Feed regulators and industry from around the world discuss critical issues with IFIF and FAO at 16th IFRM

Jan 25, 2023

Atlanta, USA – The 16th annual International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM) organized by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) brought together feed industry representatives and government officials from around the world to discuss critical issues facing the feed sector with IFIF and the FAO. 

At the meeting Ruud Tijssens, IFIF Chairman and Daniela Battaglia, FAO, welcomed IFRM delegates and reiterated their commitment to this longstanding partnership and agreed to continue to strengthen their work together to tackle the challenges facing the feed and food chains. Ms. Battaglia reaffirmed the importance of “collaboration between the public and private sector to support the responsibilities of the animal production sector in a context of sustainable agriculture and food systems worldwide.”

Mr. Tijssens said “I am delighted that we can meet again face-to-face at this unique event and that participants from across the world and from key regulatory bodies joined us at the 16th IFRM. This meeting, yet again, proved to be an important opportunity for the global feed industry and feed regulators to discuss key issues for the feed and food chains, including important work on nutritional innovation strategies to improve animal health and welfare, an update of Codex Alimentarius work with relevance to feed, as well as a very timely workshop on emerging feed sources and technologies in a circular bio-economy context.”

Mr. Tijssens added “This dialogue is an important example of the private sector collaborating with the FAO and regulators from around the world and we believe that only by working together can we continue to ensure feed and food security and safety, while meeting the global demands for food sustainably.”

“The success of this meeting is a proof that FAO’s efforts to facilitate dialogue between the public and private sector are worthwhile and given the current challenges, collaboration among all parties at international and national level to ensure among others, human and animal welfare, and feed and food safety and security is more important than ever,” said Daniela Battaglia, Animal Production Officer, Animal Production and Health Division of the FAO. 

Ms. Battaglia added “feed operators can valuably contribute to make the animal production and food sectors more responsible and sustainable and to achieve other important goals such as the containment of antimicrobial resistance and public, animal and environmental health. The IFRM is an important opportunity to exchange ideas among stakeholders from around the world and to coordinate our efforts towards common goals.”

Other topics discussed at the 16th IFRM included a panel on the successful work of the International Cooperation for Convergence of Technical Requirements for the Assessment of Feed Ingredients (ICCF), which aims towards convergence of technical requirements specific to feed additive/ingredient authorization across regions, as well as presentations on key feed issues in Thailand and Vietnam. 

About the IFRM 

The International Feed Regulators Meeting (IFRM) organized by the International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provides an opportunity for regulators and feed industry professionals from across the globe to exchange their thoughts and discuss concrete ideas for providing safe feed and food in a sustainable manner around the world. Participation at the IFRM is by invitation only for IFIF Members and government officials and should you be interested in joining the 17th IFRM in 2024 please contact info@ifif.org.  

For more information on the IFRM please click here.

About IFIF 

The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) is made up of national and regional feed associations, feed related organizations, and corporate members from around the globe, representing over 80% of the feed production worldwide. IFIF provides a unified voice and leadership to represent and promote the global feed industry as an essential participant in the food chain that provides sustainable, safe, nutritious and affordable food for a growing world population. For more information on IFIF please visit www.ifif.org or contact Alexandra de Athayde, Executive Director, at info@ifif.org.

/Ends

Issued by:  IFIF