Feed Registration Number and Veterinary Approval — When Required and How to Obtain

Two Different Numbers — Do Not Confuse

In trading practice, two separate identifiers exist, which are often confused:

• Feed Business Operator registration number — issued by the Veterinary Inspection based on EU regulations concerning feed hygiene.
• Veterinary approval number — required when conducting higher-risk activities, such as processing products of animal origin or manufacturing feed mixtures with specific ingredients.

Both are visible in official registers and form the basis for trade within the EU and when importing from third countries, including Ukraine.

When Is Registration Alone Sufficient?

Registration (without full approval) is sufficient for most operators engaged in:

• trading in cereals intended for feed (wheat, corn, barley, oats, millet),
• trading in plant-based meals and cakes (soybean meal, sunflower meal, soybean cake, sunflower cake),
• storage and transport of feed raw materials,
• import of plant-based feeds from outside the EU.

The application is submitted to the competent District Veterinary Officer. The Inspection conducts a control of the facility or place of business operation and issues a registration number in the register.

When Is Approval Required?

Approval (full veterinary number) is required, among others, when:

• manufacturing feed mixtures containing products of animal origin (e.g., meals),
• processing animal by-products for feed purposes,
• manufacturing and placing premixes on the market,
• in certain cases of using feed additives.

The approval procedure is more extensive — it includes facility inspection, HACCP documentation verification, and compliance with detailed infrastructure requirements.

How to Obtain the Number — Step by Step

1. Determine the scope of activity — establish whether registration is sufficient or approval is needed.
2. Contact the District Veterinary Officer competent for the facility's registered office or place of business.
3. Submit an application along with a description of activities, facility plan, and documentation regarding hygiene principles (GHP/GMP, HACCP).
4. Allow inspection to be conducted — the inspector assesses premises conditions, equipment, and procedures.
5. Receive the number and ensure its visibility in trade documents (invoices, certificates, specifications).

Significance of the Number in Cross-Border Trade

When delivering from Ukraine, each operator involved in the chain — exporter, importer, transshipment warehouse — must possess valid registration or approval in accordance with the requirements of the destination country. Lack of a number results in goods being held at the border or refusal of acceptance by the recipient.

For raw materials such as soy, soybean meal, or plant-based oils intended for feed, transport documents should clearly indicate the supplier's registration number.

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Familiarize yourself with our product catalog or submit a price inquiry — we handle deliveries compliant with EU requirements and document each batch of goods.