August 3, 2009
Fishmeal use in poultry rations in UK questioned
New EU rules that will allow the use of fishmeal in organic poultry rations on a long-term basis have provoked voices of protests from a leading producer of organic rations in the UK.
Fishmeal has no part to play in feed organic poultry, said Hi-Peak Feeds.
The use of fishmeal will undermine the integrity and value of the organic sector, said Ian Proctor, managing director of Hi-Peak Feeds.
Proctor has called on DEFRA minister Hillary Benn to impose a total ban on fishmeal in organics.
Industrial fishing has caused depletion in fish stocks, and organics should distance itself from such unsustainable and irresponsible fishing techniques, said Proctor.
He opined that using fishmeal would be ethically inappropriate for organics, and the sector should resist these moves and seek the removal of fishmeal from organic feeds.
Since the start of the year, the EU has classified fishmeal as a 'non-agricultural' ingredient, meaning it can be used freely in organic feeds, even in rations that claim to be made from 100 percent organic ingredients.
However, EU regulations also stated that the fishmeal has to come from a sustainable source.