IPIFF Guide On Good Hygiene Practices

for European Union (EU)
producers of insects as food

and feed
January 2022
1
CONTENTS
General introduction 6
An initiative by the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) 6
Scope of the Guide and legal framework 6
Applicable EU regulations and other reference texts 9
Overall structure of the document 10
Future updates 11
Chapter 1 – Food and feed safety management systems: general principles and
EU requirements 12

1.1. Introduction 12
1.2. Applicable EU regulations 12
1.2.1. ‘General’ EU food and feed hygiene requirements 12
1.2.2. Requirements on substrates of animal origin as feed for insects 17
1.2.3. Overview of EU regulatory possibilities for using insect products as food and feed 21
1.2.4. Imports of insects and their derived ingredients 25
1.2.5. Animal health and environmental requirements 27
1.3. Management of responsibilities, organisational structure and employees 28
1.3.1. Food and feed safety management system responsibility 28
1.3.2. Employees’ appointment and structure 28
1.3.3. Employees’ skills 29
1.4. Traceability and record keeping 29
1.4.1. General requirements 29
1.4.2. Product traceability records 30
1.5. External communication 31
1.6. Emergency and product recall strategy 31
1.6.1. Background information 31
1.6.2. Withdrawal and recall obligations under EU legislation 32
1.6.3. Recommended practices 32
Chapter 2 – Prerequisite programs: infrastructures and general conditions

of production 34
2.2. Building and Premises 34
2.2.1. Building and premises location 34
2.2.2. Building and premises: design principles 34
2.2.3. Building and premises: ventilation 37
2.2.4. Water supply 37
2.2.5. Sanitary facilities, staff rooms and laboratories 38
2.3. Production equipment 39
2.4. Pest control measures 42
2.5. Waste management 43
2.6. Monitoring (sampling and analyses) 44
2.6.1. General requirements 44
2.6.2. Food safety requirements and recommended practices 44
2.6.3. Feed safety requirements and recommended practices 47
2.6.4. Creating a monitoring programme 47
2.7. Personnel 50
2.7.1. Information flow and training 50
2.7.2. Clothing and personal behaviour 50
2.7.3. Personal health 51
2
Chapter 3 – Prerequisite programs: management of insects’ substrates 53
3.1. Substrates supply and insect producers sourcing activities 53

3.1.2. Applicable legislative requirements 54
3.1.3. Specifications and checking measures 54
3.2. Storage of substrates 55
Chapter 4 – Prerequisite programs: insect rearing activities 57
4.1. Introduction: scope and legal framework 57

4.2. Administration of substrates 57
4.2.2. Applicable legislative requirements 58
4.3. Insect growth phase 59
4.3.2.Recommended practices 61
4.4. Harvesting 62
4.5. Pre-treatment step 64
4.6. Specific case of sourcing/sub-contracting practices 64
Chapter 5 – Overview of processing methods applied to insects intended for 66

human consumption and animal nutrition
5.1. Introduction: scope, legal framework and general recommendations 66

5.1.2. Applicable legislative requirements for insects as feed 67
5.1.3. Applicable legislative requirements for insects as food 73
5.1.4. General recommendations 73
5.2. Killing step 74
5.2.1. Introduction 74
5.2.2. Heating 74
5.2.3. Freezing 75
5.3. Post killing steps 75
5.3.2. Freeze-drying 76
5.3.3. Heat-based dehydration methods 77
5.3.4. Grinding 78
5.3.5. Fractioning 78
Chapter 6 – Prerequisite programs: storage, packaging, labelling and transport

operations 80
6.1. Introduction: applicable legislative requirements 80

6.2. Recommended practices for storage and transport operations 82
6.2.1. Premises layout 82
6.2.2. Premises maintenance and cleaning 82
6.2.3. Control of storage conditions 83
6.2.4. Transport operations 84
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6.2.4.1. General requirements and recommended practices 84
6.2.4.2. Transport units 84
6.3. Packaging 86
6.4. Labelling 87
Chapter 7 - Implementation of HACCP principles by insect producers 88
7.2. HACCP principles 88
7.2.1. Assemble the HACCP team 89
7.2.2. Describe the product and its distribution 90
7.2.3. Identify the intended use and consumers 91
7.2.4. Develop a flow diagram describing the process 91
7.2.5. Verify the flow diagram 93
7.2.6. Conduct Hazard analysis (Principle 1) 93
7.2.7. Determine critical control points (CCPs) (Principle 2) 97
7.2.8. Establish critical limits (Principle 3) 99
7.2.9. Establish monitoring procedures (Principle 4) 100
7.2.10. Establish corrective actions (Principle 5) 101
7.2.11. Establish procedures of verification to confirm that a HACCP System is working 101
effectively (Principle 6)
7.2.12. Establish documentation concerning all procedures and records appropriate to 101
these principles and their applications (Principle 7)
Annex I: – Glossary of definitions 103
Annex II – List of insects authorised for the production of processed animal

proteins intended as feed for farmed animals (other than fur animals) within 106
the EU
Annex III – IPIFF contributors to the Guide 112
Annex IV – List of consulted European food and feed business sectors 113
APPENDIX A: Examples of Questions to be Considered When Conducting

a Hazard Analysis 115
APPENDIX B: Decision tree for Critical Control Point (CCP) determination 118
4
PREFACE
The industry to farm insects as food and feed started only about a decade ago. In tropical countries
eating insects was based on harvesting from nature. Sometimes that occurred at a very large scale
such as the harvesting, processing and marketing of the mopane caterpillar in southern Africa.
However, efforts to rear or farm edible insects in large numbers was never the case, although there
were examples of semi-domestication by indigenous people such as providing egg laying sites for
aquatic Hemiptera in lakes of Mexico, manipulating the habitat to increase edible caterpillars
in Africa, and cutting palm trees deliberately to encourage palm weevils to lay their eggs in South
America. There are only sporadic examples that insects were used as feed, such as luring termites
to devices which were then emptied to feed the chicks.
Rearing of insects at a large scale occurred in pest management. The Sterile Insect Technique needed
enormous numbers of reared sterile insects to be released into the wild to control fruit flies or flesh
eating screwworms. Biological control needed large numbers of predators and parasitoids
to be released to control pests. Edible insects were reared but mainly for customers with house pets like
reptiles and amphibians. When the idea of using insects for food or feed emerged, some of those
insect rearing companies set up special production lines to rear mealworms, crickets and locusts for
human consumption. Those special production lines were necessary because it was realised that
society needed safeguards with respect to food safety. Strict hygienic measures and track and tracing
systems were self-imposed. The knowledge that insect consumption could trigger allergic reactions
prompted the industry to put warnings on the label. However, because it was all new, the insect
industry was not sure how to deal legally with all food safety issues.
During the last ten years, the worldwide interest in using insects as food and feed surged, both in the
public and private domain. Hundreds of start-ups in the world are now engaging in this activity. Some
very large industrial insect rearing companies have emerged capable of producing tons of insects
a day. The interest of the academic world in this topic is growing exponentially, especially during the
last three years. The environmental benefits of using insects as food and feed by the public media
is often highlighted. National and international authorities are becoming increasingly supportive
as they also discover the benefits of this new agricultural sector. But how to ensure food and feed
safety?
I happened to be present at the first meeting in 2013 of the European Union (EU) insect producing
companies in Brussels when the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) was
created. The main concern was legislation. Since then IPIFF has done a tremendous job of promoting
edible insects towards the European Union. This Guide shows that the association also wants
to support its members in the effective implementation of EU food and feed safety legislation. As such,
the Guide contributes to underline the critical importance of food and feed safety (procedures)
in insect production activities as concluded by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in recent
opinion dealing with risks associated with insects as food and feed and acknowledged by EU public
authorities (e.g. European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety).
This Guide by IPIFF is an excellent guideline for everyone engaging in the business of how to produce,
process and market insects safe for human consumption and for animals to feed. It is very complete
and gives a profound overview of all relevant EU regulations and how to deal with it.
Arnold van Huis
Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands

First author FAO/WUR book ‘Edible Insects, future prospects for feed and food security’
5
GENERAL INTRODUCTION
An initiative by the International Platform of Insects for Food and

Feed (IPIFF)
The International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) is a not-for-profit organisation which
represents the interests of the insect production sector. With over 80 members from 25 different
countries across Europe and worldwide, IPIFF is the voice of European insect producers towards the
European Union and the wider public.
The prime objective of the European insect production sector is to produce safe products suitable
for both human consumption and animal feed. Against this background, in November 2016, the IPIFF
members decided to launch a Task Force on ‘Good Hygiene Principles’ aimed at preparing and developing
a Guide on Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) for insect production (hereafter referred to as ‘the Guide’).
Objectives of the Guide:
The overarching objective of the Guide is to help operators producing insects for food and/or animal feed
purposes (hereafter referred to as ‘insect producers’) to achieve a high level of consumer protection and
animal health through the production of safe products. To this end, the Guide provides guidance to insect
producers to effectively apply EU food and feed safety legislation and other related EU requirements
(e.g. food and feed labelling requirements, EU animal-by-products and TSE legislations), while providing
an incentive for them to develop a robust food and feed safety management system.
In addition, this Guide specifies requirements enabling to:
1. ensure that insect producers conform to their stated food and feed safety policy and demonstrate
their commitments in this regard;
2. help insect producers to effectively communicate food and feed safety issues to the national
competent authorities, and when needed, to their suppliers, customers and relevant interested
parties (i.e. consumers) in the food and feed chain.
To achieve the above objectives, the Guide has drawn on the skills and expertise of companies directly
involved in the production of insects, either for human consumption or for animal feed purposes. Annex
III lists all insect producing companies that have been active in the development of the present document.
Furthermore, IPIFF has consulted several European representative organisations of the food and feed
business sectors and other interested parties – i.e. the Members of the Advisory Group on the Food Chain
and Animal and Plant Health - during the preparation of the present Guide. The consulted organisations
are listed in Annex IV.
Scope of the Guide and legal framework
The Guide covers the production of insects destined for human consumption or animal feed (i.e. including
feed for food producing animals, pet food and fur animals) and encompasses all production steps, from the
feeding of the insects, their breeding, the killing and other processing steps, storage, transport or retail
activities, to the final delivery of the product to consumers, feed manufacturers or farmers.
Yet, it does not address the specific steps and/or measures to be applied by operators when handling insects/
insect products and/or their by-products (e.g. insect frass) which are intended for ‘technical uses’ (i.e. non-
food and/or feed use) (e.g. use of insect fat as biofuel, valorisation of insect frass as organic fertiliser).
6
Insect products destined for human consumption include the followings:
• killed whole insects which have been subject to post treatment steps i.e. steps which do not change
the shape and/or structure of the product (e.g. drying step);
• ground and further processed insects (e.g. insect meals, including when incorporated into processed
products, or parts of insects and their derived products).
N.B: At the time of the present document’s writing, ‘only’ dried Tenebrio molitor larva and frozen,
dried and powder forms of Locusta migratoria can be legally placed on the EU market. Indeed, insects
as food in the EU require pre market authorisation, based on novel food applications, pursuant to
Regulation (EU) 2015/22831.
The aforementioned authorisation for placing on the EU market of Tenebrio molitor larva was granted
the company SAS EAP Group Agronutris2 whereas the company Fair Insects BV (Protix group)
obtained the same authorisation for the EU commercialisation of frozen, dried and powder forms of
Locusta migratoria3.
As of this writing, several novel food applications have been submitted to the European Commission
and are currently being assessed by the European Food Safety Authority. A few formed the basis of
an EFSA’s opinion and should soon pave the way to ‘new’ EU novel food authorisations4.
Although the Guide is only applicable for products authorised on the EU market (e.g. some specific
national regulatory provisions may apply in EU Member States implementing the novel food
transitional measure), the recommendations provided in the document are also relevant for insect
producers (i.e. producers of insect as food) in the aforementioned countries.
Different types of products may be commercialised for animal feed. The related production steps are
addressed in this document. These concern the followings:
• live farmed insects. The Guide does not however specifically address the steps and/or measures
which should be applied by operators following the breeding/growing phase of the live insects
intended for animal feed (the latter being covered through chapter 3 and 4);
• killed whole insects if subject to post treatment steps, i.e. steps which do not change the shape and/
or the structure of the product (e.g. drying);
• ground and further processed insects (e.g. insect-derived hydrolysates, oils or processed insect
proteins such as in the form of fat meals, defatted or partially defatted meals).
The Guide provides specific recommendations and guidelines for the insect sector how to concretely
implement the requirements on food and feed safety in Regulations (EC) No 183/2005, Regulation
(EC) No 852/2004, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (i.e. ‘General Food Law’) and other related EU
requirements.
In respect of the above activities, insect producers must comply with the same safety requirements
and Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) as food or feed business operators that are active in other food
or feed sectors. Thus, the present Guide covers:
1. the operations referred to in Article 4(1) and 4(2) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, concerning
respectively primary production (and associated operations), processing and distribution of food.
2. the operations referred to in Article 5(1) and 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 which concern
respectively primary production of feed and other activities.
3. the specific obligations referred to in Article 5(2) of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 which apply to the
feeding of food producing animals.
Therefore, it follows the recommendations provided for in Annex I (primary production) and II
(processing and distribution) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
concerning the control of hazards in primary production of both food (and associated operations) and
feed products. It is also in line with the guidelines provided in annex III of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
concerning good animal feeding practice.
1 This authorisation applies without prejudice to the possibly open by several EU Member States to market insect food products within their territory,
pursuant to the transitional measure foreseen in Article 35 (2) of Regulation 2015/2283. (for further details, See IPIFF briefing paper on novel food -
document available on the IPIFF website)
2 For further details, see Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/882 of 1 June 2021 authorising the placing on the market of dried
Tenebrio molitor larva as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and amending Commission
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470.
3 For further details, see Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1975 of 12 November 2021 authorising the placing on the market of frozen,
dried and powder forms of Locusta migratoria as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and
amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470.
4 On 8th of December 2021, the European Union (EU) Member States authorities agreed to approve two draft implementing regulations aiming to
authorise the commercialisation of dried, ground and frozen house cricket (Acheta domesticus) and frozen, dried and powder yellow mealworm
(Tenebrio molitor) respectively, for the EU market. Regulations authorising these insect products as a food will be adopted by the European
Commission in the coming weeks. The resulting authorisations will be granted to the company Fair Insects BV (Protix group). For further information
on these forthcoming regulations, see IPIFF press statement from 9 th of December 2021 and the dedicated webpage of the European Commission.
7
The guidelines provided in the Guide revolve around good hygiene practices including
prerequisite programs and procedures based on the HACCP principles, when applicable.
Furthermore, the Guide identifies elements that require particular attention from insect
producers, as previously identified by the European Food Safety Authority (i.e. ‘the specific
production methods, substrates used, stage of harvest, insect species and development
stage and methods for further processing, environmental effects’)5, in order to achieve
compliance with food and feed safety objectives, as defined in the applicable EU regulations.
To this end, it makes a series of concrete recommendations aimed at addressing and managing
safety hazards identified along the production chain, including on the application of Hazard Analysis
and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles, whenever applicable (for more details, see chapter 7
- ‘Implementation of HACCP principles by insect producers’). Notably, HACCP principles do not apply
to primary production and associated activities.
The development of such sector specific hygiene guides is encouraged by the above-mentioned
Regulations. Yet, their use and effective implementation by insect producers remains voluntary
and is based on their full self-responsibility. Furthermore, the Guide does not aim to substitute these
Regulations nor to replace national regulatory provisions which may apply to their activities: therefore,
for legal compliance purposes, operators should always refer to applicable regulatory requirements.
In addition to the above-mentioned requirements, several insect producers may have to comply with
standards as set out in the framework of food and/or feed assurance systems (e.g. see section 2.6.2.
regarding ‘microbiological limits’). Such schemes may serve as a point of reference for IPIFF and its
members to complement and update, in the future, the recommendations that are provided in this Guide.
Similarly, the present Guide may serve as a point of reference for establishing supplementary guides
or for developing food and/or feed assurance schemes that apply to insect production activities. Yet,
it should not serve the purpose of establishing standards falling subject to third party certification.
Furthermore, it may be consulted as a useful reference for production activities taking place outside the
EU, without prejudice to the applicable legislative standards in these countries6.
Notably, the recommendations contained in the document should

