As the year draws to a close and we look forward to some rest with family and friends, it’s a good time to reflect on what we have achieved in the last 12 months – and we are curious what the next year will bring.
While we are eager to progress quickly, the typically slow tempo of regulatory change is often hard to accept. Of course, this does not hold us back from working on strengthening the position of our industry and calling for the necessary adjustments to the regulatory framework. We should focus on being ready for upcoming changes in rules and business practices beforehand.
The work done on sustainability is a good example. One of our member companies recently enquired whether there was information about the carbon footprint of rendered feed ingredients because their customer wanted it. Having just finished the new White Paper, we sent them a copy and their response was:
“That’s actually a very interesting read and perfect for what I need. A great educational tool to show the benefits of rendering. It will really come in handy.”
Member company of FABRA UK.
We have equally strong information to support the market for Cat 2 MBM in fertiliser as well as biofuels and technical applications of animal by-products. My impression is that more and more stakeholders are recognising the critical role the rendering sector plays in recycling and reusing valuable raw materials.
That’s not to forget our role in animal health, thankfully, it’s been a relatively quiet year in Europe for the major diseases of livestock. But once again, recent experience shows we are ready to rise to the occasion if necessary.
The final months of the year have seen two pieces of welcome news that you can read about elsewhere on the website. Firstly, EFPRA welcomed the Vietnamese Vice-Minister of Agriculture with his delegation in November in Germany. Discussions are ongoing but at this stage things look promising for further developing that important market for our feed ingredients. Secondly, the UK is starting the process of lifting the feed ban on pig and poultry PAPs, EFPRA is closely supporting FABRA UK in ensuring a positive response to the consultation.
I would like to thank all those who supported the work of EFPRA in 2024 and I count on your continuous support in the New Year! I hope you enjoy reading the rest of the newsletter and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
Robert Figgener, EFPRA President