With a view to the current policy debate on the “CAP” reform proposals’ goal of improving “resource efficiency” and competitiveness in European food production, Vanden Avenne stressed that “safe and balanced compound feed from competitive and sustainable sources is an essential prerequisite for the long-term viability of E.U. livestock production.”
Vanden Avenne stated that “In a situation of extremely volatile grain and protein markets, which negatively affects the E.U.’s livestock sector competiveness, the compound feed industry plays a crucial role in fully exploiting the nutritional potential of co-products from the food and biofuel industry, including former foodstuffs, provided they are safe for both animals and humans.”
He called on the European Commission to rapidly prolong the TRQ import duty suspension for wheat, while doubling efforts to reduce the increasing backlog of GMO import approvals, in order to send a clear signal to the market that the supply of competitive feedstuffs remains a top priority for the European Commission in order to safeguard E.U. livestock production.
He welcomed in particular the planned vote at E.U. Standing Committee level on the reauthorization of non-ruminant processed animal proteins for fish feed. He stated that a “positive vote would pave the way for our E.U. aquaculture producers to step up their efforts to increase E.U. aquaculture production by creating a level playing field with seafood imports. EFSA has provided clear scientific evidence that n.r. PAPs are safe. They can help reducing the E.U.’s dependency on fishmeal imports thus contributing to the Common Fisheries Policy reform goals of pairing sustainable wild fisheries with the sustainable development of aquaculture.”