be used by third country operators intending to sell their products on the EU market: compliance
with EU requirements is indeed mandatory for imported insect products intended as food or feed.
• In the case of import of insect food products, only third countries that are listed
in Annex XV of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 at the time of writing this
document (i.e. Canada, Switzerland, South Korea, Thailand ,Vietnam and the United Kingdom) can
legally import8 such products into the EU. Each consignment shall be accompanied by an official
certificate as required by Article 26 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 (this
official certificate shall correspond to the model set out in Chapter 48 of Annex III to the afore-
mentioned Regulation).
• The import in the EU of processed insects, ‘treated’ but not ‘processed’ (in view of their use as feed)
is allowed, only if originating from countries listed in Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No
206/20107 (List of third countries, territories and parts thereof authorised for import of fresh meat
into the EU) and accompanied by a health certificate, in line with the model health certificate laid
down in Chapter Ia of Annex XV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.
The Guide also applies to subsequent activities (e.g. packaging, transport, retail) if they take place in the
European Union, from the EU importer up to the final distribution stage.
5 EFSA scientific opinion ‘Risk Profile related to production and consumption of insects as food and feed’ (8 October 2015).
6 Pursuant to the ‘non-territorial effect’ of EU provisions, these operations do not fall within the scope of EU food and feed safety requirements.
7 Imports would be only possible on the approval of the product as a novel food; or in EU Member States applying the EU novel food transitional
measure laid down by Article 35(2) of Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 and allowing imports of insect food products from non EU countries.
for further information please refer to the information note on imports of insects as food).
8 This Regulation is no longer in force and was replaced by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692
8
Applicable EU regulations and other reference texts
Besides the General EU food and feed hygiene regulations - i.e. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the
hygiene of foodstuffs and Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 laying down requirements for feed hygiene and
the EFSA’s scientific opinion from 8 October 2015, insect producers may refer, for compliance with EU
food and feed safety objectives, to the following EU legal acts;
1. Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2002
laying down the general principles and requirements of food law, establishing the European Food Safety
Authority and laying down procedures in matters of food safety (better known as ‘General Food Law’
Regulation);
2. European Commission Guidance on the implementation of Articles 11, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19 and 20
of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 on General Food Law;
3. Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on
official controls and other official activities performed to ensure the application of food and feed law,
rules on animal health and welfare, plant health and plant protection products;
4. Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on
transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health
(‘Animal Health Law’);
5. Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on
the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species;
6. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141 of 13 July 2016 adopting a list of invasive alien
species of Union concern pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 1143/2014;
7. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the
European Parliament and of the Council with regard to requirements for the entry into the Union of
consignments of certain animals and goods intended for human consumption;
8. Council Directive 98/58/EC of 20 July 1998 concerning the protection of animals kept for farming
purposes;
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9. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 of 16 December 2020 laying down rules for
the application of Regulations (EU) 2016/429 and (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the
Council as regards model animal health certificates, model official certificates and model animal health/
official certificates, for the entry into the Union and movements within the Union of consignments of
certain categories of animals and goods, official certification regarding such certificates;
10. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 of 24 March 2021 laying down the lists of
third countries or regions thereof authorised for the entry into the Union of certain animals and goods
intended for human consumption in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625;
11. Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692 of 30 January 2020 supplementing Regulation
(EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards rules for entry into the Union,
and the movement and handling after entry of consignments of certain animals, germinal products and
products of animal origin;
12. Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of 25 November 2015 on novel foods, amending Regulation (EU) No
1169/2011 and repealing Regulation (EC) No 258/97 and Regulation (EC) No 1852/2001;
13. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2469 of 20 December 2017 laying down
administrative and scientific requirements for applications referred to in Article 10 of Regulation (EU)
2015/2283 on novel foods;
14. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/882 of 1 June 2021 authorising the placing on the
market of dried Tenebrio molitor larva as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283;
15. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1975 of 12 November 2021 authorising the placing
on the market of frozen, dried and powder forms of Locusta migratoria as a novel food under Regulation
(EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing
Regulation (EU) 2017/2470
16. Commission Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 of 15 November 2005 on microbiological criteria for
foodstuffs;
17. Commission Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27
October 2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food and repealing Directives
80/590/EEC and 89/109/EEC;
18. Commission Regulation (EC) No 37/2005 of 12 January 2005 on the monitoring of temperatures
in the means of transport, warehousing and storage of quick-frozen foodstuffs intended for human
consumption;
19. Commission Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 of 22 December 2006 on good manufacturing practice
for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food;
20. Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 of 14 January 2011 on plastic materials and articles
intended to come into contact with food;
21. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011
on the provision of food information to consumers;
22. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009
laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human
consumption;
23. Commission Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 of 25 February 2011 implementing Regulation (EC) No
1069/2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended
for human consumption;
24. Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 May 2001
laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies;
25. Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 on the
placing on the market and use of feed;
26. Directive 2002/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 May 2002 on undesirable
substances in animal feed;
27. Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 September 2003
on additives for use in animal nutrition;
28. Commission Regulation (EU) No 68/2013 of 16 January 2013 on the catalogue of feed materials;
29. Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/893 of 24 May 2017 amending Annexes I and IV to Regulation (EC)
No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Annexes X, XIV and XV to Commission
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as regards the provisions on processed animal protein;
30. Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1372 of 17 August 2021 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC)
No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the prohibition to feed non
ruminant farmed animals, other than fur animals, with protein derived from animals.
31. Commission Regulation (EU) 2021/1925 of 5 November 2021 amending certain Annexes to
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as regards the requirements for placing on the market of certain insect
products and the adaptation of a containment method.
10
The following documents may also be regarded as essential tools for insect producers to ensure compliance
with General Food Law Principles.
1. European Food Safety scientific opinion ‘risk profile related to production and consumption of insects
as food and feed’ (8 October 2015);
2. Report on ‘novel foods’: a risk profile opinion for the house cricket (Acheta domesticus)’ by the Swedish
University of Agricultural Sciences (EFSA funded report, adopted on 6 July 2018);
3. Commission Notice – Guidelines for the feed use of food no longer intended for human consumption
(OJEU, 16 April 2018);
4. Commission notice – Guidance document on the implementation of certain provisions of Regulation
(EC) No 183/2005 laying down requirements for feed hygiene (OJEU, 5 July 2019);
5. Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system and Guidelines for its application (Codex
Alimentarius);
6. EN ISO 22000:2018 on Food Safety management systems;
7. The Codex code of practice on good animal feeding;
8. Strategy safety concept for Insects as Feed (Updated);
9. IPIFF Policy priorities towards 2025 (IPIFF’s Regulatory Brochure) (20 May 2020);
10. IPIFF Briefing Paper on Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 (September 2021) on novel foods.
Overall structure of the document

The Guide is divided into seven chapters:
Chapter 1: Food and feed safety management systems: general principles and EU requirements
Chapter 2: Prerequisite programs: infrastructures and general conditions of production
Chapter 3: Prerequisite programs: management of insects’ substrates
Chapter 4: Prerequisite programs: insect rearing activities
Chapter 5: Overview of processing methods applied to insects intended for human consumption and
animal nutrition
Chapter 6: Prerequisite programs: storage, packaging, labelling and transport operations
Chapter 7: Implementation of HACCP principles by insect producers
Each chapter sets out a series of recommendations aimed at addressing and managing safety hazards
identified along the entire production chain. Referred to as ‘recommended practices’ and/or encapsulated
in summary frames - see at the end of chapter 3 as well as in sections 4.2.4, 4.3.2, 4.3.5., 5.1.4, and
6.4.4., these recommendations are presented with references to applicable EU regulatory provisions or
illustrations whenever deemed appropriate.
These recommendations are applicable to insect production activities for both food or feed purposes,
with the exception of chapter 5 which contains elements specific to these operative branches9.
The Guide is complemented by the following four annexes:
Annex I contains a glossary of definitions, mainly extracted from EU regulatory provisions;
Annex II provides the list of insect species authorised for use as processed proteins in feed for aquaculture
animals within the EU’;
Annex III lists all insect producing companies who contributed to the development of the present
document – i.e. the Members of the IPIFF Task Force on ‘Good Hygiene Principles’;
Annex IV lists the European representative organisations of food and feed business sectors and other
interested parties – i.e. members of the Advisory Group on the Food Chain and Animal and Plant Health –
who were consulted during the development of the present Guide.
Future updates
Any future change(s) to the present Guide will be made by IPIFF in consultation with relevant
stakeholders. The Guide is currently pending the official endorsement by the Standing Committee
on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed. The Guide will be reviewed as required to take into account
technological or scientific advances, as well as legislative developments on the topic of safe insect
production. The current version of the Guide was updated in December 2020 (initial release on February
2019, 1st update in December 2019 and second revision in December 2020).
9 However, insect food producers should refer to section 5.1., section 5.2. (killing methods) and section 5.2.3. (post killing methods) as those practices
and/or techniques reflect, to a large extent, the standards being followed by those operators, similarly to insect feed producers. In the wake of
the ‘first’ novel food authorisations covering insects as food, and anticipating potential future updates of EU regulatory standards for insect food
products, reference to applicable legislative requirements will be inserted
11
CHAPTER 1 – FOOD AND FEED SAFETY
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS: GENERAL
PRINCIPLES AND EU REQUIREMENTS
1.1. Introduction
The purpose of this Guide is to ensure the achievement of EU food and feed safety standards by insect
producers. To this end, food and feed safety management systems must be established, documented,
implemented and maintained.
The structure of the systems must include policies, requirements and documented procedures that reflect
best practices.
Furthermore, insect producers should implement the necessary good hygiene practices, traceability
systems and recall requirements. These operators should also be aware of hazards that might adversely
affect the safety of insect products along the production chain. Whenever feasible and/or applicable (e.g.
at insect processing stage) hazard analysis must be carried out in accordance with HACCP principles (see
chapter 7 for more details).
This chapter contains general recommendations which should be followed by any insect producer - before
starting its activities – in the setting up of the above systems. Whenever relevant, references to EU food
and feed hygiene requirements are indicated.
1.2. Applicable EU regulations
1.2.1. ‘General’ EU food and feed hygiene requirements
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (i.e. ‘General Food Law’), Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 (food hygiene)
and Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 (feed hygiene) apply to all insect producers rearing, processing,
handling (e.g. transport, storage) or distributing insects along the food or feed chain. In practice, the
requirements contained in Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 for producing
insects for food and feed are closely related, in particular as regards ‘primary production’ activities. Due
to the nature of insect production activities which remain very similar regardless of insect products
intended use (food or feed), the recommendations contained in the present Guide therefore combine both
production activities (except for operations which are subsequent to processing activities - see chapter 5).
However, these production activities should be registered respectively to the competent authorities.
As a general rule, operators active in the rearing of insects, and/or in other handling operations that
are directly associated with these activities (including storage at the rearing plant and transport from the
rearing plant) are considered as ‘primary producers’, according to EU food and feed hygiene legislation10:
10 According to Article 3(f) of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005, ‘primary production of feed’ means the production of agricultural products, including
in particular growing, harvesting, milking, rearing of animals (prior to their slaughter) or fishing resulting exclusively in products which do not
undergo any other operation following their harvest, collection or capture, apart from simple physical treatment (Chapter 1, Article (4)(f)). Insect
breeding can therefore be considered as primary production within the meaning of the EU feed hygiene legislation.
Likewise, pursuant to Article 3(17). of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 - which defines ‘primary production’ similarly to Article 3(f). of Regulation (EC)
No 183/2005 - the breeding of insects intended for human consumption should be regarded as a ‘primary production’ activitiy.
12
1. Operators rearing insects for animal feed must be registered11 before the national
competent authorities – pursuant to Article 9 of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 - and
comply with the general requirements contained in Annex I, Part A of the text. Part
B of the same annex includes several recommendations for the development of guides
to good practices covering primary production activities, while Annex III describes general
practices regarding the feeding of their insects (including storage and distribution operations);
2. Operators rearing insects for human consumption must register and notify national competent
authorities of operations under their control – pursuant to Article 6.2 of Regulation (EC) No
852/2004 - including the handling operations directly - in view of their registration, and comply with
general requirements contained in Annex I, Part A of the text. Part B of the same Regulation specifies
recommendations for the development of Guides to good practices covering the above activities12.
The killing of insects and other processing activities - including handling operations directly associated
with these activities - are not considered as ‘primary production’ activities, even if carried out in the
same rearing plant, since these steps lead to a change in the shape and/or structure of the product.
Thus, those fall subject to different hygiene requirements, under EU food feed hygiene legislation and
are governed by the ‘EU Animal By-Products (ABP) Regulations’ (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011) in case of insect products intended for animal feed.
1. Whenever processing13 killed insects (e.g. in view of producing processed animal proteins
derived from farmed insects), insect producers must be approved14 before national competent
authorities in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 (Article 24 (1)(a)) (see chapter 4.1.2.);
2. Operators active in the production of insect products intended for animal feed, but at ‘other
stages than primary production’ - i.e. from the killing stage up to further processing stages
- must comply with specific hygiene requirements laid down in Annex II of Regulation
(EC) No 183/2005 (these requirements concern the facilities and equipment, personnel,
storage and transport operations, compulsory sampling plans, record keeping measures,
complaints and product recall) and notify the competent authorities about the concerned
activities, in accordance with the registration procedure laid down in Article 9 of this legal text;
3. Operators active in the production of insect products intended for human consumption, but in
‘other stages than primary production’ - i.e. from the killing stage up to further processing stages
including distribution - shall also refer to Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, which contains
specific hygiene requirements applying to these activities (these concern facilities and equipment,
personnel, storage and transport operations, compulsory sampling plans, record keeping measures,
complaints and product recall) and notify the competent authorities about the concerned
activities, in accordance with the registration procedure laid down in Article 6 (2) of this legal text.
The handling of insect by-products generated through the production process (e.g. processing of insect
frass as organic fertiliser) is subject to ‘separate’ hygiene standards in accordance with Regulation (EC)
No 1069/2009 (e.g. a new categorisation is foreseen by Article 9, and a separate approval procedure
before the national competent authority applies, pursuant to Article 24 (1)(a))15. Furthermore, Regulation
(EU) No 142/2011 defines some specific processing conditions for the placing on the market of insect
frass as organic fertiliser and soil improver (e.g. a minimum heat treatment process of 70 ° C for at least
60 minutes and specific microbiological criteria are being defined in Chapter I, Section 2 (f) to Annex XI
of the legal text).
11 Registration involves the placing of establishments on a list which will be used to develop a programme of official controls. Approval requires a prior
inspection visit by the national competent authorities before a feed business operator is allowed to carry out its production activities.
12 This requirement applies without prejudice to the obligations of insects producers to obtain or benefit from a novel food authorisation in order
to produce and market their products, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 on novel foods (see introduction for more details).
13 Processing does not include treatment steps such drying or freezing.
14 The approval procedure is defined in Article 44(1). of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 as the procedure by which the national competent authority
shall approve establishments or plants only where an on site visit, prior to start-up of any activity, has demonstrated that they meet the relevant
requirements of the animal by-products legislation.
15 As previously indicated, these activities are not directly covered in this Guide.
13
Stages of General principles, main obligations and legislative requirements for
production insect producing activities: overview of main EU provisions in the areas
covered of food and feed safety ‘
Applicable EU legislative provisions
Producers of insects for Producers of insects for

human consumption animal feed
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (‘General Food Law’) lays down the general
principles governing food and feed safety. The most relevant provisions
include Article 6 (‘risk analysis’), Article 14 (‘food safety requirements’), Article
15 ( ‘food safety requirements’), Article 17 (‘responsibilities’), Article 18
(‘traceability’), Article 19 (‘responsibilities for food: food business operators ’)
and Article 20 (‘responsibilities for feed: feed business operators’)
Regulation (EC) No
852/2004 on food
hygiene. Regulation
(EC) No 853/2004 Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 laying down
laying down specific requirements for feed hygiene.
hygiene rules for food
of animal origin.
Considered as ‘primary production’ activities

Supply
of substrates and Are not required to implement HACCP based procedures
Are not required
rearing of insects (Article 6(1) of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005).
to implement HACCP
for food and feed – Yet, insect breeders are no longer considered
based procedures
see chapter 3 and 4 as ‘primary producers’ when using additives
(Article 5 (3)
of the Guide or premixtures of and must consequently implement
of Regulation (EC) No
a procedures based on HACCP principles (Article 6(2)
852/2004).
of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005).
Operators must ‘register’ their activities
Registration as ‘food
business establishment’ Registration as ‘feed business
provided for by Article 6 establishment’ provided for by Article 9
(2) of Regulation (EC) No of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005.
852/2004.
Applicable hygiene requirements
Must comply with Annex I,

Part A. of Regulation (EC)
No 852/2004 (contains
requirements for operators
active in primary production
of food, incl. hygiene provisions Must comply with Annex I Part A of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
and record keeping). (contains requirements for operators active in primary production
of feed incl. hygiene provisions and record keeping).
Insect frass being considered
as a by-product pursuant Must comply with Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005,
to Regulation (EC) No which refers to ‘good animal feeding practices’ (contains
1069/2009, insect producers requirements regarding feeding equipment, feeding practices,
fall subject to the requirements water and personnel).
of the above legislation when
it comes to the management Insect frass being considered as a by-product pursuant
of these materials (e.g. sorting
obligations, approval before to Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, insect producers fall subject
national competent authorities to the requirements of the above legislation when it comes to the
in accordance Article 4 and management of these materials (e.g. sorting obligations, approval
article 24 of Regulation (EC) before national competent authorities in accordance with Article
No 1069/ 2009 and compliance 4 and Article 24 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and compliance
with heat treatment processes with heat treatment processes and microbiological standards
and microbiological standards defined in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011) Yet, these steps fall
defined in Regulation No
142/2011) Yet, these steps outside the scope of the present Guide.
fall outside the scope of the
present Guide.
14
Producers of insect Producers of insect
products for human products for animal
consumption feed
1. Regulation (EC) 1. EU Animal-By-Products legislation

No 852/2004 (Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and
on food Regulation (EU) No 142/2011)16.
hygiene.
2. EU ‘TSE’ legislation (Regulation (EC) No
999/2001)17.
Being considered as ‘non-primary production’ activities (e.g. processing),

operators must comply with HACCP based procedures and with specific
hygiene requirements
Article 5 of Regulation Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009

(EC) No 852/2004 provides that operators handling
requires that food or managing animal by-products shall
business operators ‘maintain a permanent written procedure
‘shall put in place, or procedures based on HACCP principles’
Killing and implement and Insect producers shall comply with the
further maintain a permanent general provisions of Annex II of Regulation
procedure (EC) No 183/2005 (i.e. contains requirements
processing
or procedures based regarding facilities and equipment,
of insects personnel, production, quality control, dioxin
on the HACCP
for food and monitoring for oils, fats and derived products,
principles’
feed storage and transport, record keeping and
Insect producers shall complains and product recall).
comply with Annex
See Chapter 5 to 7 II of Regulation (EC)
‘Terrestrial invertebrates other than
of the Guide species pathogenic to humans or animals’
No 852/2004 (i.e. are classified category 3 materials (Article
contains requirements 10 (l) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009).
regarding all Therefore, insect-derived ingredients
food premises, intended for animal feed (e.g. insect
transport, equipment processed protein, insect fat, hydrolised
requirement, food proteins) must be treated in accordance with
validated processing methods (Article 31 (1)
(b) of Regulation).
Activities subject to Activities subject to ‘approval’

‘registration’ and ‘registration’
Registration Registration as ‘feed business

as ‘food business establishment’ under Article 9 (2)(a)
establishment’, of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005.
provided for by article
6 (2) of Regulation (EC) Approval as ‘establishment handling animal
No 852/2004. by products’ and complying with processing
methods as required under Article 24.
of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 (including
for the manufacture of pet and other
activities such as the processing of insect
frass).
16 See notably Article 9 and 21 of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 and relevant annexes referred thereof
17 Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1975 of 12 November 2021 authorising the placing on the market of frozen, dried and powder
forms of Locusta migratoria as a novel food under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470
15
General Food Law (GFL) - Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
Hygiene Package Regulations – Regulation (EC) No

852/2004, Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
Regulation (EC) No - Implementation of hygiene Regulation (EC) No - Compulsory

852/2004: provisions and record 852/2004 implementation of HACCP
keeping (Annex I, based
- Registration as a ‘food Part A). - Registration as a ‘food procedures (Art. 5);
business establishment’ (Art. business establishment’
(6)(2)); (Art. 6.2); - Implementation of
requirements as regards
- No compulsory food premises, transport,
implementation of HACCP equipment (Annex II);
based procedures (Art. (5)
(3)); Regulation (EC) No
853/2004: implementation
of requirements on ID
marking (Annex II, Section I)
and frozen foods (Annex II,
Section IV)
Supply of Substrates
Killing Further Processing
step of insects
Insect rearing
Regulation (EC) No - Implementation of hygiene Regulation (EC) No Regulation (EC) No

183/2005: provisions and record 183/2005: 1069/2009:
keeping (Annex I, Part A)
- Registration as a ‘feed and good feeding practices - Registration as a ‘feed - Implementation of HACCP
business establishment’ (Art. (Annex III). business establishment’ (Art. based procedures (Art. 29(1)
9); 9 (2)(a)); (a));
Exception: insect breeders - Implementation of
- No compulsory are no longer considered - Approval
general provisions as an ‘establishment
implementation of HACCP as ‘primary producers’ containing requirements processing animal by
based procedures (Art. (6) when using additives regarding facilities and products’ (Art. 24(1)(a));
(1)); or premixtures of additives equipment, personnel,
and must therefore production, quality control, - Insect derived ingredients
implement HACCP based dioxin monitoring for oils,
fats and derived products intended for animal feed
procedures (Art. 6(1)) storage and transport, record must have been produced
keeping and complains and following validated
product recall (Annex II). processing methods (Art. 31).
Insects as food and feed operators involved in the ‘management Index

of insect frass’ - EU Animal by product legislation applies Processing (‘non’-
Primary Production
primary production)
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011:
- compliance with appropriate processing methods Applicable regulations for insects as food business
operators
Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009:
- sorting obligations – Art.4

Applicable regulations for insects as feed business
- approval before national competent authorities – Art. 24 (1) (g) operators
- implementation of a HACCP plan- Art. 29(1)(a) and (c)

on primary production activities
16
1.2.2.Requirements on substrates of animal origin as feed for insect
Introduction
Insects reared within the European Union fall within the category of ‘farmed animals’ as defined in the EU
Animal By-Products’ (ABP) legislation (i.e. Article 3(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009). Consequently,
these may only be fed with feed materials which are eligible for the above category of animals, which include:
• Feed materials of vegetal origin;

• Feed materials of animal origin, provided that they have not been expressly prohibited by the EU
legislator for use as feed for farmed animals (including therefore farmed insects).
As Article 3(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 defines ‘farmed animals’ very broadly16, the
abovementioned limitations apply, no matter the destination of the insect derived products,
including if those are intended e.g. as feed for pet food, fur animal or for technical uses (e.g. biofuel
production, cosmetic, biochemistry).
The only exception concerns maggots and worms intended for fishing bait, which may notably be fed
with catering waste or with animal manure (category 2 materials under the ABP legislation), if authorised
by the national competent authority of the EU country where the product is being commercialised,
pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
The present chapter aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the EU restrictions applying to the
feeding of insects with products of animal origin. Furthermore, it outlines the specific EU requirements
relating to the presence of contaminants in the selected substrate (of vegetal or animal origin) and
the EU requirements applying to the use of feed additives (see below ‘where to find the applicable EU
requirements’).
Yet, requirements relating to feed suppliers’ obligations (e.g. compliance with HACCP standards, registration
obligations) are being addressed in chapter 3.1.2.
For ease of reading and in order to better illustrate the above-mentioned regulatory possibilities, this
chapter also includes examples of substrates/types of substrates which may well be used by insect
producers vs. those that are expressly prohibited (see below ‘Authorised and non-authorised substrates for
insects: a few examples’18). Yet, for legal compliance purposes, operators should always refer to applicable
regulatory requirements.
Where to find the applicable EU requirements?
Applicable EU rules revolve around the following sets of legislation:

