We are happy to provide advice on a wide range of issues.

Special courses (also available as in-house courses)

The extensive IFF programme includes courses that provide an introduction to compound-feed production. Examples:

• 10-day basic course on compound-feed production, incl. a final test and certificate as officially recognised proof of technical expertise according to Regulation EC No. 183/2005 of the Feed Hygiene Requirements and according to sections 28 to 31 of the German Feed Regulations (FMV)
• 5-day advanced course on compound-feed production, incl. a final test and certificate as officially recognised proof of technical expertise according to Regulation EC No. 183/2005 of the Feed Hygiene Requirements and according to sections 28 to 31 of the German Feed Regulations (FMV)
• Practical course "Pelleting of compound feed"
• Practical course "Basic steps of industrial compound-feed production"
• Special course for officials from surveillance authorities.

In addition to these well-established courses, the IFF also offers further training events and workshops on current issues in the industry.

Operational accuracy testing on plants and equipment for the production of compound feeds and premixes

Feed-producing businesses seeking official approval under Section 28 of the German Feed Regulations, or registration under Section 30, are required to meet certain criteria regarding their premises and equipment, according to the information leaflets for approval and registration. Producers have to provide proof of the mixing accuracy and operational accuracy of their plant and submit it to the respective authority, giving details of mixing accuracy, segregation and carryover. Such tests, which involve adding test substances to representative production batches, have been carried out at the IFF Research Institute for many years.

Determining the mixing quality of mixers

These tests involve adding a test substance to a standard or representative sample of compound feed, to determine a mixing time curve. This curve correlates a mixer's mixing quality and mixing time.

Dust emissions measured in accordance with German legislation

The Research Institute of Feed Technology is announced from now on again as a measuring place under Section 26 BImSchG (German Immission Control Law) by the state labour inspectorate Hildesheim for emission measurements in Lower Saxony, the announcement in other federal states is applied.

The Research Institute of Feed Technology is active for more than 15 years in the area of the dust-emission measurements. Besides, we have concentrated in the essentials upon the areas of feed-processing or feed- production plants and flour mills – our activity field for more than 40 years.

Should you plan rebuilding measures relevant for emissions, we help with pleasure in the planning and realisation of relevant measuring points

Advisory service for the introduction and use of HACCP methods as part of existing quality management systems in the feed industry

HACCP stands for hazard analysis and critical control points, and provides a strategy for minimising and controlling risks regarding product safety in the production of foodstuffs. Potential hazards are identified, rated, monitored, and documented, and steps are taken to prevent or control such hazards. HACCP methods now form an essential part of the processing chain for producing foodstuffs of animal origin, and they are mentioned on the labelling. Feed producers are therefore required to integrate such methods into their existing quality management systems, to further improve product safety and quality.
Following suggestions by the German Association of Animal Feed, an expert panel chaired by Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Eberhard Heidenreich (IFF Research Institute of Feed Technology, Braunschweig-Thune) has developed an HACCP textbook for the introduction and use of HACCP methods in existing quality management systems in the feed industry. This textbook is available from IFF, subject to a charge.

Safety assessments

For feed mills to be approved under the German law on emissions (BImSchG), operators are required to conduct a safety assessment of the respective plant. Safety assessments are also required as proof that the safety requirements of mechanical work equipment and the ATEX categorisation II, 2D are met.

Prof. Heidenreich is a registered expert under Section 29a for the IFF Research Institute and thus able to provide competent advice.

Creating explosion protection documents

With the implementation in national legislation of European Directive 1999/92/EC "Explosive Atmospheres", or ATEX 137, there are new requirements regarding safety at work. The European Directive was implemented in German legislation in 2002, as the Regulation on Industrial Safety and Health.

The Regulation on Industrial Safety and Health is applied in areas where an explosive atmosphere may occur. It applies to the provision and use of work equipment. Where a plant operator cannot exclude explosive atmospheres during operations, he has to assess the potential explosion hazards.

Irrespective of workforce numbers, the plant operator must provide an explosion protection document, containing the required risk assessment of explosive atmospheres, effective ignition sources, and an estimate of the scale of a potential explosion.

In the grain-processing and feed industries, the development of explosive atmospheres cannot be excluded, due to the presence of combustible dusts. Businesses in these sectors, and many others, are therefore required to create an explosion protection document.

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Advisory service on dust explosion protection and industrial safety

In the grain-processing and feed industries, the development of an explosive atmosphere cannot be excluded, due to the presence of combustible dusts. Plant operators therefore have to take additional safety precautions to protect their employees and minimise explosion hazards.

New workplaces that are located in explosive areas must be assessed for explosion safety by an authorized person before they can be used (Regulation on Industrial Safety and Health, Appendix 4).

The IFF will be happy to answer any questions on explosion protection, including issues arising from construction or reorganisation measures.

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