Great that sounds promising, got a link to that June2013 change?
Processed fish feed is probably one of the most promising applications of BSF on a larger scale both for human and animal waste (chicken, pigs & cows) as it seems the most safe and value and distribution chains already exist. In addition fish meal as a protein source is relatively accepted (and similar to insect protein) and companies are looking for an alternative these days with declining marine fish stocks and considerable public opposition.

I have done a bit more research on this. Although the proceessed animal proteins had been banned, this was lifted for the feeding of fish in June 2013, and this included the feeding of fish with feed made from insects.

I also found this interesting project: proteinsect * - which is an EU funded project looking at the safety of insects as animal feed - both inside and outside the EU.


* Mentioned here on the forum: forum.susana.org/forum/categories/91-pro...ersity-in-accra#4559 (added by moderator EvM)

I was actually referring to direct fish imports (Nile Perch & Tilapia for example is a large export from Uganda, and aquaculture is becoming more and more popular here). But you are right, it would just as well apply to fish meal used as fish feed (although as far I I know this is seldom derived from aquaculture so far).

Given the information above, e.g. the current ban of "producer animals" as animal feed I assume the same should apply for imports, which is unfortunate. But as I am not an expert on this topic I would like to hear from the above researcher who seem to have looked into the issue.

JKMakowka wrote:
Import restrictions on developing countries' agricultural produce is already a bad enough problem, thus this is an important issue to figure out before promoting this.

I don't think it is possible to be definitive about the risks of importing a new animal feed to the EU before actually trying to do it.

The European Food Safety Authority assesses sources of animal feed to consider the risks associated with their use in the EU. It would be interesting to know whether they are considering the sources of the feed which is being fed to the fish which is being used in animal feed fishmeal.

JKMakowka wrote: Hmm, would aquaculture fish that have been fed with BSF larvae (in a country that allows it) be banned from import into the EU because of the above mentioned legal restrictions?

Sorry for bringing this up again, but it seems to have been missed for the most part...

Import restrictions on developing countries' agricultural produce is already a bad enough problem, thus this is an important issue to figure out before promoting this.

Hmm, would aquaculture fish that have been fed with BSF larvae (in a country that allows it) be banned from import into the EU because of the above mentioned legal restrictions?

This thread has now been broken off this thread to provide a clearer structure:
forum.susana.org/forum/categories/91-pro...-company-agriprotein

+++++++++++

We also had a discussion about legal barriers to commercialisation of the black soldier fly larvae production as animal food.

You can listen to the discussion about this issue here:



If you can't use Youtube then I have attempted to write it out below for you:

I asked: Where are we at in terms of commercialization of this technology? (it always sounds promising but it nevers seems to go anywhere - what are the barriers? Is the company in South Africa making a profit yet? Or are they still piloting?)

Answer by Ian: "The people in South Africa who are working on it are BioCycle. They have up and running a pilot plat - a proof of concept pilot plant, which is using faecal matter from bucket latrines and pit latrines, and processing it on site there. There is still more work to be done to get a safe end product - before it can be rolled out into rural areas to ensure that there is no transmission of disease or any other problems. So there is still works that needs to be done. But it’s not far off. I think in the next couple of years it will take shape a lot more."

Answer by Björn Vinneras (): "BSF larvae are classified as a “production animal”. There is the constraint in EU legislation with insects considered to be production animals, and therefore not to be consumed by other animals. It’s forbidden currently to feed a production animal (this includes insects) to other farmed animals. But there are lobby groups working on changing this, as it does not really make sense to apply this rule to black soldier fly larvae."

Further information by Björn in an e-mail:
We (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) have an EU project together with EAWAG and Pacovis (a Swiss company). The production animal part is a several step thing in the Animal Bi Product Regulation, summing up at they are production animals, and therefore ruled out. I think it was just a coincidence that it turned into this and nothing planned when the main part of the text were written in the early nineties, to tackle the mad cow disease.

Link to Björn’s previous posts on this topic:
forum.susana.org/forum/categories/91-pro...al-sludge-management

Answer by Hakan Jönsson ():
Agreed with Björn. This is one important reason why no commercial production of BSFL has taken place yet in Sweden.

Answer by Stefan Diener ():
In addition to this, one is not allowed to feed “waste” to farmed animals under the present legislation in the EU (larvae would be regarded as farmed animals because they are "production animals"). This is another barrier to the take-off of this technology.

Nelson asked Ian whether in South Africa the same restrictions apply?

Answer by Ian (): "There are still some restrictions in South Africa regarding what the larvae and farmed animals can be fed (due to the issue of prion transmissions). The company Agro-Protein has a licence for producing "Mag meal" (animal feed made out of black soldier fly larvae made out of maggots). The restrictions are slightly less than those in the EU but I don't know all the exact details."