IPIFF Press Release

IPIFF Press Release | July 2017

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PRESS RELEASE

European insect producers welcome the new EU legislation authorising the use of insects’ proteins in aquaculture.

Brussels, 1 July 2017

IPIFF - the European Umbrella Organisation representing the interests of the Insect Production sector for Food and Feed – welcomed today’s entry into force of EU Regulation 2017/893, which permits the use of insect proteins as fish feed.

In the wake of this legislative reform, IPIFF President Antoine Hubert reacted: "We are particularly pleased with the opening of this legislation, which constitutes a major milestone towards the development of the European insect production sector". "We also trust that this legislation will bring new opportunities for the European aquaculture sector, as insects should represent a promising source of proteins for farmed fish in the near future: as being a natural component of the diets of carnivorous fish, whilst combining high proteins levels - between 55% and 75% - and excellent digestibility performances, insects are well suited to complement feed formula for aquaculture animals" explained Mr. Hubert.

The unlocking of this EU legislation comes after EU Member States voted a proposal presented by the European Commission in December last year. ‘This decision contributed to bring sufficient visibility for insect producers to deploy their production activities at wider industrial scale’, explained the IPIFF Vice Chair, Tarique Arsiwalla: "Many companies are now planning their investments in order to increase production volumes significantly. As result, we expect first commercial sales to occur this year already" added Mr. Arsiwalla.

Looking ahead, IPIFF expressed the willingness to pursue its efforts towards widening the possible use of insect proteins by EU livestock and aquaculture farmers: "our association pleads for extending the use of insect proteins in feed for pigs and poultry. We are also interested in exploring potential alternative substrates for insect farming in the future" stated Mr. Hubert.

In the meantime, IPIFF and its members are engaged in the development of a guidance paper documenting best practice in quality and hygienic insect production as a means to assist producers in implementing the newly adopted legislation, concluded the IPIFF Chair.

Contacts
For more information, please contact:
IPIFF Secretariat
Avenue Lacomblé 59. B.8
B-1030 Brussels, Belgium
T: +32 (0)4 86 44 94 76
christophe.derrien@ipiff.org
www.ipiff.org

The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) is a non-profit organisation which represents the interests of the insect production sector towards EU policy makers, European stakeholders and citizens. Composed of 39 members, most of which are European insect producing companies, IPIFF promotes the use of insects and insect-derived products as top tier source of nutrients for human consumption and animal feed.