PRESS RELEASE
With the assessment of the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice for Pet Food by the EU Standing Committee for Animal Nutrition, the FEDIAF Code receives official recognition as a practical tool for industry and authorities for guidance on how to label pet food products – for the benefit of pet owners, for a level playing field within industry and for control authorities.
Brussels, November 2018 – Based on EU Regulation 767/2009 on the Marketing and Use of Feed from 2009, the first edition of the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice was already endorsed a first time by the EU and Member States back in 2011.
Following modifications in the EU Regulation and numerous suggestions for improvements of the Code from stakeholders, particularly constructive from Member States, FEDIAF developed a 70-page revised version of the Code.
The FEDIAF Code clarifies questions such as: How to label ingredients or additives? Which consumer-friendly terms should be used? What stands behind the legal terms “meat and animal derivatives” on the label? How are concentrated, dried ingredients mentioned on the label? Is it allowed to highlight functional health benefits of pet food products? How do labelling rules apply to online trade and promotions?
The EU Regulation lays down key labelling requirements for pet food – however, these need explanation, interpretation, examples and clarifications, on how these work in practice. Instead of having different interpretations of labelling rules in the 28 EU Member States, the Code provides thereby clear guidance leading to better and harmonised labelling throughout the EU.
A large section of the Code is dedicated to explaining how to make product claims and how these must be scientifically substantiated: accurate, truthful and understandable for the purchaser. The Code, effectively implemented and used by national authorities, is thus also a tool to avoid misleading claims and to create a level playing field between industry operators.
Some labelling regulations being somewhat technical, FEDIAF included again a special “Guide for Customers” or “Layman’s Guide” explaining in easy language what pet owners read on the label.
As the next step, FEDIAF will work on a detailed digital training package destined in particular to pet food companies and authorities to promote the Code’s uniform application throughout the EU.
The FEDIAF Labelling Code can be downloaded freely from the FEDIAF website.
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Additional information:
- Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the placing on the market and use of feed, consolidated version
- European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Food Safety, website concerning feed marketing
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FEDIAF represents the European pet food industry with around 200 production sites. Serving as an umbrella organization of national pet food industry associations, and five direct company members, FEDIAF’s mission is to be the credible and responsible voice of the European pet food industry collaborating with authorities, regulators and academics for achieving favorable conditions for the supply of safe, nutritious and palatable products to pets and their owners. Based in Brussels, FEDIAF is fully committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, to the wellbeing of pet animals, to their important social role and to the respect of sustainable development. www.fediaf.org
Contact: Thomas Meyer, Secretary General, + 32 (2) 536 05 20 – fediaf@fediaf.org