and representatives of the agri-food chain to discuss and support innovative solutions and policies in the European agriculture and farming sector.

Host MEP Marlene Mortler opened the event and presented some key elements of her INI report titled: Ensuring food security and long-term resilience of the EU agriculture: “Our European food production urgently needs to become a strategic cornerstone for Europe. The topic of food security should be re-imagined beyond times of crisis. European and global supply should be robust and crisis-proof. The Commission must focus much more quickly and strongly on digital innovations. The goal should be: reduction through innovation!”.

Raschad AlKhafaji, Director of FAO Brussels underscored the paramount importance of partnerships in “transforming agrifood systems to make them more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life for all”.

Ana Granados, Director of EFFAB (European Animal Breeders) and current Chair of the AFCC, concluded: “Food security, as defined by FAO, and as described in the own-initiative report of MEP Mortler, is not limited to the provision of food, but also encompasses the internationally recognized human right to food and access to healthy diets for all. This shows us how innovative solutions and policies are needed; as improved crisis preparedness and dynamic mechanisms to create a friendly policy environment for innovation in the EU.”

The AFCC is united in its call for sustainable, solution-oriented, and innovative policies that strengthen food systems’ resilience and autonomy in our current times of crisis. The AFCC is committed to addressing the current challenges faced in the EU and is encouraging cutting-edge solutions for a more sustainable, competitive, efficient, and secure agri-food system in Europe.

Download AFCC Statement

About the AFCC:

The Agri-Food Chain Coalition (AFCC) is a joint initiative representing 11 associations across the agri-food system and promoting innovative solutions to tackle challenges the sector faces. Members represent European farmers, cooperatives, and companies from the agriculture and livestock sector, farm equipment, plant and animal breeders, fertilisers, crop protection, animal health, feed, biotechnology-based products, and agricultural trade.

Partners:

Animal Health Europe

CEMA- European Agricultural Machinery Association

COCERAL

COPA-COGECA

Crop-LIFE Europe

EFFAB – European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders

EuropaBio- The European Association of Bioindustries

Euroseeds

FEFFAC

FEFANA Fertilizers Europe

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EAAP and FEFANA are pleased to invite all interested stakeholders from academia, authorities, industry, food and feed chain partners and from civil society to participate. 12 April 2022 | Online

REGISTER HERE

The post EAAP/FEFANA webinar Feeding the Green Deal: Specialty Feed Ingredients’ Contribution to Environmental Sustainability appeared first on Fefana.

JOINT STATEMENT

Brussels, 27 January 2022

With the Farm to Fork deadline looming in 8 years’ time and no comprehensive impact assessment in sight, we must build solution-oriented policies, based on the available data we have at hand, with innovation as their cornerstone.

European agri-food production is among the most resource-efficient and sustainable in the world. The European farming sector believes that, with innovation and further support at the forefront of EU agricultural policy, farmers will and can continue to produce in an even more sustainable manner. We acknowledge the expectations of society and policymakers for food production systems and believe that innovation is key in the sustainable transition outlined by the Farm to Fork Strategy. But innovation cannot happen without the necessary legislative and financial support. The agri-food sector calls on European policymakers to enable innovation as a driver of its Farm to Fork targets.

This is how the agri-food value chain can contribute:

AnimalhealthEurope
The animal health industry is currently at the forefront of a technological and digital transformation. Breakthroughs in biotechnology, detection tools and robotics, genomic testing, and advanced vaccines, amongst others, are set to become essential tools for the future of both livestock farming and the veterinary profession. By supporting access to and training on how to best use such innovations, farmers will be able to optimise the health and welfare of animals in their care, reduce environmental impacts, ensure better traceability, and support responsible use of medicines, amongst others.

AVEC – Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade in the EU Countries
A large part of the GHG emissions associated with the poultry meat sector are coming from feed sources. The European poultry meat sector has the ambition to reduce its environmental impact by using more sustainable feed sources (phasing out the use of feed associated with deforestation) and by further improving the efficiency of the sector (digestibility). The sector is also looking to make its supply chain more circular (by using biogas, solar panels) and more climate-friendly (on transport, packaging and on the use of resources).

