At the plenary vote on the amendments to the Waste Framework Directive, the European Parliament left the Commission feed exclusion proposal intact.

On 14 March 2017 the European Parliament voted through the report by Simona Bonafè on the amendments to the Waste Framework Directive, as part of the Circular Economy Package. COCERAL, EFFPA, FEFAC and PFP are pleased that the European Parliament has kept raw materials placed on the market as feed outside the scope of the Waste Framework Directive as proposed by the European Commission. This confirms that these raw materials are subject to EU feed legislation and official feed controls only. COCERAL, EFFPA, FEFAC and PFP stress that good practices in the feed supply chain as regards feed safety management and traceability ensure an uninterrupted HACCP chain in the conversion of by-products from the food and bioenergy chain into feed.

The European Parliament hereby also allows to further build on the approach that former foodstuff processors are fully integrated in the food-to-feed chain and do not operate as ‘(food) waste recyclers’. It remains extremely important for this sector to obtain the legal certainty that when former foodstuffs are placed on the market as feed, this legal status cannot be overturned by environmental authorities based on by-product criteria interpretation of the Waste Framework Directive.

The vote in plenary session marks the negotiation position of the European Parliament. The position of the Council of Ministers is expected during the Estonian EU Council Presidency.

The post European Parliament confirms exclusion of marketed feed from waste legislation appeared first on EFFPA.

EFFPA has developed a brochure called “Keeping Food Losses in the Food Chain” to explain the essentials of former foodstuff processing. The title highlights the capacity of former foodstuff processors to prevent losses at food factory level from being removed from the food chain and end up as food waste. Examples of former foodstuffs
 are listed as well as typical reasons why food can become a former foodstuff, for example production errors leading to broken products or surpluses caused by logistical challenges. In the brochure, EFFPA tries to also emphasise what are not former foodstuffs and what type of food losses are not allowed in feed for food-producing animals.

EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “Accurately explaining what former foodstuff processors do is of crucial importance as our business activity is often misunderstood. We want to be very clear that we are not competitors to food banks and we are not food waste recycles. Former foodstuff processors are responsible feed business operators, respecting Feed Hygiene Legislation and the General Food Law, as well as HACCP requirements”.

The post EFFPA Launches Brochure about Former Foodstuff Processing appeared first on EFFPA.

EFFPA’s event “Circular economy in Action: Food-to-Feed Valorisation of Former Foodstuffs” highlights the contribution of the animal feed outlet to preventing food waste

On 29 March 2017, EFFPA (the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association) organised its 1^st stakeholder event in Brussels since its foundation in January 2014. The event, attended by approximately 70 people, served as an introduction to the former foodstuff^[1] processing value chain as well as a platform to discuss the way forward for the applicable regulatory framework. The programme featured speakers from the food & feed sector, regulatory experts and a food safety assurance scheme representative. The valuable sustainability contribution of former foodstuff processing to the EU circular economy and the prevention of food waste were highlighted, while also stressing the importance of maintaining feed safety at all costs. Future innovation in processing technology & sourcing capacities, more efficient safety assurance scheme auditing procedures and a streamlining of the regulatory interface between food and feed production were mentioned as elements that could further stimulate the processing of former foodstuffs into feed for food-producing animals.

EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “The event provided an excellent podium to present our business activity to a wide audience. I hope it will stimulate the food industry’s conviction that having their former foodstuffs transformed into animal feed can be part of a safe, sustainable business strategy that contributes to food waste prevention”.

Former foodstuff processors transform foodstuffs no longer suitable for human consumption into high-quality feed ingredients. At the event, EFFPA also announced the publication of a brochure called “Keeping food losses in the food chain”, which aims to help with accurately explaining what former foodstuffs are as well as tackle potential misconceptions.

[1] Regulation (EU) No 68/2013 – Catalogue of Feed Materials: ‘former foodstuffs’ means foodstuffs, other than catering reflux, which were manufactured for human consumption in full compliance with the EU food law but which are no longer intended for human consumption for practical or logistical reasons or due to problems of manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects and which do not present any health risks when used as feed

The post 1st EFFPA Stakeholder Event marks Presence of Former Foodstuff Processors in Food Waste Debate appeared first on EFFPA.

