With the growing demand for foods of animal origin globally, especially in developing countries in Asia-Pacific, the demand for feed continues to increase which brings about expanding international distribution of feed. Ensuring animal feed safety is crucial because it has a direct impact on animal health and welfare and also on food safety and human health.
In July 2010, the OIE Regional Representation for Asia and the Pacific and the Animal Production and Health Commission for Asia and the Pacific of FAO jointly organized the Regional Workshop on Feed Safety in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Materials Inspection Center (FAMIC), the OIE Collaborating Centre for Animal Feed Safety and Analysis. The workshop reviewed the regional situation of feed safety and developed a number of recommendations. In response to these recommendations, the FAMIC conducted among others the regional short-term hands-on training on analysis of mycotoxins in feed in 2013 and 2017.
Since it has passed more than 8 years from the previous workshop, the situation of animal feed safety is changing. In addition, the issues related to the antimicrobial resistance were the significant challenges for human and animal health security, and it is essential to consider the future activities against the use of antimicrobial agents in feed in the region.
To review and update the progress since the last workshop in 2010, the OIE RRAP organized the OIE Regional workshop on Animal Feed Safety in Tokyo, Japan from 15-16 January 2019 with funding from the people of Japan in collaborating with the FAMIC. The specific goals included 1) to review and share the current situation and issues on feed safety in the region; 2) to improve the knowledge on manufacturing management and quality control of feed; 3) to discuss progress and gaps in the use of antimicrobial agents in feed; and 4) to strengthen regional collaboration for ensuring the feed safety as well as to develop the regional network among relevant institutes.
The workshop was attended by over 50 participants from 22 OIE Member Countries, the FAMIC, experts, interns and OIE staff. It provided an excellent opportunity for members to exchange and gain a more in-depth understanding of the current situation of animal feed in the region as well as to discuss and identify the specific issues and recommendations to create the laboratory network on animal feed safety.
Laboratory Network on Animal Feed Safety in Asia and the Pacific (FAMIC website)
