The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority does not have a complete overview of feed business operators in Iceland and their activities. This is the overall conclusion of a report published by the EFTA surveillance Authority today. The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority has initiated corrective actions to rectify the identified shortcomings.
The EFTA Surveillance Authority carried out a planned mission to Iceland from 31 January to 4 February 2011 regarding the application of EEA legislation related to feed hygiene.
The official controls did not cover all stages in the production, processing and distribution of feed.
Feed business operators which were drying barley using different methods were not required to put in place, implement and maintain written procedures based on the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) principles. One of those visited was using direct drying with diesel or oil as fuel, a process that could lead to contamination of the feed material.
The EEA legislation concerning feed hygiene was revised as part of the introduction of the Food Hygiene Package in the EEA. The obligation of the member states to keep a register of everyone involved in the feed chain together with the obligation of the feed businesses to carry out a risk assessment of their process and establish procedures to minimize the risks identified, are central elements in this legislation.
The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority has already replied to the Authority's draft report and set out a table of corrective actions to rectify the shortcomings identified. The measures include guarantees that barley dryers will be told to establish a HACCP system for their production. In addition all feed business operators in Iceland will be registered by 1.1.2012.
 A term that refers to a group of European Regulations that represent a significant reorganisation of the regulatory framework for food and feed hygiene and safety.