As a feed company, there are a lot of things to consider in order to meet the legal requirements. There is a plethora of regulations to comply with and they can change constantly. Every law and every change has practical implications. For example, with regard to the labeling of your feed, quality assurance or the export of feed. With our experts, you know you have partners at your side who will guide you safely through this maze of regulations.

We offer feed companies tailor-made solutions. With the following advantages, among others:

• Expert opinions and test reports prepared by experts
• Comprehensive and interdisciplinary advice from a single source
• Simple and unbureaucratic processing
• Pastus+ certification body
• QS approved laboratory
• Short analysis and testing times

Our Institute for Animal Nutrition and Feed is available to the general public, farmers, feed companies, the federal states, as well as the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Regions and Water Management (BML) and the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) for inquiries, statements, analyses and scientific advice.

Issuance of Certificates for Feed and Feed Businesses

After checking the submitted documents, we issue certificates for your feed, which you need for the export of your products, such as Free Sales Certificates, Health Certificates or Certificates of Registration.

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While the trade of feed within the EU is very uncomplicated and uniformly regulated, the export to third countries is often more difficult. Here, each country has individual requirements that must be met in order to place a feed on the market in its territory. Proof of registration as a feed business in an EU country is usually the first step, followed by others, such as confirmation of EU marketability or freedom from certain undesirable substances.

We can assist you in this process with our know-how and the issuance of the required certificates (according to the criteria you specify) as well as with the necessary analyses, if required.

The following certificates can be issued, among others:

• Free Sales Certificate: marketability test based on a complete test of the formulation (valid for 6 months)
• Certificate of Registration: confirmation of the existing registration of a feed company (valid for 6 months)
• Health Certificate: on the basis of the Feed Hygiene Regulation (EC Regulation No. 183/2005), confirmation of the absence of contaminants on the basis of submitted regular in-house controls or in a special batch (valid for 6 months)
• Certificate of non-animal origin: confirmation of the absence of animal components on the basis of submitted tests/formulation (valid for 6 months)
• Issuance of a Certificate of Analysis: information based on submitted certificates of analysis (valid for 6 months)

Standardized sampling of feed

In the case of feed analyses carried out by us, it is possible to commission us to carry out standardized sampling. This is carried out in accordance with the requirements of EC Regulation No. 152/2009. Finally, you will receive a sampling protocol.

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In order to achieve the most accurate and representative results possible when analyzing your feed samples, standardized sampling in accordance with the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 152/2009 is an elementary step.

For samples that you would like us to analyze, you have the option of arranging for us to perform sampling that meets these criteria. After the preparation for sampling (disinfection, labeling of the sampling bags), the sampling takes place (drawing of the individual samples, mixing and formation of the final sample, filling of the sample bags and sealing). Optionally, expert advice can be given with regard to analytical tests. Subsequently, you will receive a copy of the sampling protocol.

The following areas, among others, can be covered by us as part of the sampling of feedstuffs:

• Comprehensive advice on the type of sampling
• Sampling on site by specially trained experts
• Preparation of a sampling protocol
• Technical advice regarding the analytical examination

Carryover control and/or verification of mixing accuracy.

Good mixing accuracy and uniform distribution of individual components is essential to produce a high quality feed. Likewise, carryover of additives to non-target species can have far-reaching consequences. Therefore, feed mixing equipment should be regularly checked for these two parameters to avoid deviations in the composition of the feed and, ultimately, a detrimental effect on animal performance.

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Within the scope of the mixing plant inspection, the mixing accuracy or the homogeneous distribution of the individual feed components is determined. In the course of the carry-over control, it is checked which quantities of a feed component can still be found in subsequently mixed feeds after a certain number of rinsing batches. For this purpose, a certain amount of Microtracer (colored iron particles) is added to the mixing equipment. The number of particles remaining in the product is then counted.

Our experienced and independent feed experts work with you to define the measurement batches, the mixing time, the entry points for the tracer and the sampling points. Samples are taken at different points in the mixing process. This is documented in a detailed sampling protocol. After evaluation of the samples using the rotation detector method and a statistical calculation, we prepare the test report.

The following areas, among others, can be covered by us within the scope of a carry-over and mixing test of feedstuffs:

• Control of the carry-over of feed components after a certain number of rinsing batches.
• Control of the homogeneity of mixing systems for feed production to ensure the consistent quality and mixing of the individual components
• Evaluation of homogeneity or carry-over by means of rotation detector method and a statistical calculation
• Issue of a sampling protocol and a test report

Checking feed labels for legal conformity

As part of a labeling inspection, a label submitted by you is checked for conformity with the currently applicable legal regulations for the labeling of feed.

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Particularly in the area of labeling regulations, feed producers are faced with a multitude of requirements that must be met in order to properly label the feed. Our experienced and independent feed auditors check whether the labeling submitted by you complies with the legal requirements. In this process, the labeling templates are checked both with regard to formal aspects and to the promotional messages, the so-called "claims".

Finally, you will receive a detailed description of the result and, in the case of "non-conformities", information on possible improvement measures. If your labeling meets the legal requirements, a corresponding confirmation can also be issued - if desired.

The following areas, among others, can be covered within the scope of a labeling inspection of feed by us:

• Formal inspection of the labeling (e.g. labels) of feedstuffs and claims
• Detailed description of the result with indications for improvement measures
• Issue of a confirmation (in case of conformity with legal requirements)

QS is the world's largest inspection system for safe food, involving all companies involved in food production - from farmers to the store counter. Voluntary participation in QS ensures quality assurance that goes beyond official controls. Quality assurance in this system is based on self-checks, independent controls, monitoring programs and continuous internal control systems.

Feed plays an important role here, as it contributes to keeping animals healthy and thus also has a significant influence on the quality of the food obtained from it. The feed sector is characterized by internationally branched commodity flows. The QS scheme relies on cooperation with other standard setters for a uniformly high level of feed safety. This facilitates the movement of goods, ensures the availability of goods and avoids unnecessary costs due to double audits.

In the course of QS feed monitoring, compliance with limit and guideline values is monitored, for example for mycotoxins, dioxins, plant treatment agents and heavy metals. We are the only laboratory in Austria that is recognized by QS for feed monitoring.

You can find more information about QS feed monitoring here.

In recent years, the cultivation and regional processing of soybeans in Austria have increased significantly. In Austria, about half of the soybeans are processed as food, while the other half is used in feeding.

Especially in feeding, optimal treatment plays an important role. Here, value-determining ingredients must be preserved, while value-reducing ingredients must be inactivated. In this way, the use of expensive additives to improve feed value can be kept to a minimum.

We have a wide range of methods at our disposal for the determination of quality-determining ingredients in soybeans. This includes antinutritive substances as well as safety- and quality-relevant parameters.

For the analysis of soy we recommend the following methods.

• Trypsin inhibitor activity *
• Urease activity *
• Protein solubility in KOH
• Crude protein
• Oil content
• Amino acids (esp. methionine and lysine)
• Salmonella

*) In optimally treated feeds the trypsin inhibitor activity should not exceed 2 mg/g, the urease activity 0.4 mg/N/g/min.

Our staff is at your disposal for an informational discussion. Please contact us for this purpose.

Our Institute for Animal Nutrition and Feed has many years of experience in NIRS analysis and uses self-made calibrations for moisture, protein, crude ash or crude fiber depending on the crop type.

The following analyses are currently offered: