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Agriculture Standards

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Description

The Council is responsible for maintaining standards in all aspects of food and animal health and agriculture. This is done through the enforcement of the Food Safety Act and parts of the Agriculture Act relating to fertilisers and feeding stuffs.

Trading Standards aims to ensure that animal feeds, including those for pet animals, and fertilisers are of satisfactory quality, safe for use and labelled correctly. Manufacturers and on-farm mixers of animal feeding stuffs have to register with the Trading Standards Service.

Further information can be obtained from the websites given on this page. Alternatively, use the contact details provided to contact our Trading Standards Officers.

Eligibility

Members of the public, Farmers, Animal Feed Businesses and Fertiliser Businesses.

Procedure

Animal feeding stuffs and fertilisers are controlled by legislation made by central government. Local authorities and RPS GB (Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain) enforce the legislation to ensure it is complied with by inspecting feed and fertilisers manufacturers and suppliers, taking samples for analysis and providing advice to businesses and consumers.

Helplines

Regulatory Services, Trading Standards Team: 01226 772532 e-mail: tradingstandards@barnsley.gov.uk

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (see associated links): 08459 335577

Food Standards Agency: 020 7276 8462

Opening Times/Locations

Opening times and location map, click link for further information.

How the Customer Can Help

Your request for information/complaint should include the following information.

your name, address and contact details
name and address of feed/fertiliser business
what you require information on/what your complaint is about
details from the feeding stuff label
any action taken by yourself

Leaflets

Advisory leaflets are available, please contact us for further advice (see Helplines)

Distribution Points

Her Majesty's Stationery Office (HMSO) - (see associated links) provides full texts of Acts of Parliament from 1988, plus access to Inforoute, the Government's Information Asset Register.

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain - (see associated links) provides information/advice on medicated feeding stuffs.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - (see associated links) Defra works for the essentials of life - water, food, air, land, people, animals and plants.

Trading Standards Central - (see associated links). A one stop shop for consumer protection information in the UK. Provides information for businesses and consumers.

HM Customs and Excise - (see associated links) provides information and advice for the public and for businesses.

Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - (see associated links). The OFT is designed with two purposes: to protect consumers and explain their rights; and to ensure that businesses compete and operate fairly.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - (see associated links) working with businesses, employees and consumers to drive up UK productivity and competitiveness to deliver prosperity for all.

Food Standards Agency (FSA) -(see associated links). An independent food safety watchdog set up by and Act of Parliament in 2000 to protect the public's health and consumer interests in relation to food.

Legislation

Agriculture Act 1970
Fertiliser Regulations 1991
Feeding Stuffs (Sampling and Analysis) and the Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations 2004
Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2000
Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) Regulations 1999
Feeding Stuffs (Enforcement) Regulations 1999

Response Times/Next Steps

We aim to contact you within 3 working days of your request.

Out of Hours Procedure

Available on request by arrangement.

Owner Officer Contact Details

Unit Manager, Trading Standards
3rd Floor
Central Offices,
Kendray Street,
Barnsley,
S70 2TN.

Additional Notes

Animal feed must be labelled with a statutory statement which contains information such as the following:

(a) The name and address of the person who guarantees the statement is accurate (normally the manufacturer).

(b) The description of the type of feed, for example: 'Complete' or 'Complementary Feeding Stuffs' or 'Complementary Pet Food' - as appropriate, see defintions section.

(d) The amount of protein, oil, fibre and ash which is present.

(e) Directions for use.

(f) The presence of any antioxidants, colour or preservatives.

(g) The amount of certain trace elements/minerals.

(h) The amount of certain vitamins and the date to which they will remain present at the declared level.

(i) A 'best before' date.

(j) A batch number or, alternatively, a date of manufacture.

(k) Ingredients list in descending order by weight, either by specific name or grouped into categories, but not by both methods unless there is no generic name for an ingredient.

Any other information on the label must be clearly separate from the statutory statement.

Definitions

Straight Feeding Stuffs

Vegetable or animal products in their natural state, either fresh or preserved, for example seeds.

Compound Feeding Stuffs

Mixtures of vegetable or animal products in their natural state. These can be complete feeds or complementary feeds.

Complete Feeding Stuffs

A compound feed which is sufficient to ensure a daily ration for the animal.

Complementary Feeding Stuffs

A compound feed which has a high content of certain substances and is only sufficient for a daily ration for the animal if it is used with other feeding stuffs.

The type of feed should be on the bulk packaging.

Fertilisers

These are controlled by the Fertiliser Regulations 1991 which lay down conditions with respect to content and marking of packaging. The primary nutrients of fertilisers are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and the % of each can be found on the label.

Organic fertilisers are those made out of once living material such as plants and animals. They have a slower reaction as their nutrients are released slowly over time into the soil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q I have opened a tin of dog food and it is mouldy, can I do anything about it?

A Any pet food should be 'wholesome' for the pet intended. It is an offence for it not to be. The shop that sold the pet food would be liable under contract law to refund the amount paid. We would investigate how the food became mouldy with the manufacturers.

Q As a retailer I buy 'bright tins' of cat and dog food. These are tins that are of reject quality and not individually labelled by the manufacturer. Can I sell them?

A It is a legal requirement that pet food must be sold with an appropriate statutory statement attached which includes specific information. This is outlined in the additional notes section.

Q I am a farmer with beef cattle, which are fed from a mix of feed made up on the farm. Do I need to be approved to do this?

A Farmers often mix feed just for their own animals using home grown crops and bought in compound feeds and minerals. Under the Feeding Stuffs (Establishments and Intermediaries) Regulations 1998 anyone carrying out these activities need to register with their local Trading Standards Service. They have a duty to inspect your on farm mixing equipment, procedures and records. You will be given a registration number for your premises.

Q What is an EEC Fertiliser?

A A chemical fertiliser which can be sold throughout the European Union manufactured in conformity with the Fertiliser Regulations 1991.

Q Do feeding stuffs have to be used within a certain time?

A Feeding stuffs must have a 'best before' date on the label. If used after this date the product may have deteriorated and eventually become unfit for feeding purposes. Retailers and users of feeding stuffs should examine 'best before' dates and have a system of stock rotation.

You can also complete our online form to request for service on Agriculture