FEFAC president Pedro Cordero reviews the regulatory and policy developments of 2024 that shaped the EU feed sector and shares insights into the legislative priorities set for 2025.
Policy challenges
The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) emerged as one of the most significant policy challenges of 2024, heavily engaging FEFAC and its supply chain partners.
Published in July 2022, the regulation was initially scheduled to take effect on December 30, 2024.
“However, delays in the EU Commission’s promised practical guidance created significant obstacles for compliance. Supply chains for the seven commodities covered by the regulation, including soy, were left unprepared to meet the mainstream market’s demands,” according to Cordero.
By mid-2024, compound feed manufacturers preparing contracts for Q1 2025 deliveries faced limited or non-existent EUDR-compliant market offers. Where such offers existed, they often came with steep high-risk premiums, adding further strain to the industry, he said.
Recognizing the scale of these challenges, Cordero outlined how FEFAC’s Board joined forces with 30 European organizations, calling for a postponement of the EUDR application date and additional administrative simplifications. Their efforts bore fruit when the Commission proposed moving the regulation’s application date to December 30, 2025.
“This extension,” Cordero commented, “brought some relief but illustrated the unnecessary legal uncertainty placed on the value chain, especially during a time of geopolitical instability and climate-induced market disruptions.”
Addressing compliance challenges
FEFAC took steps to support its members and partners. The organization developed sector-specific ‘best practice’ EUDR guidance for soy and palm product supplies to the EU. This guidance was designed to help operators document their due diligence efforts effectively, bridging the gap created by the delayed official guidance, reported Cordero.
“We hope this will be recognized by competent control authorities as providing meaningful documentation for operators to ascertain that they have fulfilled the due diligence requirements and can help to fill the gap between the now updated FAQs and additional EUDR guidance.”
Green feed labelling
In early December, the Commission’s Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) on animal nutrition endorsed the upgraded Copa-Cogeca and FEFAC Code of Good Labelling Practices for compound feed.
“The updated Code now includes new guidance on how to communicate the environmental performance of feed to farmers, either through labeling or other communication methods.
“This endorsement follows a rigorous 12-month assessment process. The upgrading of the Code was made possible through significant contributions from FEFANA experts, particularly concerning green claims for compound feed,” said Cordero.
The harmonized EU Green Feed Labelling guidance is based on the officially recognized PEFCR Feed for Food-Producing Animals methodology and the GFLI Feed LCA Database.
“This marks a key milestone in enabling the adoption of sustainable feed solutions for a climate-neutral livestock and aquaculture sector. The guidance provides feed business operators with a clear reference on how to report the environmental footprint of the animal feed they produce, helping improve environmental performance at the farm level.
“It comes at a time when downstream value chain partners are increasingly demanding feed LCA data linked to the environmental footprint of animal products, particularly in relation to Scope 3 emissions.”
The guidelines are expected to facilitate national-level climate action, supporting climate emission reduction initiatives in both the feed and livestock sectors, while also preserving the integrity of the internal market. In addition, they are designed to foster the trade of green feed ingredients and compound feed across Europe, explained the FEFAC president.
The road ahead
In September 2024, the Commission released the Strategic Dialogue on the Future of EU Agriculture report, presenting a roadmap for transitioning Europe’s agricultural and food systems toward greater sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness.
“This report is expected to pave the way for the development of the future EU Vision for Agriculture and Food, set to be unveiled on February 19, 2025,“ noted Cordero.
The timing coincides with the early months of a new Commission and EU legislature, which will adopt new strategic priorities and objectives under the Open Strategic Autonomy framework endorsed at the EU Heads of State Council summit in Granada in October 2023. The forthcoming vision is anticipated to incorporate an updated EU protein plan and initiatives supporting the sustainable transformation of the livestock sector.
“The report emphasizes the importance of circularity in the feed sector as a critical strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production. It highlights the significant role of feed technologies, particularly feed additives, in cutting methane emissions, further supporting the sustainability goals of the sector,” said Cordero.
FEFAC, he continued, remains committed to advocating for an ambitious EU protein plan as part of this new vision. Improving the availability and competitiveness of homegrown, high-protein vegetable supplies is essential for achieving greater feed autonomy.
The trade group will also advocate for the creation of a comprehensive EU biomass factsheet and the recognition of greater utilization of co-products and underused circular feed resources.
“These efforts aim to enhance nutrient efficiency and strengthen the EU’s strategic feed and food autonomy, aligning with the goals outlined in the Circular Bioeconomy Strategy Plan.”
Feed additives legislation
Another key legislative priority for 2025 is the long-awaited recasting of the EU feed additives legislation, which Cordero said had been delayed due to resource constraints.
“EU policymakers have acknowledged the arguments put forward by FEFAC, FEFANA, and COPA/COGECA, emphasizing the need for a feed additives legal framework that is efficient, innovative, and conducive to investment and one that will encourage applicants to submit dossiers, including those for generic feed additives, with a focus on introducing products that contribute to the sustainability of the EU livestock sector, while supporting improved animal welfare and health.”
He added that FEFAC has already begun preparing submissions and position papers to influence key policies, including the upcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy, Circular Economy Act, Biotech Act, and the Climate Action Plan.
“We hope to increase awareness of the need to design policy measures that increase the competitiveness of the EU fermentation industry and attract new investment to reduce EU dependency on third countries for supply of critical feed additives such as vitamins and amino acids.”
