Control of purchases remains one of the important means to ensure the marketing of feed that is safe and of good quality. Through this newsletter we would like to remind you of measures to be taken in terms of mandatory communication to OVOCOM, upon purchase of animal feed in accordance with the Gatekeeper-Principle.

AIC, GMP+ International, OVOCOM and QS are currently working to achieve harmonized purchase requirements. In the framework of this project, differences in mutual recognition agreements with, or acceptance of, other schemes are also being compared, with the aim to harmonize as much as possible as they have an influence on the necessary gate-keeping options of the schemes.

A reassessment of the risk classification of countries (see FCA-document ‘BT-16: Temporary Monitoring’), based on Aflatoxine results received, has once again lead to a number of changes.

The interchangeability agreement between OVOCOM and GMP+ International has recently been renewed. That way, the mutual recognition between the Standards OVOCOM (FCA Standard) and GMP+ International (GMP+ FSA Standard) continues.

The interchangeability agreement between OVOCOM and EFISC (the European quality system for crushers (oil production) and for the starch industry) has recently been renewed.

That way, the mutual recognition between the Standards OVOCOM (FCA Standard) and EFISC (European Feed Ingredients Safety Code) continues.

As a certified or attested company you are paying an annual contribution fee.

In return for the payment of your contribution fee, you will be able to enjoy all kinds of benefits  including the possibility of interchangeability without extra cost, participation in OVOCOM training sessions at an attractive rate, Legislative follow-up, ….

The Dutch dairy industry (NZO) has, since January 1st, 2016, further tightened the quality assurance of animal feed within the Netherlands. From that date onwards, only companies listed on the so-called "white list" may directly supply feed to Dutch dairy farmers. One of the requirements to appear on this list is the application of a quality management system that meets the requirements of NZO.

For the Regulatory follow-up of November, we have retained two circular letters sent by the Belgian authorities.

The first document relates to claims and is of interest to all companies located in the European Union, mostly anywhere in the world.

The second, relating to the mandatory notification, is only applicable for Belgian Companies.

Every month, we go deeper into one or more texts published during the last month. This time, with some delay however, we shall focus on the month of October. The modification relating to the additive authorization has caught our attention. Why that one rather than another ? Given that there are many published on a regular basis !

There have been agreed several changes for the IDTF by the International Committee for Road Transport (GMP+ International, OVOCOM, QS, Qualimat, GTP, AIC, Gafta and pastus+). The changes are now implemented in the IDTF. Please find here further information about the changes.

Whenever a potential hazard occurs for the Animal Feed Sector it is not only important to minimize, but also, in as much as possible, to limit its consequences as much as possible. It is therefore essential to respond quickly and to clearly notify the entire Feed Sector.

A reassessment of the risk classification of countries (see FCA-document ‘BT-16: Temporary monitoring’), based on Aflatoxine results received, has lead once again to a number of changes.

For the new ‘focus’ point, we have decided to look into the legislation relating to pesticide residues (MRLs) (LMR), a subject that frequently comes in the news and in the Alert notifications.

In 2005, OVOCOM, together with three other Scheme holders, accompanied by FEFAC, launched the IFSA (International Feed Safety Alliance), a platform that would implement the IFIS certification (IFSA Feed Ingredients Standard).

On October 6, 2016, RASFF Notification No. 2016.1369 was published. This RASFF Notification mentions the contamination of dioxin-like and non-dioxin-type PCBs in compound feed (complimentary feed) on the basis of yeast.

The relooking of our documents is also accompanied by an update of the AT-01 documents relating to Legislation. Certain links to consolidated versions have been adapted and new texts have been added.

You may have already noticed,  but as of today,  there is something totally ‘new’ on our web site: the FCA documents have received a complete new look !

Following the amendment of the protocol, early September, and due to the new harvest (see  FCA-document ‘BT-16: Temporary monitoring’), a first evaluation took place in the beginning of this month, regarding the risk classification based on received Aflatoxine results.

September 2016 has been very quiet in terms of publications concerning our sector based Legislation.

However, in Belgium, there was the publication of the German version of several texts, including the amending provisions to the Royal Decree ‘self-checking, mandatory notification and traceability’.

Pour clôturer cette année , OVOCOM vous propose une dernière formation de base ayant pour sujet exclusif le Standard Feed Chain Alliance.