Regulation EC 183/2005 effects all businesses that manufacture, market or use animal feed, including livestock farms and arable farms that use or sell crops for feed use. It's purpose is to improve feed safety and it includes traceability measures to try to ensure that, in the case of a feed contamination incident, feeds can be easily traced and recalled if necessary.

One of the requirements of the Regulation is for feed businesses to carry out a certain amount of record-keeping so that if a feed or food related problem occurs, its origins can be quickly identified and appropriate measures taken.

In 2005, the Government estimated the cost to businesses in term of time spent complying with the record keeping requirements of the Regulation at £58 million per year at 2005 prices.

To help reduce this burden, the FSA drafted a four page guidance document, outlining what records are required and why. They now propose to consolidate this further to a one page leaflet for farmers with the main requirements summarised.

The FSA wish to seek the views of the industry on several aspects:

1. Whether any guidance in necessary or if farmers are already aware of the requirements under the Regulation;
2. Whether the draft short guidance document would be useful to help farmers comply;
3. How any guidance should be publicised, the proposal is to distribute via the internet and farming organisations;
4. Whether the guidance will reduce the time taken to comply with the Regulation;
5. Whether the content of the guidance is adequate, the proposal is to present the final document in the form of a leaflet, but the draft content can be found here.