FEFAC urges EU action on protein imports

ROMANIA – The European Feed Manufacturers’ Federation (FEFAC) has called on policymakers to reduce the European Union’s dependence on imported proteins and critical feed inputs, warning that supply chain vulnerabilities could threaten the long-term competitiveness and resilience of the bloc’s livestock and aquaculture sectors.

FEFAC said the proposals are designed to strengthen food security, improve feed supply resilience, accelerate innovation and reduce strategic dependencies that continue to expose European agriculture to global market disruptions.

The industry body outlined four priority areas: strengthening food security and competitiveness, accelerating feed efficiency and innovation, supporting investment and modernisation across the livestock value chain, and reducing strategic dependencies in protein and feed additive supplies.

The recommendations come as European feed and livestock markets continue to face uncertainty linked to geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions and rising concerns over food security.

Feed industry calls for stronger domestic protein production

A key concern highlighted by FEFAC is the EU’s continued reliance on imported protein sources.

According to the federation, the bloc imports approximately 70% of its total high-protein plant-based feed requirements, making livestock production vulnerable to external shocks and disruptions in international trade.

To address this challenge, FEFAC is calling for the adoption of a comprehensive EU Protein Plan from 2026, supported by clear objectives, measurable milestones and targeted financial incentives to stimulate domestic production of vegetable proteins.

The federation also noted that the EU imports around 33 million tonnes of soy annually, underlining the importance of maintaining secure access to global protein supplies while simultaneously increasing local production capacity.

FEFAC warned that current implementation challenges linked to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) could potentially disrupt essential soy imports if enforcement is not harmonised across member states.

The organisation urged policymakers to ensure evidence-based impact assessments and practical implementation measures that safeguard feed supply chains while achieving sustainability objectives.

Strategic vulnerabilities extend beyond protein supplies

Beyond protein imports, FEFAC raised concerns about Europe’s dependence on external suppliers for critical feed additives.

The federation specifically highlighted the EU’s reliance on China for several essential inputs, including amino acids and vitamins such as Vitamin B complex, describing the situation as a strategic vulnerability that requires long-term policy action.

FEFAC also called for feed supply chain security to be incorporated into the EU’s broader Stockpiling Strategy and Food Security Contingency Plan, arguing that feed should be recognised as a strategic component of Europe’s food system.

On innovation, the federation urged the European Commission to modernise feed additives legislation and launch an EU Circular Feed Roadmap to encourage greater use of alternative and circular feed resources.

According to FEFAC, removing unnecessary regulatory barriers would unlock opportunities to improve resource efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit competition for agricultural land used in feed production.

The organisation stressed that reliable access to high-quality, innovative and affordable feed products remains essential to both the economic resilience and sustainability performance of European livestock and aquaculture production.

FEFAC is urging policymakers to place feed security, protein self-sufficiency and supply chain resilience at the centre of future agricultural policy, arguing that these measures will be critical to maintaining the competitiveness of European animal agriculture in an increasingly uncertain global environment.

The recommendations were unveiled during the 31st FEFAC Congress held in Bucharest, Romania, on May 20, ahead of the European Commission’s expected publication of the EU Livestock Strategy and EU Protein Plan 2026 in July. 

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