CEMA
The European agricultural machinery sector supports farmers of all farm types and sizes to get the most from their land, while protecting the environment and bringing economic and social value. Investments in advanced farm machinery, precision farming technologies and digital solutions will help our farmers stay competitive in the transition towards more sustainable farming practices, ensuring a generation renewal of European farming activities. The objectives of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy cannot be achieved without smart technologies and digital transformation. We call on European policy makers to champion the uptake of precision farming and smart technologies through advanced agricultural machinery and solutions.

CIBE
Impact assessments and studies have shown the significant impacts of the Farm to Fork targets on EU agricultural production and trade, as well as on EU farmers. The feasibility of reaching these targets will depend on the support provided to innovative practices, techniques and products. In particular, the current and future regulatory framework on plant protection must avoid the arising of agro-technical deadlocks resulting from the removal of plant protection solutions from the farmers’ toolbox before viable alternative come onstream. Enough time must be given for viable alternatives from innovation to become effectively available to (and workable for) farmers. Furthermore, policy/regulatory framework should not inhibit but promote innovation, notably as regards new plant breeding techniques and their results. Last but not least, policy/regulatory framework should be able to take account of the extent to which good agricultural practices, including IPM, are already applied by farmers in the EU.

CLITRAVI
The European Meat Processing sector believes that a swift transition towards more sustainable food systems should be made in a holistic, fair and coordinated way, by taking into account that any sector is part of the solution and solutions should be found within any sector. There are no sustainable and unsustainable sectors, but more and less sustainable business practices. The debate is now based on a divisive approach which could undermine the target of more sustainable food systems. We call on a less divisive approach in the implementation of the Farm to Fork Strategy, the removal of regulatory bottlenecks which can limit innovation and harmonized solutions which can promote a level playing field for the European operators.

COCERAL
The upcoming global challenges our food chains have started facing – from climate change to disruptive innovation – require comprehensive regulation to better adapt and possibly thrive in uncertain times. Safe crop protection solutions placed on the EU market, together with qualified advisory to farmers and growers, help meet the productivity goals under the Farm to Fork, thereby providing safe, affordable food for the EU population. Yet, interconnectedness and rapid evolution of our food systems food demand unparalleled and fast-adapting regulatory tools. COCERAL believes that standards established at the international level plus continuous dialogue with third countries should inspire actions directed to harmonisation, lessening hidden barriers whilst maintaining high safety standards for consumers and citizens wherever they live, plus environmental care.Advancements flourishing in the domain of sustainable alternatives and green agriculture – including life sciences and biotechnology – should ideally be reflected in enabling regulatory frameworks in due course. Furthermore, innovation doesn’t stop at borders. There is much need for a world-oriented and futurelooking European policy for innovation, accounting for food security, safety and sustainability, as well as for interoperability of current supply chains. In the absence of this, EU traders and Food Business Operators alike will be confronted with hidden obstacles and costly consequences. To do this, we believe that the broader EU regulatory architecture must have a fast-paced, solutions enabling and innovation-focused approach, with local relevance but also global outreach.

Copa-Cogeca
Copa-Cogeca agree with the main goals set out in the Farm to Fork Strategy, we know that changes are necessary, and we remain committed to playing our part in the path towards a transition to a more sustainable food system. Indeed, European farmers, forest owners and their cooperatives are already all working in that direction. We are now waiting for concrete proposals from the Commission, especially on the blind spots identified in the ongoing debate such as on the effects of carbon leakage, European strategic autonomy, or consumer prices. This is about finding new EU enabling ways to contribute to change in a practical and realistic manner talking about: low risk substances – to replace means to combat pest and disease while losing synthetic molecules; New Breeding/Genomic Techniques to improve farming resilience naturally through better genetic material; developing dynamic market for nutrients, by mineral fertilisers and in particular organic fertilisers; Next steps in the Unfair Trading Practices Directive, for more balanced, transparent value chain; Policy consistency across the EU – we are committed to the common policies, but how will this will be translated into the increasingly open international trade.

