Animal Feed Establishment
Operating an Animal Feed Establishment
General Information
In order to operate an animal feed establishment in the Republic of Cyprus, one needs to obtain a registration or approval certificate (depending on the activities with which the establishment is engaged in) by the Department of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment.
Specifically, an approval certificate needs to be obtained in the case that establishments carry out one of the following activities, whereas in all other cases of animal feed establishments a registration certificate is to be obtained:
- manufacturing and/or placing on the market of feed additives covered by Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 and referred to in Chapter 1 of Annex IV of Regulation (EC) no 183/2005;
- manufacturing and/or placing on the market of premixtures prepared using feed additives referred to in Chapter 2 of Annex IV of Regulation (EC) no 183/2005;
- manufacturing for placing on the market, or producing for the exclusive requirements of their holdings, compound feedingstuffs using feed additives or premixtures containing feed additives and referred to in Chapter 3 of Annex IV of Regulation (EC) no 183/2005.
The term “animal feed” refers to any substance or product, including additives, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be used for animal feeding. Moreover, the term “establishment” refers to any production or packaging unit of animal feed intended to be placed on the market.
Application Submission
Who is Eligible
Any physical person or legal entity is eligible to obtain the Registration or Approval Certificate of Establishment provided that the Department of Agriculture is satisfied that physical person or legal entity possesses or has under its responsibility appropriate building premises permanently established in the Republic of Cyprus, appropriate equipment, human resources adequately equipped with the relevant experience and knowledge, quality control system, packaging and storage conditions, etc in accordance with the HACCP principles as well as with the rest of the provisions of the Regulation (EC) no 183/2005 laying down requirements for feed hygiene.
Where to Apply
The registration/renewal application for registration of establishment or the approval/renewal application for approval of establishment can be submitted either through the PSC Cyprus or by contacting directly the competent authority:
Agrochemicals and Feeding Stuffs Sector
Department of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
1412 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22408633, +357 22408638
Fax: + 357 22408538
E-mail: feedingstuffs@da.moa.gov.cy
Website: http://www.moa.gov.cy/moa/da/da.nsf
Which Certificates must be Submitted
The application form should be accompanied by the following documents:
- copy of Certificate of Incorporation (in case of a legal person);
- copy of Certificate of Directors and Secretary (in case of a legal person);
- copy of Certificate of Shareholders (in case of a legal person),
- copy of Certificate of Registration of the Trademark (if applicable);
- copy of Certificate of Registration of Factory Premises, regarding the establishment, issued by the Department of Labor Inspection in accordance with the provisions of the Factοries Law (see Related Links);
- copy of organizational structure and human resource’s qualifications including the number, qualifications and technical knowledge of the personnel as well as the name and qualifications of the person responsible for the production of the materials;
- copy of full details of the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of buildings and technical equipment of the premises, as well as the storage conditions for the materials;
- copy of the quality control program of the materials at the critical stages of the production process;
- copy of cooperation agreement with chemical laboratory including the name, address and telephone number of the laboratory (in case the establishment does not own a laboratory);
- copy of topographic plans, architectural plans;
- copy of the payment receipt for the fee of €51, 26 (payable either by cash or cheque).
On-site inspections by authorized inspectors are carried out in order to ensure that all the prerequisites, mentioned under “Who is Eligible” section, are met.
Fees Applicable & How to Pay
The application fee is €51,26 and is payable either by cash or cheque.
The renewal fee (for either of the two certificates) is €51,26 and is payable either by cash or cheque.
Decision Notification
The applicant is informed regarding the authorization decision within 3 months from the date that the application form and supporting documents were duly submitted.
Licence Validity Period
The Registration Certificate is valid for 5 years, while the Approval Certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue.
Dispute with the Competent Authority's Decision
How to File an Administrative Action
Administrative Action Against a Competent Authority’s Decision
Any person may file an Administrative Action at the Administrative Court against a decision, act or omission of any competent authority or body.
Pursuant to Article 146 of the Constitution, an Administrative Action may be lodged within 75 days from the date of the decision or act or omission or from the day when such decision or act or omission was notified to the applicant.
The Administrative Court acts as a cassation Court and not as a substantive Court. In other words, the Administrative Court may:
I. Dismiss the Administrative Action
II. Annul wholly or partially the contested decision or act
III. Compel the relevant authority or body to take a certain action
After a decision is annulled, the authority and/or public body must reverse things back to the state prior to when the concerned decision and/or act was executed and reexamine.
How to Appeal
Appeal Information
An Appeal may be filed against the Administrative Court’s first-instance decision within a period of 42 days from the date such a decision was given.
At the Supreme Court (Court of Appeal Section) hearing, the contested issue of the appeal remains the legality of the decision or act already adjudicated. However, such a revision of the legality of the decision or act is solely examined on the matters and the extent that the two parties have limited the reasons in the relevant notice of appeal.
The decision adopted by the Supreme Court is considered final in relation to the matter that has been judged.
Legislation & Obligations
Which Laws and Regulations Apply
What are my Obligations
Registered and Approved Animal Feed Operators are obliged to ensure that the provisions of the Regulation (EC) no 183/2005 laying down requirements for feed hygiene as well as the principles of Hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) system are met (see Regulation (EC) no 183/2005 in the “Applications & Documents”).
Indicatively they should:
- identify any hazards that must be prevented, eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels;
- identify the critical control points at the step or steps at which control is essential to prevent or eliminate a hazard or reduce it to acceptable levels;
- establish critical limits at critical control points which separate acceptability from unacceptability, for the prevention, elimination or reduction of identified hazards;
- establish and implement effective monitoring procedures at critical control points;
- establish corrective action when monitoring indicates that a critical control point is not under control;
- establish procedures to verify that that the above mentioned measures are complete and working effectively. Verification procedures shall be carried out regularly;
- establish documents and records commensurate with the nature and size of the feed businesses to demonstrate the effective application of the above mentioned measures.