Cost of Animal Feed Suppliers
across the UK

# Animal Feed Suppliers - Trade Body Accreditation

Animal feed suppliers in the UK operate within a framework of regulatory oversight and voluntary accreditation schemes designed to ensure product safety and quality. The primary regulatory body is the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which enforces the Feed (Safety and Hygiene) Regulations and sets mandatory standards for all feed manufacturers and distributors. For added assurance, many suppliers seek voluntary accreditation from bodies such as UFAS (United Kingdom Feed Standards), which certifies compounds and other feed products, or FEMAS (Fertilising Products and Materials Association), which covers certain organic and waste-derived feed materials. The National Association of Agricultural Contractors and other sector-specific groups also maintain quality standards for specialist suppliers. Understanding these schemes helps you identify providers who meet recognised safety, quality, and traceability benchmarks, and who are subject to regular inspections and audits.

Verifying a supplier's credentials is straightforward and essential for peace of mind. You can check UFAS accreditation directly on their online register, which displays each certified producer and the product categories they cover; the FSA also maintains a register of approved feed establishments. Ask suppliers for their certificate numbers and audit dates, and do not hesitate to contact the trade body directly to confirm current status, as accreditation lapses or is sometimes suspended. This verification matters because an accredited supplier has proven compliance with food safety management systems (often HACCP-based), contamination controls, and traceability protocols. Non-accredited or unregistered suppliers may operate legally under FSA baseline standards, but they have not been independently audited and pose higher reputational and operational risk to your business.

Accredited animal feed suppliers typically charge a premium of between 5 and 15 percent above non-accredited competitors, reflecting the costs of certification, regular third-party audits