CropLife Europe
We need a regulatory framework that supports innovation in agriculture which will help deliver the European green and digital transformations. EU authorisation giving timely access to a variety of innovative crop protection solutions is the most important part of farmers’ ability to improve quality, market access and tradability of fresh produce.

EFFAB – European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders
Through selective animal breeding, we achieve better use of feed by animals, reduced carbon footprint and improved animal health and welfare whilst preserving genetic resources – from conventional to organic farming. However, we need more support for research and innovation and to develop legal instruments and tools, in order to accelerate the genetic improvement of farmed animals, and to provide further solutions for farmers, breeders and our society boosting sustainability of EU food systems.

ELO European Landowners Organisation
Innovations such as the New Genomic Techniques (NGT) need to be considered if we are serious about reaching the F2F targets and remain competitive at a global scale. The EU’s current legal framework on GMOs needs to be revised and gene-editing research needs to be encouraged to bridge the gap with other major producing countries. Likewise, we need to have more safe crop protection products and fertilisers on the market. Farmers need them in order to make the transition towards a more sustainable and viable food system. Enabling SMEs access on the market by ensuring a lighter registration process can give farmers the tools they need to reach the ambitious targets set for them.

ePURE
The biorefineries that produce renewable ethanol are working, real-life examples of the bioeconomy in action. European feedstock grown by EU farmers is used to make several important products: including not just renewable low-carbon fuel but also food, highprotein GMO-free animal feed, alcohol for use in hand sanitiser, and captured CO2 for beverage use. The Farm-to-Fork Strategy should promote this domestic biorefinery system, empowering EU climate ambitions, improving food security and ensuring a strategic supply chain.

Euroseeds
We need a regulatory environment that encourages plant breeding and delivers on both purposes: quality assurance for customers (the reproductive material meets their demands regardless of the production system, conventional/organic) and speeding up the development of new varieties (for which New Genomic Techniques are a crucial element).

FEFANA
The Farm to Fork strategy has recognised the key role of specialty feed ingredients stressing the need to facilitate the placing on the market of sustainable and innovative feed additives. The up-coming modernization of the EU feed additive rules is a unique opportunity to address the shortcomings of the current regulatory framework, such as the lengthy and costly authorization procedure, unnecessary administrative burden, the regulatory hurdles to the application of digital solutions, and the need for alignment with other EU legislation. We are calling on the European Commission to work with the stakeholders of the feed sector in order to elaborate a proposal that supports innovation and progress towards achieving objectives of the Green Deal/Farm to Fork Strategy with the help of feed
additives.

FEFAC
The production of feed for food-producing animals plays a key role in determining the sustainability of animal products. Animal production itself plays a key role in determining the sustainability of the whole food system. The impacts that the Farm to Fork Strategy is envisioned to make on the EU Regulatory Framework respective to food production should start from the premises that the different farm animals and the different livestock farming systems all have their strengths, as they excel differently in terms of nutrient and resource efficiency. In the effort to further boost the livestock sector’s role in circular economy, with its capacity to absorb residual biomass from other (industrial) food and non-food sectors, the EU should keep in mind that efforts to boost the sustainability of energy production, with use of advanced biofuels, can impact the competitive access of the feed sector to residual biomass flows in the future.

Fertilizers Europe
As 50 % of global food production is down to the use of mineral fertilizers, the European fertilizer industry plays a vital role in ensuring a resilient European agriculture and in providing citizens with affordable and nutritious food. Increased nutrient use efficiency will be key to meet Europe’s ambitious goal of reducing nutrient losses while ensuring no deterioration of soil fertility. This goal can best be achieved by increasing nutrient use efficiency and setting up nutrient management plans as well as development and uptake of on-farm precise fertilization techniques. The sector is committed to work hand-in hand with farmers to advance a productive, resilient and sustainable EU agriculture.

