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| PET GAZETTE | PFMA
PFMA
PFMA Pet Food Vision – one year on
I
n 2018 the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA)
launched its Pet Food Vision, an ambitious three-year
plan focusing on the core pillars underpinning PFMA
and the pet food industry: animal welfare, nutrition
and safety, standards and sustainability. Each year,
PFMA focuses on a different pillar with a dedicated work stream
bringing this vision to life.
WHAT INSPIRED THE PFMA PET FOOD VISION?
Brexit has made us look at where we want the UK pet food sector to
be as a more global player. We consider the UK pet food industry to be
world leading in the areas of animal welfare, nutrition and safety and
standards – this is the story we want our members to go out and tell.
Throughout 2018, PFMA put the spotlight on animal welfare. The
welfare of both farm animal and companion animals is important to
us and PFMA became a co-sponsor of the All-Party Group for Animal
Welfare (APGAW), joining other influential voices in the welfare sector
to ensure animal welfare is a key consideration, particularly with Brexit
discussions ongoing.
WHERE DOES THE UK CURRENTLY STAND ON
ANIMAL WELFARE?
World Animal Protection ranks 50 countries around the globe
according to their legislation and policy commitments to protecting
animals. Countries are ranked from grade A to G on various indicators
and the UK sits alongside Austria, Switzerland and New Zealand in
achieving Grade A status. The second review is currently underway
with results expected later in the year. Needless to say, PFMA is keen
for the UK to maintains its position.
IS GOOD NUTRITION A KEY COMPONENT OF
ANIMAL WELFARE?
We believe that animal welfare starts with great quality nutrition. Our
members are responsible for feeding the 50 million plus pets in the UK
and we take this responsibility very seriously. As an industry, we are
committed to providing high quality, nutritious and safe pet food, and
providing clear guidelines on how to responsibly feed pets. We work
closely with the European Pet Food Association (FEDIAF), and other leading
authorities continuously striving to raise the bar across the industry.
Not only what is fed, but how food is delivered to pets is central to
ensuring their environmental and behavioural needs are met. We
recognise a welfare-driven approach to feeding and the positive
impact our members can make to the lives of pets. Welfare driven
feeding includes:
• Understanding and respecting feeding guidelines
• The provision of not only appropriate calories, but exercise and
activity outlets according to needs
• Responsible treating/rewarding and supplementary feeding
• Optimising feeding environment, respecting species-specific
requirements and natural behaviours
• Responsible labelling and communication of nutritional data;
ensuring pet owners are fully informed on products
www.petgazette.biz
WHAT ABOUT THE WELFARE OF FARM
ANIMALS?
PFMA is dedicated to the welfare of all animals and is firmly committed
to their wellbeing. We endorse the Five Freedoms laid down in the
Animal Welfare Act 2006 and support the FAWC concept of a ‘life worth
living’ for all farm animals.
We are proud champions of some of the highest feed safety and
animal welfare standards in the world. We work to ensure these
are maintained and that our high standards of raw materials are
not undermined by imports with lower standards. We encourage
our members to have responsible sourcing policies and traceability
programmes in place to ensure high standards and maintain trust.
PFMA PET FOOD VISION YEAR TWO –
NUTRITION
In 2019, we put nutrition at the heart of our agenda. There will be a
focus on the science behind small animal nutrition and an educational
push on healthy feeding and weight management. It will be the
10-year anniversary of PFMA’s first obesity White Paper, and we
will be developing an online Health Hub with all the tools pet care
professionals need to help owners keep their pets fit and healthy.
PFMA PET FOOD VISION YEAR THREE –
SAFETY, STANDARDS AND SUSTAINABILITY
PFMA will focus on traceability, sustainability and industry best practice.
USEFUL RESOURCES
PFMA Animal Welfare Framework:
www.pfma.org.uk/pfmas-pet-food-vision
All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare:
www.apgaw.org/
World Animal Protection Index:
www.api.worldanimalprotection.org/
March 2019