• Those feed materials that are expressly prohibited in animal feed (including for pet food and fur
animals or for food and feed producing animals only) pursuant to the provisions contained in the EU
‘Feed Marketing’ and ABP Regulations;
• Restrictions applying under the ‘TSE Regulation’ (or ‘feed ban’ rules);
• Different types of former foodstuffs containing products of animal origin that are authorised under
the EU ABP legislation and;
• EU contaminants residue limits applying to feed materials and applicable requirements for feed
additives when used as substrate for insects.
18 Article 3(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 defines ‘farmed animal’ as any animal that is kept, fattened or bred by humans and used for the
production of food, wool, fur, feathers, hide, hides and skins, or any other product obtained from animals or from other farming practices’.
17
N.B: the EU Catalogue of feed materials contained in Regulation (EU) No 68/2013 provides
a comprehensive list (above 1000 entries) of feed materials (together with a product description) which
are being commonly used on the EU market. Yet, the mere fact that a product is listed in this Catalogue
or in the accompanying register of feed materials does not necessarily mean that the product is
authorised in feed for insects. Indeed, the Catalogue of feed materials remains a ‘non-exhaustive’
instrument while the name and/or description provided for each feed material does not specify whether
the feed is intended for food and feed production animals or for pet food or fur animals only (bearing
in mind that the feed materials allowed for these respective target species sometimes differ).
Prohibited materials as substrate for insects
Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 (the ‘Feed Marketing Regulation’) prohibits the use of the
following substances for use as animal feed:
• Faeces and separated digestive tract content (in that context, the substrate being mixed with frass
from insects or dead insects cannot be used for further rearing processes);
• hide treated with tanning substances;
• seeds and other plant-propagating materials (treated with plant protection products);
• wood and their derived products;
• waste derived from urban, domestic and industrial waste treatment;
• solid urban waste (e.g. household waste);
• packaging from agri-food products and parts thereof;
• protein products obtained from yeasts of the Candida variety cultivated on n-alkanes.
The ABP legislation prohibits the use of certain materials of animal origin, including notably:
• manure (being classified as ‘category 2’ material under Article 9 (a) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009,
manure is therefore not eligible for use as feed material – see article 13 of the above–mentioned
Regulation);
• catering waste19 (Article 11 (1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 prohibits its use as feed for food
and feed producing animals).
Restrictions stemming from the ‘TSE’ Regulation
According to the ABP legislation, processed animal proteins (PAPs) (i.e. protein entirely derived from
‘category 3’ materials, as listed in Article 10 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 – see annex I 5. of Regulation
(EU) No 142/2011) are authorised for use in animal feed, including for food and feed producing animals, if
complying with the requirements (e.g. processing methods) provided in Section 1 of Chapter II of Annex
X to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.
Nevertheless, the possibilities for using such PAPs as feed materials for farmed animals have been
reduced to large extent by the EU legislator at the beginning of the year 2000. Indeed, the ‘TSE’
Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 999/2001) prohibits their use as feed for ruminants and non-
ruminant farmed animals (excluding fur animals but including insects), except in the case of fish
meal (and compound feed containing fish meal)20.
Yet, swine and poultry PAPs as well as insect PAPs were reauthorised as feed for aquaculture
animals (‘partial lifting of of the feed ban rules’), respectively in 2013 and in 2017 .
On 17 August 2021, the European Commission adopted a new regulation, i.e. Regulation (EU) 2021/1372
amending Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 authorising insect, poultry and pig PAPs as feed
for poultry and swine feed. The aforementioned Regulation entered into force on 7 September 2021.
Furthermore, the TSE Regulation prohibits to feed insects (as well as other non-ruminant farmed animals)
with blood products, as well as with hydrolysed proteins of animal origin and derived from ruminants
(annex IV, Chapter I to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001).
N.B: A contrario, the use of hydrolysed proteins and blood products derived from non-ruminants (or parts
of non-ruminants)21 is allowed. The same possibilities apply for hydrolysed proteins from ruminant hide
and skins as well as for di and tricalcium phosphate (including compound feed containing such products)22,
pursuant to annex IV, Chapter II b. of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.
19 Annex I 22. to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 defines catering waste as ‘all waste food, including used cooking oil originating in restaurants, catering
facilities and kitchens, including central kitchens and household kitchens’
20 Provided that it has been produced and placed on the market in accordance with the specific conditions laid down in Section A of Chapter IV
to annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.
21 Provided that it has been produced and placed on the market in accordance with the specific conditions laid down in Section C of Chapter IV
to annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.
22 Provided that it has been produced and placed on the market in accordance with the general conditions laid down in Chapter III and the specific
conditions laid down in Section B of Chapter IV to annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.
18
Furthermore, the TSE legislation does not prevent to feed farmed animals (therefore including farmed
insects) with rendered fat (including from ruminant) as well as with milk, eggs and their derived products.
Former foodstuffs of animal origin
Article 10(f) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 refers to ‘products of animal origin, or foodstuffs containing
products of animal origin, which are no longer intended for human consumption for commercial reasons
or due to problems of manufacturing or packaging defects or other defects from which no risk to public
or animal health arise’.
The category of ‘former foodstuffs’ encompasses both products of animal and vegetal origin as defined
in Regulation (EU) No 68/2013 (recital 3). Notably, this category comprises unsold products from
supermarkets or discarded products from agri-food industries.
Most importantly, the latter Regulation differentiates between the aforementioned products and
catering reflux/ catering waste, which encompasses both post-consumer and pre-consumer waste,
according to EU legislation23.
Annex X, Chapter II, Section 10 of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 restricts the possibilities for using
these materials in feed for food producing animals to ‘non-containing meat or fish’ former foodstuffs
products. Therefore, should former foodstuffs containing materials of animal origin be used as feed for
insects only the following ingredients are authorised;
• eggs and egg products;
• milk, milk based-products and milk-derived products;
• honey;
• rendered fat;
• collagen;
• gelatine.
Moreover, these products must have been previously processed (either prior their intended use as food
product or after being requalified as animal by product) and comply with microbiological criteria
as defined in annex X (Chapter 1) of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (e.g. tresholds are set for enterobacteria,
salmonella). Moreover, the latter annex (i.e. section 10) provides that ‘all precautions must have been
taken to prevent the contamination of the material’.
Finally, these products must be free from packaging residues, in accordance with Regulation (EC) No
767/2009 (annex III, Chapter 1).
Consequences:
- Only products which have been previously pasteurized (e.g. milk) or cooked (e.g. eggs) are today eligible
as feed for food producing animals (including farmed insects);
- unwrapped products or products with ‘apparent’ moulds (or any ‘similar’ defects) would most probably
not be ‘accepted’ as feed for food or feed producing materials.
EU residue limits for contaminants and requirements applying to feed additives
The ‘Feed Marketing’ Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 767/2009) provides that animals (including
therefore insects) bred in the EU may be only be fed with safe feed.
The Undesirable Substances Directive (i.e. Directive 2002/32/EC) establishes maximum levels
of undesirable substances in feed materials and compound feed, while Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 sets
out maximum residue levels of pesticides in feed.
Feed materials and compound feed for insects therefore have to comply with the limits established in the
above pieces of legislation.
Only feed additives approved in the EU (in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003) can be used
in feed for insects: the list of authorised additives is provided within the EU Register of Feed Additives.
Since at the time of drafting this Guide no feed additive has been specifically approved for used as feed
for insects yet, only the feed additives which are authorised for all animal species may be used as feed
ingredient for farmed insects.
23 Annex I 22. to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 defines catering waste as ‘all waste food, including used cooking oil originating in restaurants, catering
facilities and kitchens, including central kitchens and household kitchens’.
19
Authorised and non-authorised substrates as feed for insects: a few examples24
Non-exhaustive list of substrates /substrates categories commonly used by EU insect producers
1. Cereal-based materials (e.g. wheat bran, chaff bran, bruised rye, oatmeal, grass, brewery/
distillery grains);
2. Fruits and vegetables and their derived products;
3. Commercial feed authorised for all animal species25;
4. Unsold products from supermarkets, food industry or bakery establishments26 if composed

of ingredients vegetal origin, (cooked) eggs and/or pasteurised milk and provided that the
product has been previously unpacked;
5. Fat derived from the processing/rendering of parts of slaughtered animals.
Non-authorised substrates
1. Livestock manure and/or slurry or other products derived from animal digestive tract
content;
2. Human excrements;
3. Water treatment (e.g. industrial sludges)
4. Solid urban waste (e.g. household waste);
5. Aquaculture sludges;
6. Products containing packaging residues (e.g. plastic, PET, paper);
7. Animal by-products originating from slaughterhouses or rendering establishments, except
those that are expressly authorised (see above);
8. Food waste originating from restaurants, catering establishments, household and
international transport;
9. Unsold products from supermarkets or food producing establishment containing meat or fish
products and/or residues of packaging materials.
24 This list is purely informative and inspired by answers provided to an ‘internal questionnaire addressed to the IPIFF Members on 9 March 2018 (27
answers collected) as well as numerous requests (i.e. request for legal clarification) addressed to the IPIFF Secretariat
25 When using commercial compound feed, insect producers must comply with applicable restrictions and/or prohibitions – e.g. insect producers
must ask guarantees to their suppliers as to the absence of feed additives whose use for insect feed is prohibited – e.g. coccidiostat.
26 Products defined as ‘former foodstuffs’ under EU legislation (see subsection entitled ‘where to find the applicable requirements’)
20
Substrates for Insects for all applications (food, feed, technical uses) –
Farmed insects qualify as ‘farmed animals’- Article (3)(6) of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009
Authorised Prohibited
Feed materials of vegetal origin ‘Feed Marketing‘ Regulation - Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 Annex III:
Feed materials ABP health rules - Regulation (EU) No 142/2011; Faeces and separated digestive tract content; hide treated with tanning
of animal origin Annex X, Chapter 2, Section 10: substances; seeds and other plant-propagating materials (treated with plant
- Hydrolysed proteins, fishmeal, collagen and gelatine protection products); wood and their derived products; waste derived from
or blood products derived from non-ruminants urban, domestic and industrial waste treatment; packaging from agri-food
(or parts of non-ruminants) products and parts thereof; protein products obtained from yeasts of the
- Hydrolysed proteins from ruminant, hide and skins Canadian variety cultivated on n-alkanes.
as well as for di and tricalcium phosphate (including
compound feed containing such products) EU Animal By-Products (ABP) Regulation
(EC) No 1069/2009:
- manure (Art. 9 (a))
Former TSE legislation - Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 - catering waste (Art. 11 (1) (b))
Foodstuffs Annex IV, Chapter II: - Insect PAPs derived from animals of the same species (Art. 11 (1) (a)) E.g.
- Without meat and/or fish feeding of black soldier flies with PAPs derived from that same species.
- only products containing the following ingredients
of animal origin:
TSE legislation - Regulation (EC) No 999/2001:
eggs and egg products; milk, milk based-products and
milk-derived products; honey; rendered fat; collagen;
Processed Animal Proteins (PAPs); blood products, collagen and gelatine
gelatine
as well as with hydrolysed proteins of animal origin and derived from
*these ingredients must have been previously processed
ruminants (annex IV, Chapter I).
(either prior their intended use as food product or after
being requalified as animal-by-product).
Residue limits for contaminants and requirements applying to feed The ‘Feed Marketing’ Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 767/2009)
additives provides that animals (including therefore insects) bred in the EU may
be only be fed with safe feed.
Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 - maximum residue levels of pesticides

in feed
Undesirable Substances Directive (i.e. Directive 2002/32/EC)
Feed additives Only the feed additives which are authorised for all animal species may
be used as feed ingredient for insects. - Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003. No
specific additives for insects have been defined.
1.2.3. Overview of the EU regulatory possibilities for using insect

