7 October 2022: FEDIAF, EuropeanPetFood, is disappointed that the European Parliament has not protected critical pet food ingredients by proceeding with changes to EU rules on biofuel, under FuelEU Maritime. The failure to exclude the use of Category 3 animal by-products in biofuels compounds the lack of provisions in the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) and ReFuel Aviation proposal in recent months. These decisions put the pet food industry under threat.
Rosa Carbonell, President of FEDIAF, explains: “Under the European Green Deal, the EU has committed to the decarbonisation of transport, which we fully support. However, this is unravelling at the expense of our pets because new rules incentivise the use of critical pet food ingredients in biofuels. In essence, pet food will be taken away from pets and poured into fuel tanks. As a result, our industry will face a huge challenge to feed the EU’s 300 million pets.”
FEDIAF believes, that food, which is not intended for human consumption, should be recycled first in pet food, which sits well above energy use in the EU’s own hierarchy of options for food waste disposal before being used as biofuels. Importantly, there is an alternative available. Impact assessment has shown that Category 3 animal by-products are not a necessary element for decarbonisation in the maritime fuel sector. Category 1&2 animal fats, which do not meet pet food safety standards, are available and more suitable for use as biofuels.
Moreover, as by-products from human food processing, Category 3 animal fats play an important role in the pet food industry’s sustainable business model. These fats are already in short supply and cannot be easily replaced. The industry will be forced to look for alternatives, which are unlikely to be as positive in terms of nutrition, safety, and environmental footprint. By attempting to decarbonise the transport sector, these rules will damage the pet food industry’s impressive circular business model.
Rosa concludes: “The EU’s pet food sector serves over 300 million companion animals in Europe each year and provides direct (and indirect) employment to more than 1 million European citizens. In addition to its huge environmental impact, the use of Category 3 in biofuels is likely to drive-up prices at a time when EU consumers are already under significant pressure from rising cost of living. The food crisis could soon reach our pets.
We implore European Parliament to reconsider their position on the definition of sustainable fuels and exclude category 3 animal by-products at the Plenary vote on the FuelEU Maritime. European Parliament has one final chance to listen to the concerns of the pet food industry and ensure that they don’t give with one hand and take with the other. The decarbonisation of transport must not occur at the expense of Europe’s pets and their owners.”
ENDS
About FEDIAF
FEDIAF represents the interests of 15 European national pet food associations, together with five pet food manufacturers operating in Europe. FEDIAF members provide safe products that benefit pets and society. FEDIAF believes that pet ownership can enhance the lives of all Europeans. Today there are 90 million European households benefitting from the love and companionship of their 300+ million pets. In Europe, there are an estimated 110,000 people directly employed and 950,000 indirectly employed throughout the pet food industry. FEDIAF is the voice of the European pet food industry.
For more information:
Contact Alice Tempel Costa, Technical Director
FEDIAF – European Pet Food
Rue de l’Industrie 11,
Box 10, B – 1000 Brussels
Email: fediaf@fediaf.org