Bakery Feeds, an American former foodstuffs processor, joined EFFPA as an associate member on May 1, 2017.  Bakery Feeds has been processing bakery and snack manufacturer residuals since 1984, and operates 10 facilities throughout the USA. In the United States, the former foodstuff industry processes approximately three million tons of material annually. As a part of Darling Ingredients Inc., Bakery Feeds is committed to biosecurity and food safety. All its former foodstuff facilities are Safe Feed/Safe Food certified, and adhere to prevention-based programs such as those defined by the HAACCP food safety model and the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

For Bakery Feeds, whose sales include international customers, it is of high added value to stay informed about relevant EU regulations applicable to the industry.  Bill Reagor, Senior President of Bakery Feeds: “The developments under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is impacting the way former foodstuff processing is positioned in the food and feed chain in the USA. The challenges and opportunities for our business sector are very similar on both sides of the Atlantic, so there is a clear mutual benefit in our sharing of experiences and knowledge.”

Bakery Feeds is the second company from outside of Europe to join EFFPA as an associate member, following SPB Solutions from Canada joining as a member in April 2016. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “It is to the credit of EFFPA that we’ve managed once again to attract a former foodstuff processor of such high professional calibre. I hope that we will continue to achieve membership expansion within Europe in the foreseeable future with keen interest being shown most notably with former foodstuff processors active in Denmark, Austria and the Czech Republic.”

With Bakery Feeds, EFFPA now has 10 members.

The post Bakery Feeds (USA), part of Darling Ingredients Inc., joins EFFPA appeared first on EFFPA.

On 16 May 2017 the European Parliament voted through an own-initiative report on food waste by MEP Borjana Bilzan. The Parliament calls for a promotion of the higher-grade use of former foodstuffs in animal feed. In the report, the Commission is also asked to analyse the legal barriers to the use of former foodstuffs in feed production and promote research in this area. Certain legal clarifications that would help to stimulate the availability of former foodstuffs in animal feed production are expected in the European Commission Guidelines on the feed use of former foodstuffs, which will be published in autumn 2017.

The post European Parliament call for increased use of former foodstuffs in feed appeared first on EFFPA.

On 18 September 2017 the website www.molassesforfood.eu was launched to advocate for the removal of molasses from the Annex IX of the revised Renewable Energy Directive. EFFPA is part of a coalition of eight associations (FEFAC, CEFIC, AIBI, COFALEC, Brewers of Europe, CAOBISCO & CIUS) who have a joint concern around the inclusion of molasses as a biofuel feedstock eligible for promotion.

The website includes a joint statement from the coalition, arguing to not consider molasses a waste product due to its high value food and feed uses. For animal nutrition purposes, molasses is a highly valued energy-rich taste enhancer with pellet-binding qualities that increase the palatability and the homogeneity of feed, reducing the dusty nature of feed.

The proposal of the European Commission for a revised Renewable Energy Directive was published in November 2016, which includes molasses as a raw material for biofuel purposes that deserves stimulation. The European Parliament will vote on the dossier at committee level in October 2017, while the plenary vote is expected around January 2018.

The post Dedicated website to stop promotion of molasses as biofuel feedstock appeared first on EFFPA.

At the General Assembly of 27 September the EFFPA members re-elected Paul Featherstone as the President. His next two year terms continuous until the General Assembly held in the autumn of 2019. Featherstone, who is also Chairman of the UK Former Foodstuffs Processors Association (UKFFPA), has been President of EFFPA since the foundation of the association in January 2014.

The General Assembly also re-elected Kees van Gorp (VIDO) as the EFFPA Vice-President and Sigrid Pauwelyn (TROTEC) as the Treasurer

The post Paul Featherstone re-elected as EFFPA President appeared first on EFFPA.

EFFPA President Paul Featherstone will take part in the Bioeconomy Policy Day organised by the European Commission on 16 November 2017. He will speak in the parellel session organised by DG SANTE on the “Practice of food waste prevention as implementation of policy of circular economy”. The event forms part of the Horizon 2020 Societal challenge 2 InfoWeek which will take place from 14 to 17 November.

