Feed Delivery is a dedicated branch within Food Standards Scotland, serving as the Competent Authority for the enforcement of animal feed legislation across Scotland. We are responsible for the implementation of Official Controls to ensure feed safety and consumer protection.
Contact a feed officer
Animal feed is a key part of the food chain, and Food Standards Scotland ensures its safety through regulation
About us
Who we are
Food Standards Scotland operates independently of Ministers and Industry as Scotland’s public sector food body. Our role is to provide impartial, science-based advice to safeguard public health and ensure the integrity of the food chain. Food Standards Scotland, Feed Delivery branch, is responsible for carrying out all feed official controls in Scotland, through a team of officers working with different local authorities under a delegated model.
What we do
Our mission is to protect public health by mitigating risks throughout the food chain, ensuring that what reaches consumers’ plates is safe and authentic. Our Feed Officers conduct inspections and sampling of registered businesses involved in the manufacture, use or sale of animal feed. This includes farms, food and feed industry and pet food manufacturers.
Our focus and functions
Aligned with the strategy, remit, vision and mission of Food Standard Scotland, the Feed Delivery branch serves as the competent authority in Scotland for enforcing and monitoring compliance with animal feed legislation. Our key functions include:
- implementing and overseeing feed hygiene regulations to maintain high safety standards
- supporting policy development to enhance animal feed legislation
- providing expert advice on animal feed hygiene and safety to help the Scottish public make informed choices
- protecting public and consumer health by mitigating safety risks at every stage of the food chain, starting with animal feed
- ensuring evidence-based decision-making through rigorous scientific research and data analysis
- establishing trust and maintaining regulatory compliance across the industry
- upholding transparency in our actions and decision-making processes
- delivering official controls across Scotland, including delegated responsibilities to local authorities
- by maintaining strict regulatory oversight, we contribute to a safer food supply and uphold Scotland’s high standards in animal feed and food safety
Contacting us
How our officers can and cannot help
| Our officers can | Our officers cannot |
|---|---|
| Provide impartial advice on the Official Controls and enforcement of Feed Legislation | File a complaint on your behalf |
| Investigate unregistered feed businesses through credible evidence, to eliminate the impact on public health from animals eating unsafe feed | Take legal action on your behalf |
| Investigate complaints about unsafe animal feed through credible evidence and take action to rectify non compliances with feed legislation | Take legal action on your behalf, mediate on your behalf or represent you |
| Inform you of the relevant feed law that apply to your specific situation E.g. Incorrect labelling, contamination of animal feed, pet food manufacture at home | Investigate complaints or enquiries outside of Scotland (Complaints and enquiries relating to other parts of the UK will be referred to the relevant Competent Authority) |
If you have any questions on enforcement of animal feed please email feed@fss.scot and for legislation/policy email enquiries@fss.scot.
If you are using animal by-products to produce pet food, you may also require approval with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). There is guidance available on their website, and for further information you should contact APHA.Scotland@apha.gov.uk
Food Standards Scotland Incident Team - reporting a food or feed incident incidents@fss.scot 24-hour incidents tel: 07881 516867
The Scottish Government Agriculture and Rural Delivery Directorate is responsible for animal health and welfare, agricultural and environment policy.
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate is responsible for veterinary medicines legislation.
DEFRA Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - GOV.UK are responsible for improving and protecting the environment, supporting food, farming and fishing industries.
Local authorities - contacting your Local Authority in Scotland for Environmental Health matters.
Consumer Advice - who offer advice to Scottish consumers in partnership with Scottish Government. They can pass relevant information onto Trading Standards for further investigation (this cannot be carried out by yourself).