In response to the need for harmonisation of assurance schemes throughout the world, four organisations – the British AIC, the Belgian OVOCOM, the Dutch Product Board Animal Feed and the German QS – together with FEFAC, are working closely on a co-operative initiative to create the International Feed Safety Alliance (IFSA).

This Alliance is developing a single common standard for the quality assurance of feed ingredients. The individual standards which are currently owned by the four national organisations will then be replaced by a common standard to be managed by the IFSA.

The Alliance’s vision is:

• The development of a common standard (International Feed Ingredient Standard - IFIS), which will make an important contribution to ensuring feed and food safety.

• The IFIS will be a common standard which will cover the requirements of the global sourcing of feed ingredients to the European Feed manufacturers.

• The IFSA will establish and manage an International Feed Ingredient Programme (IFIP)to ensure consistency, control of the implementation, certification, and auditing of the IFIS.

• The IFSA recognises the importance of close collaboration with all supplier stakeholder partners in the preparation of the IFSA Programme.

• The IFSA is committed to achieving this vision in the most cost-effective manner.