The post EFFPA presenting on Bioeconomy Policy Day appeared first on EFFPA.

On 16 November 2017, EFFPA President Paul Featherstone gave a presentation on behalf of EFFPA in a session about food waste organised by DG SANTE at the Bioeconomy Policy Day. Featherstone gave an introduction to former foodstuff processing, while putting a focus on safety and sustainability.

He pointed to the importance of the food waste hierarchy, which makes clear that all efforts should first be made that food should be destined to human consumption, but also shows animal feed is a superior outlet to anaerobic digestion because of its bioeconomy characteristics. For the benefit of an innovative former foodstuff processing sector, Featherstone highlighted the need for a smooth legal transition of food into feed, while safety and traceability are guaranteed. As regards the expansion of sources, he noted the unused surpluses created at supermarket level as the most promising stream of former foodstuff that could help to further reduce food waste. In addition, legislative changes that would allow for the feed use of sweets containing ruminant gelatin, crisps containing bacon flavouring and pasta made with insect protein would further broaden the scope of former foodstuffs. Given former foodstuff processing increases the environmental performance of both the food industry and the compound feed industry, Featherstone supported the development of LCA tools that can help to make former foodstuff processing part of their sustainable business strategy.

The presentation of Paul Featherstone can be viewed here, as part of the session “Practice of food waste prevention as implementation of policy of circular economy”, with his contribution starting at 15:26:50.

The post EFFPA presentation at the Bioeconomy Policy Day appeared first on EFFPA.

On 28 November 2017, EFFPA (the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association) organised a factory visit for European Commissioner of Health & Food Safety, Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis, to Agrifirm in Veghel (The Netherlands) to provide a first-hand introduction to former foodstuff processing. Former foodstuff processors transform foodstuffs no longer suitable for commercial human consumption into high-quality animal feed. Examples are broken biscuits, incorrectly shaped chocolates or incorrectly flavoured crisps.

After the visit, Commissioner Andriukaitis said: ‘I am very satisfied with the visit. It is always useful to see how things are done on the ground. The notion of ‘circular economy’ becomes very tangible. Indeed, thanks to the top technology you have it in action – a broken biscuit is transformed into safe feed for animals. This is one way of how circular economy works and how food waste is prevented‘.

For EFFPA the visit was another milestone in its existence as a sector-representing organisation. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “The possibility to showcase the role of former foodstuff processing in the circular economy to European Commissioner Andriukaitis further establishes us as part of safe and sustainable feed production. At the same time we have clearly demonstrated former foodstuff processing is not in competition with food banks”.

The visit allowed to illustrate former foodstuff processing is an intrinsic part of the food-to-feed chain. EFFPA currently awaits the outcome of the ‘trilogue’ negotiations on the Circular Economy Package which is expected to confirm that former foodstuffs placed on the market as feed are clearly exempted from the Waste Framework Directive.

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH & FOOD SAFETY VISITS FORMER FOODSTUFF PROCESSING FACILITY

The post European Commissioner for Health & Food Safety visits Former Foodstuff Processing Facility appeared first on EFFPA.

Commission clarifications and guidance help to facilitate public and private understanding of the EU legal framework for the conversion of former foodstuffs into feed

The European Commission published its Guidelines for the feed use of food no longer intended for human consumption on 17 April 2018, as the next key deliverable of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan on food waste. EFFPA and FEFAC highly appreciate the efforts that have been made by the European Commission in cooperation with the national competent authorities to develop a practical guidance document that increases the legal certainty for the former foodstuff[1] processing sector while preserving the integrity and safety of the EU food and feed chain.

EFFPA, representing former foodstuff processors, considers the publication as additional support for the sector as a legitimate and professional solution to reduce food waste. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “This publication is a key milestone for the business practice of former foodstuff processing. It now makes it clear that when foodstuffs are unsuitable for human consumption, because of expiry dates or when they have fallen off the manufacturing line for example, this does not automatically mean they are unsuitable for animal feed use”.

FEFAC, representing European compound feed manufacturers and the main customer of former foodstuff processors, sees value in the publication of the Guidelines in the light of feed safety management and traceability. FEFAC President Nick Major: “We welcome the Guidelines which highlights the responsibilities of the different operators in this particular part of the feed value chain. It confirms that the feed quality and safety of former foodstuffs need to be verified before entering the feed chain”.

EFFPA and FEFAC believe the Guidelines will increase the understanding and recognition of former foodstuff processing under controlled conditions as a valuable part of the circular economy in Europe and encourage the use of food no longer suitable for human consumption in feed to reduce food waste.

[1] foodstuffs, other than catering reflux, which were manufactured for human consumption in full compliance with the EU food law but which are no longer intended for human consumption for practical or logistical reasons or due to problems of manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects and which do not present any health risks when used as feed (Regulation (EU) No 2017/1017).

Download Press Release

The post EFFPA & FEFAC Welcome Commission Guidelines on Feed Use of Former Foodstuffs appeared first on EFFPA.

EFFPA’s event “Circular economy in Action: Food-to-Feed Valorisation of Former Foodstuffs” highlights the contribution of the animal feed outlet to preventing food waste

On 29 March 2017, EFFPA (the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association) organised its 1^st stakeholder event in Brussels since its foundation in January 2014. The event, attended by approximately 70 people, served as an introduction to the former foodstuff^[1] processing value chain as well as a platform to discuss the way forward for the applicable regulatory framework. The programme featured speakers from the food & feed sector, regulatory experts and a food safety assurance scheme representative. The valuable sustainability contribution of former foodstuff processing to the EU circular economy and the prevention of food waste were highlighted, while also stressing the importance of maintaining feed safety at all costs. Future innovation in processing technology & sourcing capacities, more efficient safety assurance scheme auditing procedures and a streamlining of the regulatory interface between food and feed production were mentioned as elements that could further stimulate the processing of former foodstuffs into feed for food-producing animals.

EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “The event provided an excellent podium to present our business activity to a wide audience. I hope it will stimulate the food industry’s conviction that having their former foodstuffs transformed into animal feed can be part of a safe, sustainable business strategy that contributes to food waste prevention”.

Former foodstuff processors transform foodstuffs no longer suitable for human consumption into high-quality feed ingredients. At the event, EFFPA also announced the publication of a brochure called “Keeping food losses in the food chain”, which aims to help with accurately explaining what former foodstuffs are as well as tackle potential misconceptions.

[1] Regulation (EU) No 68/2013 – Catalogue of Feed Materials: ‘former foodstuffs’ means foodstuffs, other than catering reflux, which were manufactured for human consumption in full compliance with the EU food law but which are no longer intended for human consumption for practical or logistical reasons or due to problems of manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects and which do not present any health risks when used as feed

The post 1st EFFPA Stakeholder Event marks Presence of Former Foodstuff Processors in Food Waste Debate appeared first on EFFPA.

Bakery Feeds, an American former foodstuffs processor, joined EFFPA as an associate member on May 1, 2017.  Bakery Feeds has been processing bakery and snack manufacturer residuals since 1984, and operates 10 facilities throughout the USA. In the United States, the former foodstuff industry processes approximately three million tons of material annually. As a part of Darling Ingredients Inc., Bakery Feeds is committed to biosecurity and food safety. All its former foodstuff facilities are Safe Feed/Safe Food certified, and adhere to prevention-based programs such as those defined by the HAACCP food safety model and the Association of American Feed Control Officials.

For Bakery Feeds, whose sales include international customers, it is of high added value to stay informed about relevant EU regulations applicable to the industry.  Bill Reagor, Senior President of Bakery Feeds: “The developments under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act is impacting the way former foodstuff processing is positioned in the food and feed chain in the USA. The challenges and opportunities for our business sector are very similar on both sides of the Atlantic, so there is a clear mutual benefit in our sharing of experiences and knowledge.”