AGRICULTURE & PROGRESS
Without innovative techniques, it is quite clear that the EU farming community and its downstream users would be unable to guarantee sufficient affordable high-quality produce for EU citizens and for the growing world population – and as a consequence achieve all the ambitious goals foreseen in the Farm-to-Fork Strategy. Innovative techniques such as New Genomic Techniques are key in meeting society’s growing demand to speed up efforts to further increase sustainability and respect for the environment. However, innovation requires time and investments in terms of R&D to overcome technical barriers. The uncertainty currently generated at EU level risks preventing NGTs from becoming mainstream and a permanent part of the agricultural toolbox. Linked to this, the effects of climate change, as well as the efforts made to face them, affect all individuals and economic sectors, but in particular rural communities and agriculture. Agriculture being one of the economic sectors most strongly depending on natural conditions, the efforts required to adapt to a changing environment are particularly important for farmers. The Agriculture & Progress Platform would therefore like to call upon the European Commission to not only integrate globally the challenges of agriculture in its policies but to additionally see agriculture as a means to an end / key player for achieving them (climate change, energy transition, bio economy, etc.).

UECBV
The European Livestock and Meat Trades Union is a reliable sustainability actor from the economic, ecological and social angle

– in the way our 50 associations and 20 000 companies handle welfare, trade, and reduce emissions
– in our supportive approach to the Farm-to-Fork strategy
– in concretely working towards a science-based methodology to devise solutions to our environmental footprint and in developing a data-based sensitivity analysis (to be communicated soon)

From farm to fork via factory, UECBV implements a true circular economy approach based on trade. It aims for a balanced biosystem which includes animals and plant production, supports innovation and prepares for the expected transition. Meat is a nutritious and cultural food able to be produced in a sustainable manner and delivering on consumer expectations. UECBV is strongly involved in finding innovative solutions using given and developing tools like the already signed Code of Conduct, and is able to open doors to transversal approaches for a proven resilient sector.

-END-

Agriculture and Progress – European Platform for Sustainable Agricultural Production
Agri-food Chain Coalition – European agri-food chain joint initiative
AnimalhealthEurope – European Animal Medicines Industry
AVEC – European Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade
CEMA – European Agricultural Machinery Industry
CIBE – International COnfederation of European Beet Growers
Clitravi – Liaison Centre for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union
COCERAL – European association of trade in cereals, oilseeds, pulses, olive oil, oils and fats, animal feed and agrosupply
Copa-Cogeca – European Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives
CropLife Europe– Europe’s Crop Protection Industry
EBB – European Biodiesel Board
EFFAB – European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders
ELO – European Landowners’ Organization
European  Livestock  Voice –  European  Platform  of  the  Livestock  Food  Chain
Euroseeds – European Seed Sector
ePURE – European Renewable Ethanol Industry
UECBV – European Livestock and Meat Trades Union
FEFAC – European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation
FEFANA – European Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures
Fertilizers Europe – European Fertilizer Producers
UECBV – European Livestock and Meat Trades Union

The post Joint statement – Farm to Fork Strategy: how to reach targets? appeared first on Fefana.

Join the AFCC and the EuropeanLivestockVoice in this EURACTIV webinar to learn about the impacts of the Farm to Fork strategy and what it takes to reach its goals. 27 January 2022, h9:30-10:45 CET

Register here

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On 7 December sector associations from European Livestock Voice invited EVP Timmermans to visit a beef and dairy farm in the Wallonia region of Belgium. The visit organised in cooperation with local farming Union FWA, was a great opportunity for EVP Timmermans to engage in a direct and open discussion with livestock farmers on the Green Deal objectives. It was also a first step in opening an action-oriented dialogue between the Commission EVP and EU representatives of the livestock value chain on the future developments of the Farm to Fork strategy.

The European livestock sector has been investing in making improvements for many years now with measurable outcomes in many areas. With best-in-class standards of animal health and welfare and among the lowest global livestock emissions, high  standards  on  environment,  the  sector  does not shy away from continuing to adapt to meet increasing demands. All representatives of the European livestock sector agree on the fact that more needs to be done to meet social, environmental, and animal welfare challenges. But no one should be left behind.

