According to the news report Hi-Peak Feeds is calling for a ban on fish meal ban in organic poultry feeds. On the other Humphrey Feeds believes there was a real need for it as an ingredient in pig and poultry rations. But Soil Association says its members may use fishmeal from sustainable sources. It is told that fishmeal has no part to play in feeding organic poultry, claims one of the UK’s leading producers of organic rations.
Farmers Weekly Interactive (FWi) reports that Ian Proctor, managing director of Hi-Peak Feeds, has spoken out against new EU rules that will allow the use of fishmeal in rations on a long-term basis. He also said that the use of fishmeal will undermine the integrity and value of the organic sector, and has written to DEFRA minister Hilary Benn calling for a complete ban on fishmeal in organics.
According to Proctor at a time when industrial fishing is the greatest culprit for declining fish populations, organics should distance itself from such unsustainable and irresponsible fishing techniques. He added that the sector should resist these moves and seek the removal of fishmeal altogether from organic feeds.
At the Soil Association, policy director Peter Melchett agreed with Proctor that there were significant environmental issues over fishmeal and how it is sourced. Melchett informed that Hi Peak has identified a serious issue but the Soil Association will not be seeking a change in EU rules. EU regulations required that fish meal in organic feeds should be from a sustainable source, he pointed out, and the policy at the Soil Association was that members could not use ‘industrial’ fish meal.
