Quality assurance for feed additives is provided by the FAMI-QS system.

THE PROCESS to migrate all 50 members of the Feed Ingredients and Additives Association of Australia (FIAAA) to the latest globally recognised FAMI-QS quality-assurance system has started.

FIAAA executive officer Duncan Rowland said so far three of the FIAAA’s members have made the transition to version six of FAMI-QS, which includes anti-fraud and improved traceability components version five did not contain.

“It will be an 18-month process to change all our members from version five to version six.”

“We’re moving to FAMI-QS V6 so we can be sure we can compete internationally, and to minimise the administration task,” Mr Rowland said.

FIAAA started 11 years ago, and shortly after became party to the global industry code of practice which is based on food safety standards set by GMP, HACCP and ISO.

It is now administered by FAMI-QS, a Belgium-based global industry organisation, which regularly updates guidelines to ensure compliant feed-additive suppliers around the world can minimise hazards to animals and humans.

It works with organisations like FIAAA, and runs workshops around the globe, to ensure the buyers of feed additives can have confidence in their supply chain in domestic and export markets.

FIAAA executive officer Duncan Rowland.

FIAAA members include producers of basic feed additives such as limestone, magnesium and salt, and manufactured inputs such as amino acids, enzymes and vitamins, as well as animal-health products.

“The impetus to adopt and update has come from within the sector, and we know that quality assurance evolves.

“That means systems might change every two to five years.”

The FAMI-QS system is similar to FeedSafe in Australia, the quality-assurance framework adhered to by members of the Stock Feed Manufacturers Council of Australia, of which Mr Rowland is also executive officer.

Mr Rowland said both systems were about ensuring confidence in the supply chain.

“If you manufacture or buy feed, you want to able look back down the supply chain and say the products coming into your mill are quality assured.”

Transition to the latest version of FAMI-QS can occur when an accredited third party has audited an FIAAA member, primarily by going through documentation.

“We’re looking into the future and saying food fraud, or feed fraud, is something we need to stay ahead of.”

Delegates attending the Australasian Milling Conference at the Gold Coast in May will be able to hear the latest on FAMI-QS as part of the Safe Food session.

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