© Bernal Revert

The EU livestock sector is calling for a consistent approach. As the recent debates around the Farm to Fork strategy have shown, there are many questions that need to be answered to ensure that efforts made in the EU do not lead to climate or environmental dumping elsewhere. It is also essential for the livestock sector to be able to invest in the tools and production methods best suited to match an unprecedented situation. There are now many interesting proposals being discussed at European level, notably on carbon farming, on animal welfare labelling or changes to current EU legislation to stimulate innovation in animal production to meet the challenging targets of the European Green Deal and Farm to Fork strategy. The livestock sector must be a key partner in these discussions. The EU livestock sector must retain its possibility and capacity to continue contributing to sustainability.

Representatives of the 12 sectoral associations – breeders, animal health, feed and specialty feed ingredients, farmers and agri co-operatives, dairy and poultry producers, meat processors, foie gras producers, livestock traders, leather and fur producers – are all united in the belief that collectively we can deliver on the ambitious EU actions and targets. Nevertheless, it is certain that pledges to deliver on targets must be a two-way agreement. Coherence between EU policies and support measures is needed, and there must be a balance of the burden of changes for the primary producer, as for the retailer, as for the consumer.

© Bernal Revert

It was in this spirit and with the aim of finding solutions that a roundtable discussion was held between the livestock value chain stakeholders and EVP Timmermans following the visit to François-Hubert and Stéphane Van Eyck’s Farm.

Commenting after the event on behalf of European Livestock Voice, Birthe Steenberg said: “As the Commission is now working on concrete proposals to materialise the Farm to Fork strategy, this open dialogue was an important step forward in ensuring that the voice of the livestock sector is heard in the wide debate around food systems sustainability. We welcome the willingness of Commission EVP Timmermans to come onto ‘our turf’ and we hope to continue these active debates next year to ensure balanced and positive outcomes for all involved.”

Closing the event Commission VP Timmermans said: “In our efforts to tackle the climate crisis, agriculture has to move from being part of the problem to being part of the solution. Overall, the Common Agricultural Policy is there to help farmers move in the right direction. In livestock farming, the solutions must focus on reducing emissions and creating an overall sustainable industry. Because to feed 10 billion people in the future, the world will need a sustainable livestock industry.”

– ENDS-

© Bernal Revert

Notes for editors:
About European Livestock voice
European Livestock Voice is a multi-stakeholder group of like-minded partners in the livestock food chain that have decided to unite for the first time to balance the debate surrounding a sector that plays such an essential role in Europe’s rich heritage and future. The associations involved, which represent sectors ranging from animal health to feed, to breeding and animal farming through to farmers, aim to inform the public about the societal value of livestock production and its contribution to global challenges, offering an alternative narrative to current debates.

AVEC – European Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade
Clitravi – Liaison Centre for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union
Copa-Cogeca – European Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives
COTANCE – European Leather Industry
EDA – European Dairy Association
EFFAB – European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders
Euro Foie Gras – European Federation of foie gras
FEFAC – European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation
FEFANA – European Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures
UECBV – European Livestock and Meat Trades Union

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JOINT STATEMENT

Brussels, 12 October 2021

Food chain actors all agree with the main principles set out in the Farm to Fork strategy and are fully aware that constant and substantial improvement must be made to ensure a more sustainable approach for our food systems. Nevertheless, several recently published studies on the Farm to Fork strategy indicate that the current targets, if implemented as proposed, will come at a significant cost for EU farmers and the viability of the entire European agribusiness culture. 

The time for political messages around the Farm to Fork strategy has passed.  It is now time to analyse the data currently available.  In recent months, several key reports and studies have tried to assess and measure the impacts of the targets set by the European Commission when presenting the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies in May 2020.

Studies conducted by the USDA[1], the HFFA Research[2], the Joint Research Centre of the EU (JRC)[3], Kiel University[4] as well as Wageningen University and Research (WUR) all conclude that there are several significant impacts, trade-offs and blind spots that urgently need to be considered by policymakers in the EU (and beyond).

For example:

• The JRC study predicts that the expected decrease of between 40 and 60% of GHG emissions from European agriculture stemming from the implementation of Farm to Fork targets will lead to outsourcing European agricultural production, including its emissions to third countries.
• The Kiel University study projects that Europe could become a net food importer, in direct contradiction with the open strategic autonomy promoted by the European Commission during the COVID crisis.
• The USDA study concludes that the targets set out in the Farm to Fork strategy could lead to food insecurity for 22 million people.

