BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — The European Compound Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) said on Sept. 2 it will work with the Romanian Feed Industry Association (ANFNC) and the Bulgarian Feed Manufacturers Association (BFMA) to implement E.U. feed legislation and Good Manufacturing Practices in South-Eastern Europe throughout the whole feed chain.

During joint expert meetings in Oradea, Romania on Aug. 28 and Bucharest, Romania on Aug. 29, ANFNC President Iosif Pazuric expressed his expectations that the close cooperation between FEFAC and ANFNC should allow Romania’s feed industry to unlock the full potential of feed production and livestock farming in Romania. 

He noted that the current annual production of approximately 2.5 million tonnes could be doubled within the next 10 years, provided E.U. feed legislation and official controls are implemented evenly in the whole feed sector.

At a joint meeting on Aug. 29 in Lovech, Bulgaria, BMFA President Hristineta Stancheva, agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation of the Bulgarian feed industry with the competent authorities to foster a risk-based approach in official and private sector control programs.

FEFAC President Ruud Tijssens proposed to co-organize a regional workshop for industry and competent authorities from South-Eastern European member countries taking into account the results of Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) mission reports and best practice experience of national feed industry associations regarding cooperation and information exchange with competent control authorities.

He stressed that FEFAC fully shares the E.U. FVO vision that close cooperation between private sector and official controls is the most effective way forward for ensuring compliance with the E.U. feed safety objectives. FEFAC said it will defend this viewpoint at the upcoming political discussions on the review of the E.U. legislation on official controls.