Government Decree No. 1405 validating Veterinary and Sanitary Regulation on hygiene of feedstuffs and contents of undesirable substances therein.

This Government Decree implements Regulation (EC) No. 183/2005 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down requirements for feed hygiene, Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety, Regulation (EC) No. 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council on additives for use in animal nutrition, Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1292/2005 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards animal nutrition and Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on undesirable substances in animal feed. The veterinary and sanitary standards for the hygiene of feedstuffs and the content of undesirable substances in feed shall be applicable to: (a) the activity of feed producers at all stages - from the initial production of feedstuffs to their release on the market; (b) food intended for animals from which food products are obtained: concentrated feedstuffs, coarse feed, green, juicy feed, feed derived from waste from the processing industry; (c) import of feed from third countries. This Veterinary and Sanitary Regulation does not apply to: (a) fodder, prepared, manipulated or stored in individual farms for feeding domestic animals from which they receive food products for domestic private consumption; (b) feed intended for animals that are not kept for food; and (c) retail sale of feeds for unproductive animals. Producers make sure that all the stages of production, processing and distribution under their control can be applied in accordance with the current legislation for this field and best practices. They certify that these steps meet the requirements established by this Veterinary and Sanitary Regulation. When feeding animals from which food products are obtained, producers take measures and perform procedures to maintain the biological, chemical or physical contamination of fodder at a minimum level. Feedstuffs that are marketed or supplied to the market shall be labelled or identified by adequate documentation or information. If feedstuffs do not meet legal requirements and/or are not safe, they shall not supplied to the market and shall not fed to any animal from which fattened for food. It is forbidden to produce, process and sell fodder that can cause: (a) deterioration in the quality of products obtained from farm animals; (b) a threat to human health; (c) deterioration of animal health; and (d) increase in the level of undesirable substances and products.