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FG cautions animal feeds companies against compromising standard
The Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, (NIAS) on Tuesday said that the Federal Government would not condone any attempt by animal’s feeds companies to compromise production standard because of the negative effect it would have on public health.
The institute’s Head of Inspectorate Department, Mr Olufemi Atunbi, said government policy was very clear on production quality and standards; as such the companies must adhere strictly to it in line with best global practice.
Atunbi who led a team of inspectors to Olam Grains Mill and Hybrid Feeds companies in Kaduna, said the government was only interested in promoting good ideals that would ensure good animal products.
He stressed that the inspection was part of efforts to ensure that animal feeds companies remain competitive because of the quality of their products.
“We want to ensure that feeds that come out from feed mills are certified to be right quality wise, so that they don’t add diseases to animals and by extension human beings that consume animal products at end of the day.
“In 2007 the Federal Government came out with regulation for the feed milling industries in Nigeria which stipulates what to be done so that we can have a wholesome feed that would ensure welfare of animals and the overall interest of the people for safety and promotion of animal agricultural chain,” he sad.
Atunbi added that all animal feed operators in the country ought to register their premises, so that the institute would assess their process of production, evaluate and certify that what they are doing is in line with best practice.
On the synergy with sister regulatory agencies like NAFDAC and SON, the official said the three organizations are working together in harmony.
“The issue of overlapping will not come again. What NIAS does is the process regulation, while NAFDAC does products regulation and SON on standard of products,” Atunbi said.
Also the Head of Regulatory Affairs Department in NIAS, Mr Joagwani Ifenyi, disclosed that big players in the industry are compliant to existing regulations, “because you cannot divorce compliance from profits in the business.
” If you don’t do proper things it will affect your market negatively, so for economic reasons most of the feed mill industries are compliant.”
At Olan grains mill, the Chief Miller, Kirsten Adonis assured that the company does not compromise standard and quality.
Adonis said the inspection carried out by NIAS would help the company to improve on any identified lapse, adding “we hope the collaboration will lead to the development of the sector.”
Also, the Chief Executive Officer of Hybrid Feed, Mr Leye Alayande, said the inspection would impact positively on the business, as the companies would strive to maintain standard and quality.
“The world is now a global village, competition is pushing everyone to produce quality feeds, so we don’t have any choice but to meet the standard so that we can produce best feeds,” he stressed.
NIAS was established by the federal government to promote rapid production of high quality animals’ proteins through scientific method and regulate all issues pertaining to animal husbandry in Nigeria
It also monitors animal science practitioners uphold the ethics of the profession and guarantee the production of high quality animal proteins among others.
The inspection focussed on the two companies’ feed technology, production, raw materials and quality.
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