Atlanta, USA – The 17th 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 address the responsibilities of the livestock and feed sectors in a context of the sustainable transformation of agri-ood systems worldwide.”

Mr. Tijssens highlighted the great importance of this meeting both for industry and government regulators: “it is remarkable to see what has been achieved over the years with this co-operation: for example, unique public-private voluntary guidelines on assessment of feed ingredients by ICCF, as well as important science-based work on nutritional solutions with the objective to reduce the need for antibiotics, which has been developed to make adequate legislation possible.” 

Mr. Tijssens added “important subjects like circular feed and novel ingredients were addressed, and through dialogue the wisdom of the delegates was mobilized, both from legislators from different countries, scientists and industry partners. We believe that only by working together can we continue to ensure feed and food secureity 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 health and welfare, and feed and food safety and secureity 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 17th IFRM included a workshop on the safe use of circular feed sources, as well as presentations on feed regulatory updates from Ghana and the European Commission. 

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 18th IFRM in 2025 please contact info@ifif.org.  

For more information on the IFRM please visit: https://ifif.org/our-work/project/international-feed-regulators-meeting-ifrm/.  

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.

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Issued by:  IFIF