Bakery Feeds is the second company from outside of Europe to join EFFPA as an associate member, following SPB Solutions from Canada joining as a member in April 2016. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “It is to the credit of EFFPA that we’ve managed once again to attract a former foodstuff processor of such high professional calibre. I hope that we will continue to achieve membership expansion within Europe in the foreseeable future with keen interest being shown most notably with former foodstuff processors active in Denmark, Austria and the Czech Republic.”

With Bakery Feeds, EFFPA now has 10 members.

The post Bakery Feeds (USA), part of Darling Ingredients Inc., joins EFFPA appeared first on EFFPA.

On 16 May 2017 the European Parliament voted through an own-initiative report on food waste by MEP Borjana Bilzan. The Parliament calls for a promotion of the higher-grade use of former foodstuffs in animal feed. In the report, the Commission is also asked to analyse the legal barriers to the use of former foodstuffs in feed production and promote research in this area. Certain legal clarifications that would help to stimulate the availability of former foodstuffs in animal feed production are expected in the European Commission Guidelines on the feed use of former foodstuffs, which will be published in autumn 2017.

The post European Parliament call for increased use of former foodstuffs in feed appeared first on EFFPA.

On 18 September 2017 the website www.molassesforfood.eu was launched to advocate for the removal of molasses from the Annex IX of the revised Renewable Energy Directive. EFFPA is part of a coalition of eight associations (FEFAC, CEFIC, AIBI, COFALEC, Brewers of Europe, CAOBISCO & CIUS) who have a joint concern around the inclusion of molasses as a biofuel feedstock eligible for promotion.

The website includes a joint statement from the coalition, arguing to not consider molasses a waste product due to its high value food and feed uses. For animal nutrition purposes, molasses is a highly valued energy-rich taste enhancer with pellet-binding qualities that increase the palatability and the homogeneity of feed, reducing the dusty nature of feed.

The proposal of the European Commission for a revised Renewable Energy Directive was published in November 2016, which includes molasses as a raw material for biofuel purposes that deserves stimulation. The European Parliament will vote on the dossier at committee level in October 2017, while the plenary vote is expected around January 2018.

The post Dedicated website to stop promotion of molasses as biofuel feedstock appeared first on EFFPA.

At the General Assembly of 27 September the EFFPA members re-elected Paul Featherstone as the President. His next two year terms continuous until the General Assembly held in the autumn of 2019. Featherstone, who is also Chairman of the UK Former Foodstuffs Processors Association (UKFFPA), has been President of EFFPA since the foundation of the association in January 2014.

The General Assembly also re-elected Kees van Gorp (VIDO) as the EFFPA Vice-President and Sigrid Pauwelyn (TROTEC) as the Treasurer

The post Paul Featherstone re-elected as EFFPA President appeared first on EFFPA.

EFFPA President Paul Featherstone will take part in the Bioeconomy Policy Day organised by the European Commission on 16 November 2017. He will speak in the parellel session organised by DG SANTE on the “Practice of food waste prevention as implementation of policy of circular economy”. The event forms part of the Horizon 2020 Societal challenge 2 InfoWeek which will take place from 14 to 17 November.

The post EFFPA presenting on Bioeconomy Policy Day appeared first on EFFPA.

On 16 November 2017, EFFPA President Paul Featherstone gave a presentation on behalf of EFFPA in a session about food waste organised by DG SANTE at the Bioeconomy Policy Day. Featherstone gave an introduction to former foodstuff processing, while putting a focus on safety and sustainability.

He pointed to the importance of the food waste hierarchy, which makes clear that all efforts should first be made that food should be destined to human consumption, but also shows animal feed is a superior outlet to anaerobic digestion because of its bioeconomy characteristics. For the benefit of an innovative former foodstuff processing sector, Featherstone highlighted the need for a smooth legal transition of food into feed, while safety and traceability are guaranteed. As regards the expansion of sources, he noted the unused surpluses created at supermarket level as the most promising stream of former foodstuff that could help to further reduce food waste. In addition, legislative changes that would allow for the feed use of sweets containing ruminant gelatin, crisps containing bacon flavouring and pasta made with insect protein would further broaden the scope of former foodstuffs. Given former foodstuff processing increases the environmental performance of both the food industry and the compound feed industry, Featherstone supported the development of LCA tools that can help to make former foodstuff processing part of their sustainable business strategy.