products as food and feed
General remarks
As general recommendation, EU insect producers should be well aware of the applicable EU requirements
since the possibilities for commercialising insects and insect products for food or feed purposes differ,
depending on the type of product (e.g. whole insects, processed animal proteins, insect facts) and on
the market segment targeted (e.g. food vs. feed). Notably, these operators should be aware about the
currently applicable EU restrictions (e.g. restrictions applying to processed animal proteins or to whole
insects intended as feed for farmed animals) and/or of the position of their national competent authorities,
whenever the subject falls under EU Member States’ competence (e.g. use of live insects as animal feed,
commercialisation of whole insects and their derived products for human consumption).
N.B: This chapter does not address the subject of the use of insects for technical uses (e.g. biofuel
production, cosmetic, biochemistry) since these activities do not fall within the scope of the present
Guide (see introduction). As general rule, whenever authorised for animal feed in accordance with the EU
ABP legislation, animal by-products derived from insects (e.g. insect PAPs, hydrolysed proteins, rendered
fat) may be commercialised for those uses provided that applicable requirements of the ABP legislation
(i.e. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and Regulation (EU) No 142/2011) or specific legislations concerning
these uses (when they exist) are being complied with.
Use of insects for human consumption
Producers of insects and products thereof that are intended for human consumption must comply with the
‘general’ requirements contained in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002, which lays down the general principles
and requirements of ‘Food Law’ and of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs.
At the time of the present document’s writing, ‘only’ dried Tenebrio molitor larva and frozen, dried
and powder forms of Locusta migratoria can be legally placed on the EU market, following their
authorisation as ‘novel food’ pursuant to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/882 and
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1975 respectively.
21
The conditions under which these products may be commercialised (e.g. the forms under which dried
Tenebrio molitor larvae and frozen Locusta migratoria may be marketed, the food categories in which
they may be incorporated as an ingredient, the applicable maximum limits, the labelling requirements,
the maximum thresholds for chemical and microbial contaminants) are being defined in the above
Regulations, and have been integrated into the so called ‘Union list of novel foods’ (i.e. Commission
Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470).
These ‘first’ novel food authorisations covering an insect product are granted to the company
SAS EAP Group Agronutris and Fair Insects BV (Protix group) respectively, for a five years period
following the date of application of the authorising regulation. These may however be extended
to another/other producer(s) if expressly agreed by the aforementioned companies. Today, the EU
commercialisation of other insect species and products remains therefore prohibited, pending their
authorisation as novel food pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/228325
pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2015/228327.
Yet, such prohibition applies without prejudice to the possibility open by several EU Member States
to market insect food products within their territory, pursuant to the transitional measure foreseen in
Article 35(2). of Regulation (EU) 2015/228328.
Use of insects as animal feed
Several pieces of legislation regulate the conditions for producing and placing insects and derived feed
products on the EU market. These include notably:
• The EU Catalogue of feed materials (EU Catalogue), which enumerates insects in their various
forms, that may be used as animal feed;
• The TSE Regulation (or ‘feed ban’ rules), which foresees several restrictions for using processed
animal proteins derived from farmed insects (insect PAPs) in animal feed;
• The ABP legislation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009) which elaborates on the contours for live
and whole insects (dead ‘untreated’ and ‘treated’ animals) to be used in animal feed;
• Furthermore specific methods for the processing of animal by products derived from insects (e.g.
insect PAPs, insect fat) are included in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (these provisions are further
described in chapter 1.4.1);
• Finally, the Feed Marketing Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 767/2009) and Regulation (EC)
No 183/2005 do also regulate the conditions for producing and placing insects and their derived
products (as feed) on the EU market (on the latter, see chapter 1.2.1 for more details).
Provisions of the EU Catalogue of feed materials
Terrestrial invertebrates are listed in the EU Catalogue (i.e. Regulation (EU) No 68/2013)29 under
entry 9.16.1. (i.e. ‘terrestrial invertebrates live’) and 9.16.2 (‘terrestrial invertebrates, dead’), thereby
encompassing live insects and whole insects (untreated or treated but not processed/ground-into insect
meal). Entries 9.4.1 titled ‘Processed animal proteins’ and 9.2.1 ‘animal fat’ also include invertebrates
(‘other than species pathogenic to humans and animals’) in their description. Insect PAPs as well as fat /oil
derived from insects are therefore also authorised for use in animal feed.
N.B: The fact that such feed materials are listed in the EU Catalogue or in the accompanying Register
of feed materials does not however mean that such products are authorised for all animal species (see
chapter 2.1.1 for more details). Notably a distinction must be drawn between insect products intended for
food producing animals, other farmed animals (i.e. fur animals) pet food and other feeding purposes
(e.g. feed for birds of prey, reptiles or zoo animals).
Indeed, the EU ABP and TSE legislations further define those ‘targeted species’ to which feed materials
derived from farmed animals (including therefore farmed insects) may be intended. Furthermore, the
‘TSE’ legislation sets out a list of ‘authorised insect farmed species’ which may be used as processed
animal protein (PAP) for aquaculture, pig and poultry animals (see below for more details).
Limitations imposed under the TSE Regulation
A clear distinction must be made between insects PAPs, other ingredients derived from insects (e.g.
fat) and whole insects (either live, dead, with or without treatment) as different rules apply.
• Restrictions are imposed to insect PAPs when used as feed for food producing animals:
Processed animal proteins are defined in Annex I of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as ‘animal protein
derived entirely from Category 3 material, which have been treated in accordance with Section 1
of Chapter II of Annex X of the present Regulation (including blood meal and fishmeal) so as to render
them suitable for direct use as feed material or for any other use in feeding stuffs, including pet food,
or for use in organic fertilisers or soil improvers’. These therefore include meal/proteins derived from
insects (insect PAPs).
As general rule (as laid in Article 7 and Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001), the TSE legislation
prohibits the use of any PAP when intended as feed for non-ruminant farmed animals (excluding fur animals).
This prohibition therefore also applies to insect PAPs. However, this feed ban was partially lifted on 1st
July 2017 in the case of insects PAPs intended for aquaculture animals. This relaxation was recently
extended to insect PAPs destined to poultry and swine species (see above and below for more details).
27 As of this writing, several novel food applications have been submitted to the European Commission and are currently being assessed by the
European Food Safety Authority. A few formed the basis of an EFSA’s opinion which soon pave the way to ‘new EU novel food authorisations. For
more details, see section ‘scope of the Guide’ (p 6 and 7).
28 for further details about these subjects , see IPIFF briefing paper on novel foods (see link)
22 29 For more details about the objectives and content of the Catalogue of feed materials, see above in the document.
Today insect PAPs are ‘only’ allowed for use as aqua feed, feed for farmed fish, poultry, pig as well as
for pet food, fur animals and other non-food producing animals (e.g. reptiles, birds of prey, zoo and circus
animals) as listed in Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009).
On 17 August 2021, the European Commission adopted a new regulation, i.e. Regulation (EU) 2021/1372
amending Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 authorising insect, poultry and pig PAPs as feed for
poultry and swine feed. The aforementioned Regulation entered into force on 7 September 2021.
The authorisation for use of insect PAPs in aqua feed materialised through the adoption of Regulation
(EU) 2017/893. This text defined specific standards for the production and use of processed animal
protein derived from farmed insects. The latter provisions were integrated in Annex IV, Chapter
IV, Section F of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 and subsequently amended by the aforementioned
Regulation (EU) 2021/1372 in order to cover insect PAPs intended for pig and poultry feed (see above)30.
In order for insect producers to benefit from the above authorisation, killed insect (insect by-products)
must be processed in establishments that are specifically approved and dedicated for the production
of insect PAPs (e.g. these establishments may not be dedicated to the production of other animal species)
in accordance with Article 24 (1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (Annex X, Chapter II, Section 1, B(2)) requires operators to follow one
of the processing methods (1 to 5 or 7) as described in Chapter III of Annex IV of that Regulation.
The authorisation for using insect PAPs in aqua feed is limited to eight insect species (see
Chapter II, section 1 of Annex X to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011), namely to the followings: black
soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), house fly (Musca domestica), yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), lesser
mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), house cricket (Acheta domesticus), banded cricket (Gryllodes
sigillatus), field cricket (Gryllus Assimilis) and Silkworm (Bombyx mori).
Since such he aforementioned ‘positive list’ does not apply to insect PAPs intended for pet food animals,
fur animals or other non-food producing animals, which means that any species that is not pathogenic
to humans or animals may therefore be used as feed for such animals, provided that the obligations
foreseen under of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 (e.g. approval required under Article 24 (1)(b), and
adherence to an HACCP plan pursuant Article 29) and hygiene and processing requirements laid down
in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (i.e. annexes X and annex XIII for pet food) are being respected. (See
chapter 4.14 for more details)
• Insect derived ingredients (i.e. hydrolysed proteins and insect fat/oil)
Defined in Annex I (definition 14) to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 as ‘polypeptides, peptides and amino
acids, and mixtures thereof, obtained by the hydrolysis of animal by-products’, hydrolysed proteins
are specifically authorised (under annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001) for use as feed for non-
ruminant and ruminant animals. Classified as ‘hydrolysed proteins derived from parts of non-ruminants’,
hydrolysed proteins derived from farmed insects are therefore allowed for use as feed for ruminant and
non-ruminant animals, in accordance with Annex IV, Chapter II (a)(iv) and (b) (i) of Regulation (EC) No
999/2001 (for more details about the required conditions, see Section 5.1.2).
The EU feed ban rules does not either apply to fats and oil derived from insects, as listed in Section
3, of Chapter II to Annex X of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011. These products may therefore be fed
to ruminant and non-ruminant farmed species31 as well as to pet animals and other non-food
producing animals (including fur animals and other animals listed in Article 18 of Regulation (EC)
No 1069/2009 – see above for further details).
30 With this revision, the EU legislator also created, for the first time, ‘EU dedicated standards’ for insect production intended as animal feed.
These standards complement the other pieces of legislation whose ‘general’ provisions are also applicable to insects as food and/or feed (e.g.
Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002, Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004, Regulation (EC). No 183/2005, Regulation (EC) No. 1069/2009 and Regulation
(EC) No. 999/2001 etc) as listed in the previous section.
31 Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No. 999/2001 prohibits to feed ruminant animals with any protein of animal origin, except these mentioned in
chapter II to Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001.
23
Specific hygiene requirements and processing standards applying to the above-mentioned feed
materials derived from insects are provided in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (i.e. in annex X, Chapter II
Section 3, 5 and 8). These are described in chapter 4.1.4 regarding hygiene and processing methods required.
• Regulatory status of live and killed whole insects
Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 prohibits the use of live insects in feed for ruminant animals32.
Furthermore, other regulations and/or national rules do/or may regulate the conditions for feeding live
and killed whole insects to non-ruminant animals
• The EU ABP legislation limits or prohibits (i.e. in the case of ‘untreated’ whole insects) the use of killed
whole insects as feeding ingredients;
• The use of live insects as feed falls subject to national legislation;
• Finally, national authorities remain competent to define the conditions under which killed whole
insects (incl. ‘treated’ and ‘untreated’ animals) may be used as feed for non-food producing animals,
in accordance with the derogatory provisions included in the EU ABP legislation. See below for more
details
However, the use of killed whole insects, live insects and of ingredients derived from farmed insects
(e.g. insect fat, hydrolysed proteins from insects) - is not limited to those eight insect species which
are included in the aforementioned ‘positive list’ (see above).
• Live insects are excluded from the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009
As live insects are not animal-by products, they fall outside the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
The EU Legislator has therefore not specifically regulated their possible use in animal feed, except
Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 which prohibits their use as feed for ruminant as above mentioned.
Their commercialisation remains however governed by the provisions stemming for the EU feed safety
legislation (incl. feed marketing or labelling and contaminants).
Consequently, their possible use in animal feed remains at the discretion of EU Member
States. National competent authorities may therefore allow their use as feed for farmed non-
ruminant animals, pet animals as well as for other feeding purposes (as listed in Article 18
of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 – see above).
• The ABP legislation restricts the possibilities for using killed whole insects in feed for farmed animals
Both killed ‘untreated’ whole insects and killed whole ‘treated ‘ insects (e.g. dry frozen insects’ but
not ‘processed’ to the extent of altering the physical characteristics of the product, according to
Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009) are not authorised for use as feed for food producing animals (feed
for farmed animals other than fur animals). Indeed, Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009
requires operators to ‘process’ dead insects (i.e. processing methods defined in Regulation (EU) No
142/2011) in case these products are intended to the aforementioned species.
Yet, (killed) whole ‘treated’ insects33 may be used as processed pet food (including canned pet
food and dog chew) if authorised by the competent authority of the Member State (pursuant
to Article 16(g) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009) under the conditions that they have been
produced in accordance with the provisions foreseen in Annex XIII of Regulation (EC) No 142/2011
(the latter defines e.g. specific treatment methods34 and microbiological standards applying to
these products)35.
Finally, both killed (whole) ‘untreated’ and ‘treated’ insects may be allowed as feed for other
feeding purposes (including zoo and circus animals, reptile, birds of prey, wild animals and fur
animals, as well as for fishing bait) if approved by the national competent authority in accordance
with the derogation provided under Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/200936.
Their commercialisation remains however governed by the provisions stemming for the EU feed
safety legislation (incl. feed marketing or labelling and contaminants).
• Processing methods for insect products used in animal feed

See Section 5.1.2 for more details
32 Article 7(1) of Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 prohibits the use of any animal proteins in feed for ruminants including if originating from live insects.
The text does not indeed distinguish as to whehter the protein(s) come(s) from live or killed animals.
33 These products are commonly used for specialised pet shops, notably to feed ‘exotic’ animals (e.g. reptiles) or domestic birds. Yet, according to
recent studies, these products would also present numerous advantages if used as feed for livestock (e.g. used as environmental enrichment in
poultry husbandry, feed complement, beneficial effects for farmed animals’ health or welfare) or aquaculture animals.
34 Point 3(iv) of Chapter II of Annex XIII to Regulation (EU) 142/2011 provides that the national competent authority may authorise a treatment such
as drying or fermentation for the manufacturing of processed pet food provided that that the treatment ‘ensures no unacceptable risks to public or
animal health’.
35 Furthermore, the company shall be approved in accordance with Article 24 (1) (e) and Article 35 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
36 In accordance with the provisions of Article 18 of Regulation (EC) 1069/2009, EU member States authorities may indeed authorise the use for such
24 specific feeding purposes (i.e. feed for non-food animals) provided that the absence of health risks is guaranteed.
Insects as feed - Ruminant animals Aquaculture Poultry Pigs Pets Fur and other Technical uses(e.g.
Regulation (EU) animals (e.g. zoo) cosmetic industry,
No 68/2013 on the bio-based fuels,
Catalogue of feed production
materials of other bio-based
materials such
as bioplastics)
Insect proteins (under

entry 9.4.1. ‘Processed
animal protein’)
** ** **
Insect fats (under entry
9.2.1 ‘animal fat’)
Whole insects
(untreated) (under
entry 9.16.2. ‘terrestrial
invertebrates, dead’) *
Whole insects (treated-
e.g. Freeze drying) (under
entry 9.16.2.‘terrestrial
invertebrates, dead’) * *
Live insects (under
entry 9.16.1 ‘terrestrial
invertebrates, live’) * * * * *
Hydrolysed insect
proteins (under entry
9.6.1. ‘Hydrolysed
animal proteins’)
*if authorised by the national competent authority of the country where the product is being commercialised.
** Limited to Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens), Common Housefly (Musca domestica), Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor), Lesser Mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), House cricket (Acheta domesticus), Banded cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus),
Field Cricket (Gryllus assimilis) and Silkworm (Bombyx mori).
Restriction to insect species (insect PAPs for aqua feed)- Regulation (EU) No 142/2011; Annex X Chapter 2 Section 1, A.(2).
- Insect PAPs must be produced in processing plants approved in accordance with Article 24(1)(a) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and dedicated exclusively to the
production of products derived from farmed insects ‘Regulation (EC) No 999/2001; annex IV, Chapter III, Section F, 1 (a).
- Insect PAPs must be produced according to processing methods 1 to 5 or processing method 7 (Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, Annex X, Chapter II, Section 1, B (2).
No restriction as to the insect species (provided that these are not pathogenic to humans and animals)
1.2.4. Imports of insects and their derived ingredients

