NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 11- Twenty-Four Standards to facilitate the production of safe and quality products of animal origin are now available, says the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS).
The enhanced specifications were developed to support the growing demand for proteins of animal origin which has led to intensified livestock production and subsequent use of selected feed grains and fodder seeds.
“The Standards will address variety specifications, formulations and terms used in animal feedstuffs, methods of tests for important quality and safety parameters for oilseed by-products (used as raw materials for animal feeds), fertilizers and cereals/pulses,” said Bernard Njiraini, Managing Director, KEBS.
The Standards will also provide specifications for potato flakes and cotton seed and application of molecular biomarkers for detection of adulteration of food and feed even when the element of detection is present in very small amounts.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the consumption of animal products continues to rise worldwide and has driven demand for animal feed products hence critical to ensure that feed safety is guaranteed across the chain.
Recent contamination episodes have raised attention on the importance of ensuring feed safety and on the need to prevent and control the presence of hazards, such as dioxin, aflatoxins and other undesirable substances.
The 24 Standards are among the two hundred and forty-three (243) standards approved by KEBS to support growth in food and agriculture, housing and construction, healthcare as well as general manufacturing sectors as the country fights Coronavirus (COVID-19).
“Application of the standards will aid industrial advancement and strengthen the country’s progress in sectors critical to the growth of our economy. They will give the much-needed boost, as industries face unique challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, by providing solutions that address quality and sustainability issues,” added Njiraini.