Why is Europe not looking at the data?

Each of these studies, using different methodologies, with different focal points and limitations all complement each other. They all reach the same conclusions. EU agricultural production will decrease – in some areas and for some products quite drastically. According to the latest WUR study showing an average production decline for the cumulative impact of targets of between 10 – 20%^[5] with up to 30% drop for certain crops.

As regards livestock production, the study from the University of Kiel, points to a 20% reduction in EU beef production and a 17% reduction for pork production on average. A further WUR policy paper (soon to be published) confirms an overall decrease in beef, pig and dairy production, leading not only to a price increase for EU consumers but also shows questionable effects on livestock farmers’ incomes.

The data clearly points to impacts on trade, on farmers’ incomes and ultimately on consumer prices. Changing the food system under these conditions will be more difficult, and imposing consumption taxes, as proposed by the European Parliament, could make it socially unjust. 

All the actors in the agri-food chain are aware of the environmental and climate challenges we are facing today. We are all committed to playing our part in the fight to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. European agricultural production is among the most resource and environmentally friendly in the world. Nevertheless, European producers believe that, with innovation and further support at the forefront of EU agricultural policy, farmers will continue to produce in an even more sustainable manner.  We acknowledge the expectations of society and policymakers within the realm of food production. But “non-data based political targets” will have deleterious effects on European agriculture. We must build solution-oriented policies, based on the data we have to hand, with innovation as their cornerstone.

In order to start talking about solutions, we need to have a common understanding of the challenges we face in pursuing our Farm to Fork objectives. This common understanding should be based on a comprehensive and cumulative impact assessment conducted by the European Commission. The most recent Wageningen study, with its different scenarios, is clearly showing that assessing the effects of Farm to Fork targets in isolation, as the Commission seems to envision doing from now on, will only give a partial picture of the cumulative reality faced by farmers and agri-food players on the ground.

 We are as eager as the Commission to end this debate on the necessity of carrying out a cumulative impact assessment. We call for a comprehensive assessment because we want to understand where problems are likely to arise, so that we can discuss the potential solutions.

Europe’s food production model, spearheaded by the Common Agricultural Policy, has been one of the biggest successes of the European Union. We do not understand the apparent attempt to countermand our progress and disregard our successes at a time when our trading partners are already talking about filling the production gaps left vacant by Europe.

In addition, if EU production decreases, as is clearly expected by all the researchers who have assessed the impact of the Commission’s current proposals, then EU imports of agricultural raw materials and ingredients are bound to increase significantly, thus making the EU dependent on imports to feed its population – thus creating several political and food safety risks for European consumers.

It is time the European Commission conducts a holistic impact assessment. The Farm to Fork deadline is looming.  Eight years for the agricultural sector is not that long. We urgently need to see concrete proposals and a broader discussion around the choices we are making – but it needs to be based on better data.

-END-

[1] https://www.fas.usda.gov/newsroom/economic-and-food-security-impacts-eu-farm-fork-strategy
[2] https://hffa-research.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/HFFA-Research-The-socio-economic-and-environmental-values-of-plant-breeding-in-the-EU.pdf
[3] https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC121368
[4] https://grain-club.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Dokumente/Farm_to_fork_Studie_Executive_Summary_EN.pdf
[5] Summary of results Scenario 4: red. pesticide and nutrient use, 10% set aside