As general rule, Article 11 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (‘General Food Law’) provides that ‘food
and feed imported into the EU shall comply with the relevant requirements of food law or conditions
recognised by the Community to be at least equivalent thereto’.
Several sets of regulations are applicable in the case of insects intended as food and feed. This section
is divided in two parts respectively:
• Imports of insects as food
General remarks
The EU Official Controls (OCR) Regulation - (i.e. Regulation (EU) 2017/625) provides the framework for the
EU Member States (MS) to verify that Agri-food businesses comply with European food and feed safety
standards. European food and feed safety standards also encompass the import conditions on animals
and goods entering the EU from ‘third countries’ (countries outside the EU). As general rule, Article 11
of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (‘General Food Law’) provides that ‘food and feed imported into the EU
shall comply with the relevant requirements of food law or conditions recognised by the Community to be at
least equivalent thereto’. Imports of insects intended for human consumption may only be of those products
authorised under the Novel Food Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EU) 2015/2283) and listed in the Union List
of novel foods (i.e. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470). Furthermore the imported products must
comply with the conditions of use, additional specific labelling requirements, other requirements and
specifications (e.g. definition, physical-chemical properties, heavy metal and microbiological criteria, etc.)
as established in the Union List of novel foods (Annex, Table 1)
25
Rules applicable for insects and their derived products intended for human consumption37.
• Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/625 (Article (3)(a)) foresees that imported insects and
insect products intended as food must originate from a country which has been included in a list of
authorised countries.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/2235 (Article 26) establishes a model official
certificate (Annex III, Chapter 48) for insects as food imported into the EU.
• Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/405 (Article 24) draws a list of third countries
(Annex XV) authorised to export insects and insect derived products into the EU. EU Member
States benefiting from the so-called ‘novel food transitional measure’ and allowing imports
of insects (as food) from EU third countries, will only permit authorised and listed countries
to do so. Currently (on 15 October 2021) imports of insects as food are only authorised if
originating from Canada, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, Vietnam and the United Kingdom.
• Imports of insects as feed
General remarks
Most requirements applicable to animals and animal by products (therefore including insects) can
be found in Annex XIV and Annex XV of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.
Rules applicable to processed animal proteins derived from farmed insects (insect PAPs)
• Annex XIV, Chapter I, Section 1 and Section 2 to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011
• Annex XIV, Chapter I, Section 1, Table 1 (entry 1) which concerns processed animal proteins for
farmed animals
• Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 1, Table 2 (entry 14) which concerns animal by-products intended for
use in processed pet food
Applicable health certificate models can be found in Annex XV to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011:
• Annex, XV Chapter 1a for insect PAPs as feed for farmed animals Annex XV, Chapter 3(F) as regards
insect PAPs intended for manufacture of processed pet food (e.g. dogs, cats)
• Annex XV, Chapter 3(D) concerning insect PAPs to be fed to fur animals
Overview of main requirements

• The insect PAP must originate from a species authorised for use as insect PAP in feed for
aquaculture animals, namely back soldier fly, common house fly, yellow mealworm, lesser mealworm,
house cricket, banded cricket or field cricket (annex XIV, Chapter I, Section 2, point 5. (a) of Regulation
(EU) No 142/2011). N.B. this restriction only applies in the case the imported PAP is intended
for use as feed for farmed animals (not applicable for pet food and fur animals). Furthermore
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 requires that the insect PAP does not come from insects fed with
feed materials which are not eligible as feed for farmed animals (e.g. manure, treated wood,
catering waste, former containing meat and fish, etc) (annex XIV, Section 2 5. (b) of Regulation (EU)
No 142/2011).
• The insect PAP must be produced in line with the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No
1069/2009 for category 3 materials;
• Article 14 (a)(d)(i) and (iii) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 requires that category 3 materials
intended as feed for farmed animals or for the manufacture of pet food are being processed)
Article 31 defines the conditions under which animal by-products may be placed on the EU market
as feed for farmed animals (e.g. these must be processed according to method 1 to 7) Article 35 in
the case of pet food.
• Article 35 regulates the conditions for marketing animal by-products intended as feed for pet food
animals.
• Only imports originating from the countries listed in Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No
206/201038 are allowed39.
• The processing plant in the third country must be approved in accordance with the requirements
included in the ABP legislation. See Traces system which defines the procedure to request such
authorisation (e.g. once the country is approved for export in the EU based on previous controls
performed by the EU competent authorities). The third country authorities are responsible for
selecting the authorised establishments after ensuring these comply with EU requirements. (See
annex XIV, Section 1(d) of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 for more details)
37 for further information on this subject see ‘IPIFF information note on EU import conditions for insects intended for human consumption (see link)
38 i.e. Argentina, Albania, Australia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Bahrain, Brazil, Botswana, Belarus, Belize, Canada, Switzerland, Chile, China, Colombia,
Costa Rica, Cuba, Algeria, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands, Greenland, Guatemala, Honk Kong, Honduras, Israel, India, Iceland, Japan, Kenya, Morocco,
Montenegro, Madagascar, The Republic of North Macedonia, Mauritus, Mexico, Namibia, New Caledonia, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Panama,
Paraguay, Serbia, Russia, Singapore, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
39 This Regulation is no longer in force and has been replaced by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692
26
• The insect PAP consignment must undergo veterinary checks at a EU Border Inspection Post.
To this end, the consignment must be accompanied by a health certificate delivered by the
exporting country, in line with the model health certificate laid down in Chapter I of Annex XV to
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011: N.B. in case of insect PAPs intended as feed for farmed animal, competent
authorities from the exporting third country shall use the model certificate provided in annex XV, Chapter
1a whereas insect PAPs intended for processed pet food are covered through the model in Annex XV,
Chapter 3(F) (and the one in Annex XV, Chapter 3(D) in the case of fur animals).
• Before free circulation into the EU market, the importer must ensure that each consignment is tested
by light microscopy and/or PCR test, in line with the Standard Operating Procedure of the EURL for
Animal Protein, to verify the absence of constituents of animal origin prohibited by EU feed ban rules
(for more details see Section C of Chapter III of Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001).
Import of whole (frozen or dried) insects
Where to find’ the applicable requirements?
• Annex XIV, Chapter II to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011
• Annex XIV, Chapter II, Section 1, Table 2 (entry 14) which concerns animal by-products intended for
processed pet food
The model certificate is provided in Annex XV, Chapter 3(D) in the case of processed pet food
Overview of main requirements
The import into the EU of treated (e.g. dried or frozen insects) but not ‘processed’ insects according
to Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 is currently allowed, but only for the manufacture of pet food (including
for reptiles, birds of prey, circus or zoo animals) and if approved by the importing national competent
authority in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
The same general requirements as for insect PAPs do apply (e.g. the products must come from a
country which is included in the list of authorised countries’, they must come from an establishment
which is approved by competent authority of the third country and the consignment must be
accompanied with a health certificate). Yet, no light microscopy and/or PCR test is required.
As producers of products intended for use in processed pet food, insect producers from third countries must
use the model provided in Annex XV, Chapter 3(F) (and the model certificate provided in Annex XV, Chapter
3 (D) if intended as feed for fur animals.
If intended for pet animals, the subsequent pet animals manufacturer must be approved in accordance with
Article 24 (1)(e) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
• Import of whole ‘untreated’ insects
Imports of non-treated (dead) insects (for pet animals, reptiles, birds of prey, circus or zoo animals, etc) should
theoretically be possible - in accordance with Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 – if authorised by
the competent authorities of the importing country.
• Import of insect fat as feed
Insect fats are not specifically regulated but should theoretically be allowed under the same conditions as
for rendered fat intended as feed for farmed animals (see Annex XIV, Chapter I, Section 1, table 1 (entry 3)
of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011) The same list of authorised countries as for PAPs and whole insects should
therefore apply, while the model of health certificate provided in Annex XV, Chapter 10 (A) should be used by
operators.
1.2.5. Animal health and environmental requirements

The general requirements relating to animal health, apply to farmed insects since these are considered
as ‘farmed animals’ (see section 1.2.2. of the Guide). Insect producers shall therefore, consider the following:
they must comply with animal health, and biosecurity measures, on transmissible animal diseases,
as foreseen in the Animal Health Law - i.e. Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2016/429.
Insects and their derived products intended for food and feed purposes shall not:
1. be pathogenic or have other adverse effects on plant, animal or human health (requirements
applicable to category 3 materials in accordance with the ABP legislation or for ‘terrestrial
invertebrates’ in the EU Catalogue of feed materials (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 68/2013).
27
2. be protected or defined as an invasive alien species in accordance with Regulation (EU) No
1143/2014 40.
Insects are, however, exempted from the application of the EU animal welfare legislation, which only
concerns vertebrate animals (see Article (1)(d) of Council Directive 98/58/EC concerning the protection
of animals kept for farming purposes).
1.3. Management of responsibilities, organisational structure and

employees
1.3.1. Food and feed safety management system responsibility
The Management of an insect producing undertaking shall set the objectives related to GHP and
HACCP principles where applicable, for the operating staff, rearing, killing, processing, storage and
transport operations as well as for visitors and subcontractors.
The respective safety management system states the expectations the Management has on hygiene
practices to ensure the safe production (primary production and processed products), storage and
delivery of insects and related products.
The Management shall inform the operating staff about the hygiene practices and protocols being
followed in the company and is committed to ensuring their implementation within the company.
The safety management system in place should be reviewed and updated, when necessary, based on the
outcomes of internal and external audits. Employees are kept informed accordingly.
Annex II, Chapter XIa of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on food the hygiene of foodstuffs
‘Food Safety Culture’
‘1. Food business operators shall establish, maintain and provide evidence of an appropriate
food safety culture by fulfilling the following requirements:
(a) commitment of the management, in accordance with point 2, and all employees to the safe
production and distribution of food;
(b) leadership towards the production of safe food and to engage all employees in food safety
practices;
(c) awareness of food safety hazards and of the importance of food safety and hygiene by all
employees in the business;
(d) open and clear communication between all employees in the business, within an activity and
between consecutive activities, including communication of deviations and expectations; (e)
availability of sufficient resources to ensure the safe and hygienic handling of food’.
e) availability of sufficient resources to ensure the safe and hygienic handling of food’.
1.3.2. Employees’ appointment and structure
Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 laying down requirements for feed hygiene
‘A qualified person responsible for production must be designated (…) Where appropriate a
qualified person responsible for quality control must be designated’
Annex II, Chapter XII of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004:
‘Those responsible for the development and maintenance of (…) (HACCP based procedures) or
for the operation of relevant guides have received adequate training in the application of the
HACCP principles’.
28 40 The list of invasive species in the EU can be found in the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1141
The Management could appoint a qualified person responsible for supervising the quality control of the
production and/or process lines, and ensuring product safety parameters. The responsible person could
organise the work of the team and has the authority/responsibility to:
1. Develop and maintain GHP within the company;
2. Report to the Management about issues and to suggest appropriate measures to remediate or control
problems when they occur;
3. Prepare for and train the Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSEQ) team, should it exist,
in developing and maintaining the HACCP system and implementing GHP, and;
4. Train company employees in GHP.
The Management shall ensure that adequate communication channels are in place to inform the
responsible person of significant changes in products or processes.
1.3.3. Employees’ skills

The operating staff is required to have the skills and the qualifications necessary for the manufacture
of the products concerned.
Annex I, Part A, II, point 4(e) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004

‘4. ‘Food business operators rearing, harvesting or hunting animals or producing primary
products of animal origin are (...) to ensure that staff handling foodstuffs are in good health and
undergo training on health risks’
Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005

1. ‘Feed businesses must have sufficient staff possessing the skills and qualifications necessary
for the manufacture of the products concerned. An organisation chart setting out the
qualifications (e.g. diplomas, professional experience) and responsibilities of the supervisory
staff must be drawn up and made available to the competent authorities responsible for
inspection (…)’.
Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005

‘The person responsible for the feeding and handling of animals shall possess the requisite
ability, knowledge and competence.
Annex II, Chapter XII of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004

1. ‘Food business operators are to ensure (…) that food handlers are supervised and instructed
and/ or trained in food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activity’.
Among the minimal employees’ skills required for insect production activities, feature the followings:
1. Knowledge about the behaviour of insects;

2. Ability to identify species of insects;
3. Knowledge about farmed insect species life cycle;
4. Handling of live insects.
1.4. Traceability and record keeping

1.4.1. General requirements
Traceability is a risk management instrument to be used to identify and contain a possible food and feed
safety problem more easily and efficiently. Relying on the ‘one step back – one step forward’ approach
as well as on record keeping measures, insect producers must have systems and procedures in place
that enable them to send traceability information to the relevant authorities upon request. This
ensures that product withdrawals and recalls are precise and targeted.
Such system should enable, at all times, to trace any raw materials, ingredients, additives and primary
packaging materials backward (one step upstream in the food chain) and to trace any finished products
that have left the manufacturer forwards (one step downstream in the food chain).
Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 specifies the main principles and obligations implied
by traceability:
29
Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 on ‘General Food Law’ states:
1. ‘The traceability of food, feed, food-producing animals, and any other substance intended to be,
or expected to be, incorporated into a food or feed shall be established at all stages of production,
processing and distribution.
2. Food and feed business operators shall be able to identify any person from whom they have
been supplied with a food, a feed, a food-producing animal, or any substance intended to be,
or expected to be, incorporated into a food or feed. To this end, such operators shall have in place
systems and procedures which allow for this information to be made available to the competent
authorities on demand.
3. Food and feed business operators shall have in place systems and procedures to identify the other
businesses to which their products have been supplied. This information shall be made available
to the competent authorities on demand.’
Furthermore, Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 as well as Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 recommend Guides
on Good Hygiene Practices to contain recommendations to ensure the traceability of food and feed
products or of hazardous inputs such as plant protection, biocides, veterinary products or feed additives
(e.g. Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex I, Part B(c), (d) and (e).
Traceability is also ensured through the recording of all measures aimed at controlling hazards (e.g.
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, annex I, Part A , ‘III record keeping’).
1.4.2. Product traceability records
In accordance with EU legislation and/or national provisions, insect producers must record and keep the
following information in order to ensure product traceability:
1. The name and address of the substrate provider(s) (e.g. feed materials or compound feed products,
suppliers, the batch number, the quantity and delivery date of the products, etc);
2. The name and address of the insect breeding flock provider(s), the main characteristics of the flock
and its delivery date;
3. The nature, formulation and quantity of the products manufactured, along with their
manufacturing date and batch number. Samples and records of each batch must be retained
in accordance with EU food hygiene41 and feed42 hygiene regulations;
4. Food allergens (e.g. gluten) which the substrate given to the insects may contain when the latter
are intended for human consumption (and those made into semi-finished and finished products,
including non-conforming products reprocessed to match treatment requirements or microbiologic
criteria);
5. The name and address of the buyer(s)43 and of the site where the batch of semi-finished or finished
products are delivered to.
41 Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Article 5(5); Annex I, III Record-keeping, 7.

