Feed businesses in Northern Ireland who participate in and comply with the feed assurance schemes – FEMAS, TASCC and UFAS – can look forward to fewer inspections and less sampling as the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs implements the concept of ‘Earned Recognition’.

The Department is implementing revisions to the Feed Enforcement Guidance, published by the Food Standards Agency which brings Northern Ireland guidance into line with the Code of Practice operating in England and Wales. This will include a modified risk assessment scheme, with a greater weighting toward membership of voluntary quality assurance schemes, as part of an earned recognition scheme.

Feed business operators are legally responsible for compliance with feed safety legislation, but businesses which participate and comply with the relevant assurance schemes will be deemed a lower risk by the regulators.

Commenting on the change, John Kelley, Managing Director of AIC Services which operates the AIC assurance schemes, said, “This is welcome news and means feed businesses in Northern Ireland can enjoy the benefits of earned recognition.”

“DAERA has also declared its ongoing commitment to working with the Food Fortress network in Northern Ireland and has already modified its feed sampling programmes to reflect the information being shared. The reputation of the feed industry is enhanced where best practice can be demonstrated through compliance with robust schemes. The recognition of this principle means that compliant businesses will receive fewer official interventions. This represents a significant benefit in both cost and time savings without compromising the safety and integrity of the feed and food chains that supply the consumer.”