UK Pet Food is rolling out its new standard for raw pet food production in alignment with the organisation’s new identity.
Developed by independent certification scheme experts KIWA and described as world-leading, the standard provides a tool to support the safe production of commercial raw pet food.
The initiative for the scheme came from UK Pet Food’s 17 commercial raw pet food members, but also has the full backing of the wider membership. The scope of the scheme includes plant design and maintenance, supplier assurance, safe product formulation, full traceability systems, safe handling, quality checks, microbiological testing, a programme of internal auditing, HACCP, staff training and labelling compliance.
Two companies – Natural Dog Foods Direct (Naked Dog) and Poppy’s Picnic – have already been certified in the scheme following a thorough audit of their ingredients, processes and systems. Five other members of UK Pet Food are currently working through the process, and the scheme is also open to non-members.
UK Pet Food chief executive Michael Bellingham said: “The certification scheme is based on a comprehensive standard, encompassing all aspects of hygiene and feed safety. It applies to the entire process from the selection of raw materials to the finished goods. It’s developed with the objective of ensuring safe products for our pets.
“Our partnership with KIWA was critical to the credibility and success of this scheme. They are well known in the agri-food sector and have developed other highly regarded schemes such as the Universal Feed Assurance Scheme.”
Naked Dog said it was proud to be among the first manufacturers to achieve the new certification.
Director Will Saville said: “This is the most stringent of all regulations for commercial raw pet food, developed alongside Defra and the Food Standards Agency. This certification ensures impeccable safety and to be the first to achieve this is confirmation of the level of care we have always put into our raw pet food meals.
“This is a team achievement. Recognising our dedication and hard work, always with exceptional final product in mind.”