42 Regulation (EC) No 183/2005, Annex II, Quality Control .4. Documentation relating to the raw materials used in final products must be kept by the
manufacturer in order to ensure traceability.
43 Regulation (EU) No 931/2011, Article 3 ‘Traceability requirements‘
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In addition, insect producers could keep records of the following information:
1. The point of loading and unloading of the products;
2. The transport company and the means of transport used, such as boats (in hold or tank), vehicles
(with reference to the trailer), etc;
3. If relevant, the storage company and the means of storage used, such as warehouses, silos or tanks
and the number or distinguishing mark of the store or silo;
4. Temperature levels, information on processing control points, origin, processing equipment used,
heat and freezing treatment, the substrates used, sample results and staff involved in regard
to each product batch;
5. All finished products should be labelled to ensure traceability of the batch (‘first in first out
strategy’).
6. A system shall also be in place to deal with products that are rejected by customers for food or feed
safety reasons.
EU regulations and/or national legislations state that documents should be retained to ensure traceability
at least until it can be reasonably assumed that the food has been consumed44. By default, a two-year
period is recommended. Operators must have systems and procedures in place that allow the sharing
of information with national food and feed safety authorities whenever deemed necessary.
1.5. External communication
External communication among the different parties of the value chain (the food or feed chain) and
control authorities is key to ensure the safety of the food and feed products. To this end, communication
channels and efficient processes are established to ensure a smooth exchange of information.
1. All operators along the value chain should provide all relevant contact points/ details to their
direct suppliers and customers (e.g. email address and phone number in order to ensure rapid and
efficient communication during recall activities).
2. A procedure for notifying control authorities and operators both upstream and downstream,
of any non-conformity with food and feed safety requirements and other specifications should
be established. This procedure shall include provisions for the management of recalls when needed.
1.6. Emergency and product recall strategy
1.6.1. Background information
Crises are emergency situations and potential accidents which can be of very different natures (e.g.
presence of unacceptable levels of contaminants, a break in the supply of raw materials, breakdowns
or accidents, strikes by personnel, natural disasters, etc.). The aforementioned situations can affect
the production process itself (e.g. delay in supplying raw materials can halt the production line, delay in
feeding substrates for insects could lead perishable raw material to degrade over time).
44 Commision implementing Regulation (EU) No 931/2011 on the traceability requirements set by Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 of the European
Parliament and of the Council for food of animal origin
31
substrates for insects, perishable raw material could degrade over time on delayed delivery or use)
or cause contamination in the product (contaminated raw materials, human or equipment error).
Potentially, such crises could impact the product, compromising its safety and quality.
1.6.2. Withdrawal and recall obligations under EU legislation
Article 19 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
‘Responsibilities for food: food business operators
1. If a food business operator considers or has reason to believe that a food which it has imported,
produced, processed, manufactured or distributed is not in compliance with the food safety
requirements, it shall immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the food in question from the market
where the food has left the immediate control of that initial food business operator and inform the
competent authorities thereof. Where the product may have reached the consumer, the operator shall
effectively and accurately inform the consumers of the reason for its withdrawal, and if necessary, recall
from consumers products already supplied to them when other measures are not sufficient to achieve
a high level of health protection.’
Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
‘Responsibilities for feed: feed business operators
1. If a feed business operator considers or has reason to believe that a feed which it has imported,
produced, processed, manufactured or distributed does not satisfy the feed safety requirements, it
shall immediately initiate procedures to withdraw the feed in question from the market and inform the
competent authorities thereof. In these circumstances or, in the case of Article 15(3), where the batch,
lot or consignment does not satisfy the feed safety requirement, that feed shall be destroyed, unless the
competent authority is satisfied otherwise. The operator shall effectively and accurately inform users
of the feed of the reason for its withdrawal, and if necessary, recall from them products already supplied
when other measures are not sufficient to achieve a high level of health protection.’
Complains and products recall
‘1. Feed business operators shall implement a system for registering and processing complaints.
2. They shall put in place, where this proves necessary, a system for the prompt recall of products in the
distribution network. They shall define by means of written procedures the destination of any recalled
products, and before such products are put back into circulation, they must undergo a quality-control
reassessment.’
The procedure should include the following information and measures and should be tested beforehand:
• Contact details of relevant staff with allocated responsibilities for decision making;
• Contact details of external organisations (e.g. national competent authorities) as per the emergency
plan;
• How to identify the product/area that is affected by the emergency situation such as fires, and
potential contamination from the activities of the first responders (e.g. fire-fighter, rescue team);
• Handling procedures for potentially unsafe products (e.g. waste or allergen cross contamination) ;
• How to evaluate and restore the affected area through corrective action processes. (e.g.
allergen cross contamination in insect-based food products production line, evaluation on area
of contamination in production line, potential cleaning protocols before restarting the production
line).
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1.6.3. Recommended practices
Insect producers should formulate a definition of an ‘emergency’ situation. A clear strategy linked to the
emergency should be defined by the operator, who should follow the proposed mentioned scheme in case
of such situations.
A written crisis management procedure available in line with Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 should
be established to assist the personnel confronted with emergency situations and potential accidents
to act effectively and consistently, thereby avoiding improvisation.
The above is an indicative diagram regarding a crisis management procedure to be established by the
respective operator. In case of deviation in quality during production, it should be determined by testing
the product safety parameters. If the product is ‘OK’ in its safety parameters, the product may re-enter
the production line. In case of deviation in safety parameters compromising the product, quarantining the
product must be the immediate action subsequently its appropriate disposal should be implemented. In
case the product has proceeded in the production line or supply chain, respective ‘ product recall’ measure
should be activated. Subsequently its appropriate disposal should be implemented.
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CHAPTER 2 – PREREQUISITE PROGRAMS:
INFRASTRUCTURES AND GENERAL
CONDITIONS OF PRODUCTION
2.1. Introduction
This annex provides an overview of the main requirements or recommendations, which may serve
as guidance to insect producers, in the designing and/or maintenance of their infrastructures (e.g. the
premises, production equipment) and in the general management of their production operations.
2.2. Building and Premises

2.2.1. Building and premises location
Insect producers shall provide and maintain the resources (i.e. buildings, equipment, staff, infrastructure
and facilities) that are adequate to the operations involved. When selecting the location for a new
production site, at least the following shall be taken into consideration:
1. Availability of services, such as electricity, gas, potable water, drainage and waste collection;
2. The Site should be protected from:
• neighbouring facilities and activities creating possible contamination sources, e.g. farms, heavy
chemical industries, etc;
• areas where waste cannot be removed effectively;
• rivers, canals, ponds, marshes and other waterways;
• areas subject to flooding;
• areas prone to infestations of pests;
• areas prone to excessive levels of airborne bacteria, yeasts and molds;
• loud external noise that could disturb the rearing of specific insect species.
Ideally, the local authorities should be consulted from the planning stage.
2.2.2. Building and premises: design principles
Annex I, Part A, II, point 4(a) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
‘Food business operators rearing, harvesting or hunting animals or producing primary products of
animal origin are to take adequate measures, as appropriate:
(a) to keep any facilities used in connection with primary production and associated operations, including
facilities used to store and handle feed, clean and, where necessary after cleaning, to disinfect them in
an appropriate manner’.
Annex II and relevant articles of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005:
‘2. The lay-out, design, construction and size of the facilities and equipment shall: (a) permit adequate
cleaning and/or disinfection; (b) be such as to minimise the risk of error and to avoid 85 contamination,
cross-contamination and any adverse effects generally on the safety and quality of the products.
Machinery coming into contact with feed shall be dried following any wet cleaning process.
4. Facilities must have adequate natural and/or artificial lighting.
9. Where necessary, ceilings and overhead fixtures must be designed, constructed and finished
to prevent the accumulation of dirt and to reduce condensation, the growth of undesirable moulds and
the shedding of particles that can affect the safety and quality of feed.’
34
Annex II Chapter I of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
‘1. Food premises are to be kept clean and maintained in good repair and condition. (…)’
The design and construction of the premises and the process flow shall take into account the relevant
hygienic and safety standards. The purpose of a hygienic layout is to facilitate good hygienic practices,
to avoid contamination and to enable effective cleaning. Zoning is a widely used principle in the hygienic
lay-out of food businesses. Zoning of rooms and areas consists of visual and/or physical barriers that
control the movement of staff, products, and utensils between the zones.
The layout, design, construction, siting, and size of the premises shall:
1. Permit adequate maintenance, cleaning and/or disinfection, avoid or minimise airborne

contamination, and provide adequate working space to allow for the hygienic performance of all
operations;
2. Protect goods from damage and contamination. Production units in which insects are reared must
stay closed or fitted with nets or grids or any other appropriate means to exclude other pests, or the
contamination with other insects, and prevent the presence of rodents. Premises should be built
in order to avoid cross-contamination with and from other animal production premises;
3. Have adequate natural and/or artificial light and a controlled environment if necessary;
4. Windows and other openings must, where necessary, be proofed against pests. Doors must be close-
fitting and proofed against pests when closed;
5. Sewage and waste shall be disposed of in a responsible manner, ensuring that the equipment as well
as the safety and quality of food and feed is not affected;
6. The facility should be closed so that dust, rain water and pest invasion is controlled;
7. The premises are also designed to avoid accidental release of insects from the production facilities;
8. Hazardous substances are kept away from rearing environments and from the storage facilities and
only used when appropriate (e.g. cleaning process between two batches). Substances considered
dangerous are labelled to prevent confusion and misuse by employees;
9. Access to the storage, breeding and rearing areas is restricted to the authorised staff.
In addition, the suggestions below can be integrated into the facility:
1. Foreign substances are prevented from contaminating the substrates or the environment where
insects are reared by falling or dropping down (this is particularly crucial when designing new
equipment or affecting repairs to existing structures);
2. The building structure could be higher than the surrounding ground to protect it from demolition and
contamination;
3. The premises are kept in a good state of repair: the roofing, in particular, should be kept watertight
to prevent the substrates, the environment where insects are reared and the storage areas from
being affected by water leaks, which can cause mold and attract unwanted insects;
4. Consideration is given to the design and layout of new buildings to minimise roosting and nesting
areas for birds/rodents and other areas that will harbour and attract pests.
5. The site is recommended to have:
• clearly defined boundaries to keep out animals, pests or unauthorised persons;
• no open water ways that attract birds, insects, rodents etc.;
• minimal vegetation and foliage. When present, shrubs and plants should be located at minimum
distance respective to recommended legislative or certification standards from the buildings;
• an area of minimum distance respective to recommended legislative or certification standards
• around the building, i.e. a gravel walk, which is free of grass, weed, flowers, plants, and other
vegetation;
• weed control to reduce harbourage for insects and rodents but also to prevent air-borne seeds
getting into the factory;
35
• general facilities designed to meet security and pest control strategies and if needed separate
utility buildings, trailers, garages, wastewater treatment facilities, storage sheds, and guard
shacks;
• boundaries enough to effectively prevent intrusion.
6. Building design for good hygienic operations should include the followings:
• measures to prevent entry of contaminants from doors, windows, or other openings, by keeping
them closed or using insect proof screens;
• the airflow systems should be adequately adapted to insect production specifications. Excess of
heat and/or humidity should be optimised and can even be used for other production activities;
• all facilities should have maintenance for the roof, wall and foundations to prevent leakage;
• measures to prevent entry and harbouring of pests, birds and wild insects;
• there should not be structures or equipment’s, which could provide places for microbial
contamination or provide an environment invasion (e.g. lightings with horizontal parts or fixed
to walls which could accumulate dust and residues);
• measures should be taken to reduce cross contamination by planned segregation of flow of air,
personnel, materials, products and waste;
• there should be separate storage areas for raw materials, packing materials, chilled or frozen
products as well as cleaning tools and agents etc. Furthermore, these areas should fulfil other EU
legislative requirements e.g. cleaning agents should be kept in locked cupboards;
• operators should maintain raw materials, products and insects at appropriate temperatures and
allow monitoring of these temperatures;
• there should be few personnel entries or openings acknowledging security and fire escape
requirements to prevent contamination from people.
7. Hygienic rooms where microbiologically decontaminated ingredients of insect-based products

or formulations are sampled, handled or further processed should:
• protect against accumulation of dirt and shredding of particles into food;
• protect against contact with toxic materials, dirt, dust, fumes, smoke and other contaminants;
• protect against condensation and undesirable growth of mold, yeast and bacteria (or microbial
growth) on surfaces;
• permit sufficient cleaning and/or disinfection and maintenance;
• allow immediate drying after cleaning and disinfection methods;
• provide enough lightning and ventilation.
Finally, cross-contamination shall be prevented. An assessment of potential contamination sources shall

