FAMI-QS

 Feed additives sector is well regulated in the EU (Regulation EC 1831/2003 on Additives for use in Animal Nutrition and Regulation 183/2005 on Feed Hygiene). In parallel to the publication of these Regulations, FAMI-QS developed a Code to Good Practice for our sector. This is a certifiable Code and therefore interested companies can be audited and certified against it. The requirements of the Code meet all legislative requirements in the EU. FAMI-QS was recognized by the European Authorities as the official Guide to Good Practice, and this official recognition was published in the EU Official Journal in January 2007.

FAMI-QS: What is it?

The Feed Additive and preMIxture System (FAMI-QS) certification is a standard addressing feed safety, legality and quality objectives set in the European Animal Feed Regulation No 183/2005. The concept of this certification is to give guidance to manufacturers and traders concerned by the regulation and help them develop their own procedures to minimize the hygiene risks linked to additives and premixtures in the feed chain.

To ensure feed safety, the FAMI-QS certification is based on several European regulations, the Codex Alimentarius, the HACCP principles and several national management systems of member states such as the GMP or the Code of Practice. By basing its standard on these text, the FAMI-QS is a complete certification covering several areas such as:

Quality and feed safety management systems,

Traceability procedures,

Product regulatory compliance,

Human resources,

Infrastructures

Maintenance and cleaning of the equipment

Waste control

The FAMI-QS standard covers most of the EU countries, Norway and Switzerland but is internationally available and currently used in more than 47 countries.

Benefits of FAMI-QS:

Demonstrating the safety of your processes to the world

Fulfilling the requirements if FAMI-QS and safeguarding corresponding markets

Rise in customer and retailers confidence about the organization’s ability to perform

Integration of state-of-the-art procedures regarding hazard analysis, risk appraisal, and preventive strategies into the existing management system

Increased product safety

Reduced risk of product liability

How to get FAMI-QS certified?

To get the FAMI-QS Certification for your functional feed ingredients and specialty complementary feed, you will need to follow the steps below:

Evaluate your own products with an internal audit and the FAMI-QS Checklist

Identify your product and send the FAMI-QS Checklist in your application

Evaluation of your application by the FAMI-QS. In case of approval, you will receive an acceptance letter along with an invoice for an annual membership fee

Select a Certification Body for an audit

The authorized certification body will audit your company in two stages:

Evaluation of the Feed Safety Management System

Verification of the implementation of the FSMS

Outcome of the audit and possible follow-up to match all FAMI-QS requirements

FAMI-QS reviews the audit and gives its validation for the validation

Annual surveillance audit

The FAMI-QS certification is valid for three years renewable after a recertification audit.