The Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs (ACAF) held an Open Forum meeting at the Jarvis Piccadilly Hotel in Manchester on 5 July. The event attracted a wide range of interests including consumer, environmental, farming and feed industry representation from 29 organisations (see attached list). The presentations and open discussion in the morning session centred primarily on the Committee''s Annual Report and its subsequent report on Animal Feed Labelling, including GM issues.
The afternoon session, mainly in syndicate groups, covered a wide range of issues in respect of the Committee''s future work plan.
Speaking after the event, Dr Ian Brown, Acting Chairman of ACAF, said "the Open Forum has been a great success in widening the debate on animal feed and involving key stakeholders". He thanked delegates for their active participation and said "suggestions which emerged from the Forum would form the basis of the Committee''s future work programme".
Priority areas in the ACAF forward work plan will include:
- a review of on-farm best practice (including assurance schemes, on-farm mixing and farm feed hygiene); - traceability; and - nutritional effects of animal feed on the food people eat
in addition to the Committee''s regular review of new EC developments on feed legislation particularly those relating to GM issues, processed animal proteins, feed additives and contaminants.
The Committee intends to hold similar open events in the future.
Notes for Editors
1. ACAF''s terms of reference are:
"To advise the Food Standards Agency, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministers of the Scottish Executive, the National Assembly for Wales and the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) on the safety and use of animal feeds and feeding practices, with particular emphasis on protecting human health and with reference to new technical developments. In carrying out its functions, the Advisory Committee on Animal Feedingstuffs will liaise with other relevant advisory committees as appropriate."
2. A news release (247/99) announcing the membership of ACAF can be found on the internet at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/otherfrm.htm
3. A news release issued on 2 July announcing the event can be found on the internet at http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/press_releases/UK_press/2001/pr0010629.htm
4. Copies of most Committee papers, including minutes of meetings, are available on request from the ACAF Secretariat, Room 415b, Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London,WC2B 6NH Tel:0207 276 8468 E-mail: ACAF@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk They are also available on the ACAF website: http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/committees/acaf/summary.htm
5. Further information is available from the Committee Secretariat at the above address, or on the website.
Issued on behalf of the ACAF Secretariat by the Food Standards Agency Press Office Room 245 Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London WC2B 6NH
1. ADAS Wolverhampton 2. Animal Medicines Inspectorate, R.P.S.G.B. 3. Association of Public Analysts 4. BAFSAM 5. Co-operative Group 6. ECRA Publishing Ltd 7. Food & Drink Federation 8. The French Embassy 9. Friends of the Earth EWNI 10. Glanbia Milk Ltd 11. H.J. Lea Oakes Limited 12. Iceland 13. IFIF 14. Jim Peet Agriculture 15. Manchester Trading Standards Service 16. National Association of Agricultural Contractors 17. National Consumer Council 18. National Council of Women 19. National Farmers Union 20. Premier Nutrition Products Ltd 21. Primary Diets 22. Quality Management 23. Rumenco Limited 24. Schering-Plough Animal Health 25. SVG Intermol 26. UKASTA 27. United Fish Industries 28. Union of Muslim Organisations of UK & Eire 29. W & J Pye
