Because of the specific nature of its products, the pet food industry differs from the human food industry, on the one hand, and the feed industry, on the other.
It was important therefore to set up a legal framework, as acknowledgement of the specific characteristics of the sector and to provide appropriate solutions. To this end, the European Commission - in close cooperation with FEDIAF - has drawn up a set of laws (regulations and directives).
These laws aim in particular, and among other things, at:
--> identifying permitted materials, both of animal and vegetable origin; --> giving an overview of the additives allowed; --> regulating the specific manufacturing conditions to be complied with when handling raw materials of animal origin and storing the end product; --> defining the required methods sampling and analysis for the control of raw materials and the end product; --> àensuring food safety via HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points): analysis and monitoring/management of the critical points at the different stages of the manufacturing process; --> regulating labelling and packaging; --> regulating the information on pet food labels: feeding instructions, use-by date, composition, advice for storing, additives...
FEDIAF was founded in 1970 and brings together the national pet food associations of European countries whether or not in the EU. Its main role is to represent the European pet food industry before the different European bodies and to obtain recognition of the specific characteristics of this sector of the agri-food industry.
The decisions are taken by the Comité Exécutif representing the General Assembly. The Executive Committee is assisted by a Review Committee and by several project groups whose activities focus on technical and commercial issues such as nutrition, communication, food safety, environment, etc.
In addition, the Executive Committee makes sure that all member companies in the national associations belonging to FEDIAF when manufacturing prepared pet food use only meat and animal by-products coming from animals which were passed as fit for human consumption at the time of slaughter by the competent authorities.
