Animal by-product changes worry industry

We at the Food Storage & Distribution Federation (FSDF) endorse the comments of Terry Jones at the Provision Trade Federation and Barbara Gallani at the Food and Drink Federation. Our view is that charges for such official controls, wherever they fall in the supply chain, should, as the Food Standards Agency (FSA) already agrees, be financed by the public purse, rather than being an added burden and cost to the industry. It is also clear that some further work needs to be done as to the clarity of the regime and its application.

Our members in the standalone storage industry are currently facing a similar situation, where we have been advised that the FSA intends to introduce a new approval scheme for all facilities used for the handling and storage of animal by-products.

New scheme ​

This scheme, provided for in EU 853/2004 but not applied previously in UK, would replace the existing well-established registration scheme, and be administered and enforced by local authority environmental health staff. This would take place over the next 12 months and cover all stores used for products of animal origin, except those used within the retail sector, although where the boundaries are is currently unclear.

In conversation with the FSDF’s primary authority, there is some lack of clarity as to the application of the scheme and the various trade associations involved will be meeting the FSA shortly to seek to identify and resolve any issues. However, one key issue will be the costs of administration of the approval scheme and any inspection regime, and how these will be financed.

Chris Sturman, FCILT, FRSA

Chief executive

Food Storage & Distribution Federation