An improved FEDIAF safety guide and updated FEDIAF dog and cat nutritional guidelines were presented and agreed at the European Pet Food Industry Federation’s annual meeting in Manchester last month: “We are proud having adopted an improved pet food safety guide as well as updated nutritional guidelines for cats and dogs.” FEDIAF president Marinus Pannevis concluded.
Safe, nutritious and balanced pet food
The fundamental aim of pet food companies is to produce safe and nutritious pet foods, FEDIAF provides guidance on how to best fulfill this mission:
Safety: The FEDIAF safety guide, which is endorsed by the EU, has been updated to include new legal requirements and represents a state-of-the-art manual for manufacturers throughout the EU for producing safe pet foods. Training of personnel, machinery, HACCP, raw materials, contaminants, supply chain – all elements are covered and explained for the users. Once endorsed again by the EU, likely before end 2017, the safety guide will be posted on the FEDIAF website for free download by any interested party.
Nutrition: There are 37 essential nutrients (vitamins, trace elements, fatty acids, amino acids…) that dogs need in their daily food, cats require 41 essential nutrients. For many years FEDIAF, together with a Scientific Advisory Board composed of renowned scientists from European universities and vet schools, annually updates its publicly available nutritional guidelines: What are the minimum needs of calcium for puppies, how much vitamin A do cats need, what is the maximum for the trace element zinc for dogs? A practical tool for producers to achieve the right quantities and balance of nutrients, a guide on how to conduct product analyses or feeding protocols and on energy requirements, to name just a few examples. The document is available at www.fediaf.org.uk