The presentation of Paul Featherstone can be viewed here, as part of the session “Practice of food waste prevention as implementation of policy of circular economy”, with his contribution starting at 15:26:50.

The post EFFPA presentation at the Bioeconomy Policy Day appeared first on EFFPA.

On 28 November 2017, EFFPA (the European Former Foodstuff Processors Association) organised a factory visit for European Commissioner of Health & Food Safety, Mr Vytenis Andriukaitis, to Agrifirm in Veghel (The Netherlands) to provide a first-hand introduction to former foodstuff processing. Former foodstuff processors transform foodstuffs no longer suitable for commercial human consumption into high-quality animal feed. Examples are broken biscuits, incorrectly shaped chocolates or incorrectly flavoured crisps.

After the visit, Commissioner Andriukaitis said: ‘I am very satisfied with the visit. It is always useful to see how things are done on the ground. The notion of ‘circular economy’ becomes very tangible. Indeed, thanks to the top technology you have it in action – a broken biscuit is transformed into safe feed for animals. This is one way of how circular economy works and how food waste is prevented‘.

For EFFPA the visit was another milestone in its existence as a sector-representing organisation. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “The possibility to showcase the role of former foodstuff processing in the circular economy to European Commissioner Andriukaitis further establishes us as part of safe and sustainable feed production. At the same time we have clearly demonstrated former foodstuff processing is not in competition with food banks”.

The visit allowed to illustrate former foodstuff processing is an intrinsic part of the food-to-feed chain. EFFPA currently awaits the outcome of the ‘trilogue’ negotiations on the Circular Economy Package which is expected to confirm that former foodstuffs placed on the market as feed are clearly exempted from the Waste Framework Directive.

EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER FOR HEALTH & FOOD SAFETY VISITS FORMER FOODSTUFF PROCESSING FACILITY

The post European Commissioner for Health & Food Safety visits Former Foodstuff Processing Facility appeared first on EFFPA.

Commission clarifications and guidance help to facilitate public and private understanding of the EU legal framework for the conversion of former foodstuffs into feed

The European Commission published its Guidelines for the feed use of food no longer intended for human consumption on 17 April 2018, as the next key deliverable of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan on food waste. EFFPA and FEFAC highly appreciate the efforts that have been made by the European Commission in cooperation with the national competent authorities to develop a practical guidance document that increases the legal certainty for the former foodstuff[1] processing sector while preserving the integrity and safety of the EU food and feed chain.

EFFPA, representing former foodstuff processors, considers the publication as additional support for the sector as a legitimate and professional solution to reduce food waste. EFFPA President Paul Featherstone: “This publication is a key milestone for the business practice of former foodstuff processing. It now makes it clear that when foodstuffs are unsuitable for human consumption, because of expiry dates or when they have fallen off the manufacturing line for example, this does not automatically mean they are unsuitable for animal feed use”.

FEFAC, representing European compound feed manufacturers and the main customer of former foodstuff processors, sees value in the publication of the Guidelines in the light of feed safety management and traceability. FEFAC President Nick Major: “We welcome the Guidelines which highlights the responsibilities of the different operators in this particular part of the feed value chain. It confirms that the feed quality and safety of former foodstuffs need to be verified before entering the feed chain”.

EFFPA and FEFAC believe the Guidelines will increase the understanding and recognition of former foodstuff processing under controlled conditions as a valuable part of the circular economy in Europe and encourage the use of food no longer suitable for human consumption in feed to reduce food waste.

[1] foodstuffs, other than catering reflux, which were manufactured for human consumption in full compliance with the EU food law but which are no longer intended for human consumption for practical or logistical reasons or due to problems of manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects and which do not present any health risks when used as feed (Regulation (EU) No 2017/1017).

Download Press Release

The post EFFPA & FEFAC Welcome Commission Guidelines on Feed Use of Former Foodstuffs appeared first on EFFPA.