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Local Production of Insects as Animal Feed for Food Producing Animals
Is a licence required for local production of animal feed for food-producing animals?
All local producers of animal feed for food-producing animals must be licensed by SFA before commencing feed production. This includes feed for aquaculture and agriculture. Feed producers are not permitted to supply feed to consumers as human food or to food establishments for processing or retail. For more details, refer to Application Process & Fees for Licence to Manufacture and Process Animal Feed.
Can I produce animal feed for food-producing animals containing insects as ingredients?
Yes, all businesses producing animal feed, including those containing insects, must be licensed by SFA and comply with the conditions of licence for production of animal feed for food-producing animals. All licensed animal feed producers can supply feed (including live insects as animal feed) to other feed producers or farms producing food.
For animal feed containing insects as ingredients, business must adhere to the additional conditions in the table below.
| S/N | Additional Conditions of Licence for the Production of Insects as Animal Feed for Food Producing Animals |
|---|---|
| 1 | Wild harvested insects must only be used as a supplemental breeding stock. |
| 2 | Applicants must establish and submit a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)/ Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan in their production and post-harvest processes to identify the hazard and the control measures. The applicant must implement the HACCP/ FSMS as submitted throughout the licence term. |
| 3 | Substrates Manure, decomposing organic material and materials originating from diseased animals or fish must not be used as feeding substrates. For materials of ruminant origin, only deboned meat cuts and dairy (e.g. milk and cheese) products must be used. For food waste to be used as insect substrate, the food waste must not be in a decaying or decomposing state. Decomposing state is identified by putrid odours, mushy/ slimy, or with visible mould or bacteria growth. Substrates which have undergone controlled fermentation are encouraged. Applicants must ensure that there is a system in place to screen inputs into the waste stream. |
| 4 | Post-harvest Good hygiene practices must be implemented during post-harvest handling to prevent cross contamination. |
Production of Insects as Food
Can I produce insects as food?
Businesses that want to produce insects as food should adopt the guidelines in the table below.
| S/N | Guidelines for the Production of Insects as Food |
|---|---|
| 1 | The species of insects farmed should only be those listed in the List of Insects assessed to be safe for human consumption. Insects that are not in this list should undergo evaluation to ensure that the insect species are safe to consume. |
| 2 | Wild harvested insects should only be used as a supplemental breeding stock. |
| 3 | Applicants should establish and submit a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)/ Food Safety Management System (FSMS) plan in their production and post-harvest processes to identify the hazard and the control measures. The applicant is required to implement the HACCP/FSMS as submitted throughout the licence term. |
| 4 | Substrates The substrate used for feeding of insects should not be contaminated with any substances which may cause the insects to be unsafe for human consumption. |
| 5 | Substrates Manure, decomposing organic material and materials originating from diseased animals or fish should not be used as feeding substrates. For materials of ruminant origin, only deboned meat cuts and dairy (e.g. milk and cheese) products are allowed. For food waste to be used as insect substrate, the food waste should not be in a decaying or decomposing state. (Decomposing state is identified by putrid odours, mushy/slimy, or with visible mould or bacteria growth. Substrates which have undergone controlled fermentation are permitted). Applicants should ensure that there is a system in place to screen inputs into the waste stream, to ensure that the substrate will not contain materials which are disallowed. |
| 6 | Post-harvest Good hygiene practices should be implemented during post-harvest handling to prevent cross contamination. |
| 7 | Post-harvest Insects for human consumption should have been subjected to sufficient heat treatment, or an equivalent bactericidal process, to kill pathogens prior to consumption; and are safe for consumption. |
| 8 | The licensee should not conduct any sales of live insects to retailers or members of the public without the prior approval of the Director-General. |
