Certification Being Offered for Pet Food Manufacturers
An announcement was made in late January, 2012, by the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) that a voluntary third-party certification program is now available for manufacturers of pet food and ingredients for pet food.
The AFIA designed the certification, called the Pet Food Manufacturing Facility Certification Program and Pet Food Ingredient Facility Certification Program, in order to meet or exceed the requirements listed in the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Voluntary third-party certification for feed manufacturers began in 2004 when AFIA began its Safe Feed/Safe Food Program. It is designed for feed mills and related facilities in Canada in the United States. The program serves to communicate food safety risks and build a consensus and education progress so that consumers feel confident in the food and food supply aspects.
AFIA is located in Arlington, Virginia, and is considered the world’s largest organization for the United States animal feed industry and its suppliers as it pertains to the business, regulatory, and legislative interests. It was founded in 1909 and some of their member companies include pharmaceutical companies, ingredient suppliers, livestock feed and pet food manufacturers, integrators, and , equipment manufacturers and companies which supply other products, services and supplies to feed manufacturers.
Over 75 percent of commercial feed located in the U.S. is manufactured by AFIA members. AFIA is a member of the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF), which addresses concerns about the global feed industry.
For a facility to get certified by the Safe Feed/Safe Food program, materials must be completed and submitted to AFIA, at which point the information is given to the Facility Certification Institute (FCI). The FCI attempts to schedule an inspection within 30 days’ time.
For more information about the certification programs, visit www.safefeedsafefood.org.
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