FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE 7 May 2025 REGULATION Regulation is another area where UK policy proposals are leading to greater divergence from EU feed regulations. Simplifying the regulated products regime will benefit feed businesses. The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has proposed removing the need for 10-year renewals for feed additives, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and smoke flavourings. They also suggest publishing authorisations after a ministerial decision, rather than prescribing them in legislation. These proposals are welcomed by industry and will help ensure speedier approvals for new feed additives and GMOs and remove the cost of preparing and submitting dossiers for renewals. Proposed deforestation regulations in the EU and UK have occupied much feed industry resource and, in the UK, the focus has been on identifying the differences between the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the UK Forest Risk Commodities Regulation (UKFRC). Table at the bottom of the page highlights the main differences Again, the UK deforestation regulation proposals appear pragmatic, and the industry supports the principle of deforestation-free supply chains. AIC has engaged in discussions with food and feed supply chain partners to highlight the extra compliance costs both sets of regulations will bring. It is important to note that Northern Ireland businesses might need to follow both UKFRC and EUDR rules. A further regulatory proposal in the UK is the Precision Breeding (PB) Act, which regulates technologies such as gene-editing in plants and animals, presents an opportunity for the UK feed industry. In February 2025, UK Ministers announced that secondary legislation to implement the Precision Breeding Act for plants would be laid in Parliament. The necessary secondary legislation is expected to pass through Parliament and will allow FSA and Defra to receive applications for Precision Bred Organisms (PBOs) in England. AIC will represent the industry’s interests in the Government's Precision Breeding Working Group, to ensure consistency of PB legislation across the UK, noting that similar legislation has now taken a step further forwards in the EU. While regulatory changes are essential for industry growth, ensuring food security remains a priority for the UK Government, especially in responses to recent global challenges. UK FOOD SECURITY The UK Government has published a Food Security Report which identifies the challenges to the UK food supply chain resulting from major shocks such as: • Societal responses to the COVID-19 pandemic caused fluctuations in supply chains due to government measures and economic stimulus, • Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 disrupted energy and grain supplies, leading to higher food prices and impacting UK food security, • Conflict in the Middle East altered supply routes, showing the global trade system's adaptability, • Extreme weather conditions, exacerbated by climate change, caused further localized food chain disruptions. The report serves as an independent evidence base to inform users rather than a policy or strategy. In practice, this means that it provides the Government, Parliament, food chain stakeholders, and the wider public with the data and analysis needed to monitor UK food security and develop effective responses to issues. The UK feed industry is developing a risk register for feed materials and additives to inform discussions around food security issues – after all, food security depends to some extent on feed security. Direct Embedded Cut-off date Geolocation data Entry into force EUDR UK FRC Illegal DF1 Yes Yes Yes – first placer on the market. Importers and EU farmers Yes – annual due diligence report for businesses over £50m t/o and >500t in scope material No - ‘relevant products’ embedded in beef need to comply Yes – all in scope material embedded in all food must be accounted for Illegal con2 Yes Yes Legal DF Yes No Yes No Legal con No No Yes – Dec 2020 No 1.1.2026 TBC DF1 Deforestation — Con2 Conversion
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