BIS standards now compulsory for Cattle Feed producers

Pashu Sandesh, 16 Feb 2022

In general, to check the quality of packaged feed and cattle food, compliance with BIS standards is practised. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on 6th October 2021 has issued a directive specifying that all commercial feeds intended for meat and milk-producing animals have to comply with the BIS specifications (Indian Standard, IS 2052: 2009- Compounded Feeds for Cattle – Specifications, 4th revision) and shall carry the BIS mark which came into effect from 1st January 2022. This information was given by Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Shri Parshottam Rupala in Rajya Sabha.

This BIS specification prescribes that requirement and the methods of sampling and test for compounded cattle feed for buffaloes, cattle and working bullocks. It is also specified that each bag of cattle feed shall be legibly marked or labelled, “Date of manufacture and best before from the date of manufacture. BIS has already granted 124 licences to manufacturers for use of the BIS standard mark on Compounded Feeds for Cattle as per Indian Standards IS 2052: 2009.

 States such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Odisha have Livestock Feed acts under which law enforcement is done to ensure the quality of packaged animal feed and the expiry date printed on the packets.

 Animal husbandry is a state subject. The State Governments have got the responsibility to carry out these subsidized schemes for dairy producers. Different states have introduced their own schemes to make available the animal feed at lower prices. Also, the schemes implemented by the Central Government will enable increased availability of animal feed at lower rates.