Agriculture and Progress – European Platform for Sustainable Agricultural Production
Agri-food Chain Coalition – European agri-food chain joint initiative
AnimalhealthEurope – European Animal Medicines Industry
AVEC – European Association of Poultry Processors and Poultry Trade
CEFS – European Association of Sugar Manufacturers
CEJA – European Council of Young Farmers
CEMA – European Agricultural Machinery Industry
CEPM – European Confederation of Maize Production
CEVI – European Confederation of Independent Winegrowers
CIBE – International Confederation of European Beet Growers
Clitravi – Liaison Centre for the Meat Processing Industry in the European Union
COCERAL – European association of trade in cereals, oilseeds, pulses, olive oil, oils and fats, animal feed and agrosupply
Copa-Cogeca – European Farmers and Agri-Cooperatives
CropLife Europe– Europe’s Crop Protection Industry
EBB – European Biodiesel Board
EFFAB – European Forum of Farm Animal Breeders
ELO – European Landowners’ Organization
European  Livestock  Voice –  European  Platform  of  the  Livestock  Food  Chain
Euro Foie Gras – European Federation of foie gras
Euroseeds – European Seed Sector
ePURE – European Renewable Ethanol Industry
UECBV – European Livestock and Meat Trades Union
FEFAC – European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation
FEFANA – European Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures
Fertilizers Europe – European Fertilizer Producers
IBC – International Butchers’ Confederation

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Join our Dialogue between Scientists and an MEP to discuss findings from some of these impact analyses ahead of the upcoming vote in the European Parliament. 13 October 2021, 11:30-12:30 via Zoom

The post Webinar: The Farm to Fork Strategy – what do studies say about its impact on the European livestock sector? appeared first on Fefana.

FEFANA explanatory note

Brussels, 12 August 2021

On July 16, 2021, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 “authorising” certain products and substances for use in organic production and establishing their lists, was published on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ). This new legal act (Regulation (EU) 2021/1165) repeals some measures in Regulation (EC) 889/2008 including annexes V (feed additives) and VI (feed materials) and replaces these annexes with an Annex III to Regulation 2021/1165.  The Annex III now contains lists of feed materials (Part A) and feed additives (Part B) that are allowed for organic production from 1 January 2022[1]. The FEFANA statement below is intended to assist feed business operators with some understanding of the new implementing Regulation[2] as advised by some feedback received from EC services and feed industry regulatory experts.

INTRODUCTION

One of the action points in the Farm to Fork Strategy is the revision of the feed additives regulation with a view of facilitating the placing on the market and use of innovative additives that can help reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming.  FEFANA values the EC recognition that feed additives could help with sustainable food production through (i) maximising on resources: saving, improving and or increasing their efficiency, as well as reduction of (ii) greenhouse emissions, (iii) the need for use of antibiotics, and (iv) food loss and waste. It is generally now agreed as important to secure a legislative framework that supports the sector in reaching these ambitious goals.

Without compromising the organic production principles, the use of feed additives and their mixtures can also support organic farming by providing essential micronutrients to cover animals’ needs as well as ensuring animal’s general well-being/welfare and assuring optimal health. FEFANA therefore welcomes this new implementing act that affords further clarity on the principles of organic production and thus helps with achieving the EU Green Deal initiatives on organic production.

This Implementing Regulation continues to reinforce current understanding that only products and substances[3] already authorised in accordance with relevant provisions of Union law may be used in organic production (authorised under Article 24 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848) as well as attempts to further clarify those feed additives that could be allowed for organic feed use.

NOMENCLATURE OF FEED ADDITIVES ID/functional groups and use in organic farming

In as much as the expression “ex” is now included in the annex of this new implementing act, FEFANA understands that this does not infer introduction of new ID/functional groups of additives. The expression was introduced to further identify the additives, as listed in the European Union Community Register of Feed Additives, that are allowed in organic farming.  The EC Services have clarified that where there is the addition of the Latin prefix “ex” (meaning “out of”), it is intended to describe that only products and substances within the cited ID number following the expression and that meet the specific conditions (listed in the column “description”) are allowed for use in organic production. The Community legal acts concerning the authorisation of each feed additive continues to constitute the legal basis for the placing on the market and use of the additives concerned. This means (and in accordance with the provisions of Article 4 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1165) that a feed additive or feed additive preparation (even if it contains processing aids) authorised under Regulation (EC) 1831/2003 and then listed in this implementing regulation is allowed in organic production.

INCREASED TRANSPARENCY

Similar to the procedure already in place, the listing of “new” feed additives for use in organic production will continue based on proposals for such new additions through member states. However, under Regulation (EU) 2018/848, Art. 24.7, all submissions of new dossiers will now be required to be made public (whilst respecting data protection legislation). FEFANA welcomes this increased transparency as it should help operators in identifying national authority(ies)’ plans to “enrich” the community “positive lists” of products and substances that may also be used in organic production.

NEXT STEPS

FEFANA will continue to work/assist as necessary with any measures that will continue to provide clarity to feed business operators with regards to additives that are allowed in organic production. For example, as part of FEFANA response to the recent consultation on EU evaluation of the feed additives legislation, it has highlighted the need to make the European Community Register of feed additives more user-friendly as well as requesting additional necessary information provided to stakeholders via that database. FEFANA will support exploring the feasibility of supplementing a future community register with indication of additives allowed for organic farming.

[1] Annexes V and VI to Regulation (EC) 889/2008 should continue to apply until 31 December 2021.

[2] It is the Court of Justice of the European Union that has the ultimate responsibility on interpretation issues relating to EU law.

[3] Community register of feed additives: https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/animal-feed/feed-additives/eu-register_en

About FEFANA

FEFANA (EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures) is the united voice of the specialty feed ingredients business in Europe. Our membership comprises manufacturers and traders of feed additives, functional feed ingredients, premixes and other mixtures of specialty ingredients that enter the food chain via feed. FEFANA facilitates the dialogue between EU institutions and feed business operators while promoting feed and food safety and a fair and competitive market. For any additional information please contact the FEFANA Secretariat at info@fefana.org or visit our website at www.fefana.org.

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JOINT PRESS RELEASE

Brussels, 20 May 2021

On 19 May, FEFAC and FEFANA have held their first joint EURACTIV virtual conference titled “Animal Health and Welfare: what role for Animal Nutrition?”

The event was opened by a video statement from European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety Stella Kyriakides, who stressed the key role of the European feed sector for the achievement of the ambitious goals of the Farm to Fork Strategy, not only in the field of sustainability, but also in supporting animal health and welfare through modern and innovative feeding regimes.

The panel discussed the ample scientific evidence of the beneficial effects of animal nutrition in supporting animals’ resilience to stressors, thereby reducing the need for antibiotics; as well as the need for an EU framework that actively supports the deployment of such needed modern animal nutrition solutions at farm level.

In the light of this, Benoit Anquetil, Cargill Animal Nutrition, representing FEFAC and FEFANA at the event, has welcomed the revision of EU feed legislation, action point of the Farm to Fork strategy. A more efficient authorisation process would allow innovative ingredients to reach the market in a timelier manner, while uniform rules on claims would allow to communicate these science-based benefits to the final users.

FEFAC and FEFANA continue to be fully committed in communicating the fundamental role of animal nutrition in achieving the goals of the Farm to Fork strategy, as well as proactively responding to current societal needs and participating to the EU’s Better Regulation agenda.

The full recording of the event is available here.

Notes to the editor:
FEFAC, the European Compound Feed Manufacturers’ Federation, represents 23 national Associations in 23 EU Member States, the UK, as well as Associations in Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia, Russia and Norway with observer/associate member status. The European compound feed industry employs over 100,000 persons on app. 3,500 production sites often in rural areas, which offer few employment opportunities.

Farm animals in the EU-28 (2019) consumed an estimated 834 million tonnes of feed a year, of which about 20% are produced by the compound feed manufacturers. Turnover of the European compound feed industry is estimated at € 50 billion.

For any additional information please contact the FEFAC Secretariat at fefac@fefac.eu or visit our website at www.fefac.eu.

FEFANA, the EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures, is the united voice of the specialty feed ingredients business in Europe. Our membership comprises manufacturers and traders of feed additives, functional feed ingredients, premixes and other mixtures of specialty ingredients that enter the food chain via feed. FEFANA facilitates the dialogue between EU institutions and feed business operators while promoting feed and food safety and a fair and competitive market.

For any additional information please contact the FEFANA Secretariat at info@fefana.org or visit our website at www.fefana.org.

The post Feed industry contribution to EU FtF targets on animal health & welfare appeared first on Fefana.