be conducted, in particular, to identify the susceptibility of the product and activities taking place along
the processing line. Areas where the potential for microbiological cross-contamination exists (airborne
or from traffic patterns) shall be identified and segregation (zoning) plan implemented. More specifically,
the following measures shall be considered:
1. physical barriers, walls or separate structures;
2. access controls with requirements to change into work clothes;
3. restricted traffic patterns or equipment segregation;
4. separating wet areas from dry areas;
5. separating high-risk areas from other areas, e.g. ensure that the filling area is separated from the
handling of raw materials and other food processing activities;
6. forward moving flow of products (by pipes, conveyors, trucks etc.), from the reception of raw material
to the release of the final products to reduce distances travelled by material and staff;
7. areas in which steam is used or aerosols are formed should be separated from areas where products
are exposed/freely accessible;
36
8. adequate and separate location of facilities for staff (cloak rooms, toilets, cafeterias, etc.);
9. have a designed plan in order to move insects personnel and waste without cross-contamination.
Construction materials shall be selected to prevent contamination of reared insects and of the stored
products. Floors, walls and ceilings shall be washable or covered/painted with a washable protective
layer. Technologies used for the construction of livestock buildings are recommended i.e., ‘sandwich
panel’. Raw timber and materials with rough surfaces should be generally avoided.
All surfaces in contact or close to the product shall be made with smooth, impermeable, corrosion
resistant and non-toxic material. All such surfaces shall also be designed to:
1. be easily cleaned and disinfected;
2. protect the product from external contamination;
3. not present any ‘dead space’, that is space which is not easily accessible for cleaning;
4. be resistant to the cleaning systems applied.
Ceilings and walls shall be made of non-toxic materials which do not flake and which are impervious
to water and steam. Walls shall be covered with materials which are impervious, non-absorbent, light
coloured, washable and non-toxic. Their surfaces should be smooth, without cracks or flakes and easy
to clean and to sanitise. Wall-floor junctions and corners shall be designed to facilitate cleaning. In
processing areas, wall-floor junctions shall be rounded.
Doors should be made from smooth and non–absorbent materials which are easy to clean.
Floors should be made of impervious and non-absorbing materials. They should be washable, slip
resistant, non-toxic and without cracks.
2.2.3. Building and premises: ventilation
Annex II, Chapter I of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
‘5. There must be suitable and sufficient means of natural or mechanical ventilation. Mechanical
airflow from a contaminated area to a clean area is to be avoided. Ventilation systems are to
be so constructed as to enable filters and other parts requiring cleaning or replacement to be readily
accessible.
6. Sanitary conveniences are to have adequate natural or mechanical ventilation.’
2.2.4. Water supply
The supply of potable water shall be sufficient to meet the needs of the production process(es). A large
water supply, under pressure and at an adequate temperature, is required as well as adequate facilities
and equipment for its storage and distribution. Potable water shall be protected against contamination.
The processing establishment shall have a supply of potable water, which prior to its first use (including
ice), shall meet all applicable local and national regulatory requirements. Plant water including cooling
37
and process water shall meet quality and microbiological requirements appropriate to the intended
usage. The necessary monitoring protocols should be in place.
2.2.5. Sanitary facilities, staff rooms and laboratories
Annex II, Chapter I of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
‘3. An adequate number of flush lavatories are to be available and connected to an effective drainage
system. Lavatories are not to open directly into rooms in which food is handled.
4. An adequate number of washbasins is to be available, suitably located and designated for cleaning
hands. Washbasins for cleaning hands to be provided with hot and cold running water, materials for
cleaning hands and for hygienic drying. Where necessary, the facilities for washing food are to be separate
from the hand-washing facility.’
The Management must ensure that sanitary facilities are available to any staff. The sanitary area
is equipped with sinks and toilets, has soap or cleaning solution at disposal and is supplied with running
water.
Staff facilities shall be well lit, ventilated and kept clean. When necessary, the Management makes
cloakrooms or private closets available to staff so that they can change their clothes before and after
performing work-related duties.
These facilities shall be made available to any person frequenting the processing, packaging and storage
areas, including visitors. Personnel may only access a high-risk zone through a cloakroom, specially fitted
for the purpose, and must observe procedures for putting on working clothes which are clean and
visually identifiable. Working clothes and normal clothes shall be stored separately.
Facilities to wash and disinfect hands and shoes shall be available at the entry to the processing areas.
Alternatively, shoes must be changed to footwear dedicated to the processing area. The washbasins must
be located in highly visible spots before entering the process areas, ensuring that staff have passed
them. Washbasins shall be equipped with hands-free operated taps dispensing warm water, with
adequate soap dispensers and with hygienic hand drying equipment. When paper napkins are used, there
shall be an adequate number of dispensers and waste bins close to each washbasin. The drainage of the
washbasins shall be linked directly to the general drainage network.
In-line and on-line testing facilities shall be designed in a manner that sampling practices do not increase
the risk of product contamination.
Microbiology laboratories shall be designed, located and operated so as to prevent contamination

of people, plant and products. They shall not open directly on to a production area.
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2.3. Production equipment
‘2. The lay-out, design, construction and size of the facilities and equipment shall: (a) permit adequate
cleaning and/or disinfection; (b) be such as to minimise the risk of error and to avoid contamination,
cross-contamination and any adverse effects generally on the safety and quality of the products.
Machinery coming into contact with feed shall be dried following any wet cleaning process.
3. Facilities and equipment to be used for mixing and/or manufacturing operations shall undergo
appropriate and regular checks, in accordance with written procedures pre-established by the
manufacturer for the products. (a) All scales and metering devices used in the manufacture of feeds
shall be appropriate for the range of weights or volumes to be measured and shall be tested for accuracy
regularly. (b) All mixers used in the manufacture of feeds shall be appropriate for the range of weights
or volumes being mixed and shall be capable of manufacturing suitable homogeneous mixtures
and homogeneous dilutions. Operators shall demonstrate the effectiveness of mixers with regard
to homogeneity.’
Annex II, Chapter V of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
‘1. All articles, fittings and equipment with which food comes into contact are to: (a) be effectively
cleaned and, where necessary, disinfected. Cleaning and disinfection are to take place at a frequency
sufficient to avoid any risk of contamination; (b) be so constructed, be of such materials and be kept
in such good order, repair and condition as to minimise any risk of contamination.’
General (design, ‘Cleaning-in-Place’-CIP and installation)
All machines and equipment used for manufacture shall be designed so as to:
1. be easily cleaned and disinfected following validated cleaning procedures and facilitate maintenance;
2. not increase the likelihood of contaminating the product from external sources;
3. prevent that the goods are altered by sludge, water, rain, and other potential contaminants;
4. minimise contact between the operator’s hands and the products;
5. not present any ‘dead space’, that is space which is not easily accessible for cleaning;
6. use food grade lubricants;
7. allow easy disassembling for inspection with tools normally used by the operating and the cleaning
personnel if not designed specifically for CIP (cleaning – in place)
All elements including those within a CIP circuit shall be designed and dimensioned to ensure efficient
cleaning. All equipment surfaces in contact or close to the product shall be made with smooth,
impermeable, corrosion resistant and non-toxic material.
Contact surfaces shall not affect, or be affected by, the intended product or cleaning system.
They shall meet current EU regulations on materials in contact with food45. Food contact equipment
shall be constructed of durable materials able to resist repeated cleaning.
Machinery should be placed in a way that allows adequate maintenance and cleaning to be carried out.
The operation of machinery must correspond with its intended purpose and its location must allow it
to work according to good operational practice. The location of machinery shall also allow its operation
to be monitored, where needed.
45 See EC safety guideline for Food contact materials https://ec.europa.eu/food/safety/chemical_safety/food_contact_materials_en
39
If items of equipment are not sealed to the floor, they shall be raised from the floor by a sufficient space
to allow easy cleaning and inspection. Ingress of contaminants such as pests, dust and condensate shall
be prevented by ensuring that all the equipment is fitted with appropriate lids. The openings shall also
be protected by raised edges so as to prevent the entry of surface drainage.
All joints should be smooth and finished close to the adjoining surfaces, be free from crevices and have
smooth rounded corners. Where standing water cannot be removed and may result in contamination
of food, the surfaces shall be sloped in order to allow self-drainage.
The fitting of shafts shall be such that leakage of lubricant into the product or leakage of product into the
lubricant is prevented. It is recommended to use a seal for the shafts on the product side and another seal
on the lubricant side. Any leakage on either side shall flow into an open area without pressure.
Design: equipment specific rules
Vessels shall be designed in such a way as to allow their cleaning with a CIP system wherever possible.
Pipelines shall be designed so as to be cleanable with CIP whenever possible. All product and cleaning
pipelines shall be rigid, self-draining and fixed. Pipelines shall preferably be welded or equipped with
hygienic joints. Use of plug- cocks shall be avoided if they must be manually disassembled, cleaned and
disinfected.
The use of flexible pipelines shall be limited to a minimum, because of their unhygienic junctions. The
internal surface shall be regularly inspected. Permanent junctions which are hygienic shall be used.
In order to prevent cross-contamination, there shall not be any piping which connects directly between
areas where raw materials are stored and handled and areas where pasteurised products are processed,
handled and packed. The same principle shall apply to CIP circuits.
Pumps shall be of a hygienic design and preferably cleanable in place. All pipes shall be designed and
equipped to avoid contamination by condensation. The insulation used on the various pipelines shall have
an outer layer which is of non-absorbent and cleanable material.
Equipment for CIP shall be designed and installed with no empty spaces that may trap product and
prevent cleaning effectiveness. CIP systems shall be separated from active product lines.
Heat treatment equipment shall be designed and installed to ensure that all particles reach the required
temperature within the stipulated time. Heat treatment equipment which is linked to a Critical Control
Point (CCP) must be equipped with time and temperature control and monitoring devices. A system which
prevents non-conforming products (i.e. not treated as intended) from moving forward in the process flow
should also be linked. Non-conforming products must be sent back to be heat treated again.
All parts of the freezing equipment in contact with the product shall be easily accessible for inspection.
The mechanical parts and the framework of the freezing equipment shall be designed so as to avoid
inaccessible crevices.
Containers for waste and inedible or hazardous substances shall be:
1. clearly identified for their intended purpose;

2. constructed of impervious material which can be readily cleaned and disinfected;
3. closed, when not in immediate use;
4. preferably fitted with a foot-operated lid or other suitable means to minimise contamination of hands.
40
This equipment shall be designed in such a way as to prevent rodents from having access and avoid any
contamination of the food or feed, the potable water, the equipment, the premises and passages.
Safe food is achieved through adequately designed and effective food safety management systems
that include good hygienic practices and HACCP. Adequate traceability and recall procedures are further
important tools in case of an undetected loss of control or a problem has been detected after the product
has left the control of the food business operator.
Cleaning of production equipment
Equipment must be maintained in a sufficiently clean and hygienically acceptable condition in order
to avoid pest damages and microbiological contamination. Technical maintenance/service is to be done
by qualified staff.
Cleaning could be done both manually or automatically. However, it is important to standardise and
validate protocols.
Cleaning programmes shall be established to ensure that the equipment and environment are maintained
in a good hygienic condition. The effectiveness and suitability of those programmes shall be monitored
on a regular basis.
The equipment is to be cleaned on a regular basis, by means of sweeping and collecting dust or equivalent
procedures. This should also be performed prior to a change in products should the products not
be compatible.
Records of the cleaning measures must be kept. The record is a part of the internal quality management
system. If vehicles (such as pay loaders, etc.) are used, they are to be cleaned on a regular basis.
Regular checks and audits
‘3. Facilities and equipment to be used for mixing and/or manufacturing operations shall undergo
appropriate and regular checks, in accordance with written procedures pre-established by the
manufacturer for the products. (a) All scales and metering devices used in the manufacture of feeds
shall be appropriate for the range of weights or volumes to be measured and shall be tested for accuracy
regularly. (b) All mixers used in the manufacture of feeds shall be appropriate for the range of weights
or volumes being mixed, and shall be capable of manufacturing suitable homogeneous mixtures
and homogeneous dilutions. Operators shall demonstrate the effectiveness of mixers with regard
to homogeneity’.
Annex II, Chapter V of Regulation (EC) 852/2004
‘2. Where necessary, equipment is to be fitted with any appropriate control device to guarantee
fulfillment of this Regulation’s objectives’.
41
Appropriate hygiene, quality and safety controls are undertaken on the premises, and on machinery
and equipment used throughout the production chain. Controls aim to identify issues and correct them,
where and when necessary: equipment is regularly checked, maintained and cleaned by qualified staff at
fixed and pre-defined intervals.
Maintenance inspections are performed and recorded on all equipment. Maintenance inspections
at predefined intervals shall be performed and recorded on all equipment where corrosion or failure
to operate correctly will result in product degradation or cross-contamination. Records are to be kept
about the service and maintenance of the equipment used in the operations. These records are a part
of the internal management system.
Each room and machinery have their own cleaning specifications. The effectiveness and suitability
of these procedures and instructions shall be monitored on a regular basis. The cleaning materials are
also made available in case of emergency or specific punctual needs.
The equipment is replaced when necessary for hygiene, environment, safety, quality or security reasons.
2. 4. Pest control measures
Pests (such as birds, insects, spiders, rodents and other small mammals) represent a hazard for the
safety of food and feed derived from insects. That is why a documented pest control programme shall
be in place to prevent pest activity inside the facility and within the boundaries of the outer grounds.
Potential breeding sites must be removed, any orifices sealed off or hermetically blocked, and windows,
doors and air vents fitted with appropriate devices.
The most effective contribution towards infestation control is maintaining good housekeeping and
standards (e.g. controlling the accumulation of food and paper debris, keeping gangways and passages
clear, removing redundant equipment and materials from production areas, good stock rotation, keeping
organic and soiled waste containers covered, etc. (the presence of foodstuffs and water, even as mere
trails, unprotected from contact with ambient air is liable to attract pests and shall be always avoided
to prevent attracting pests).
The presence of infestation must be checked regularly and the monitoring plan must be reviewed
according to the results of the inspections. If rodent baits are used in the factory for the control of rats
and mice, they shall be based on fatty and waxy substrates and shall be placed in a solid box. The
use of poison baits for rodents shall be limited along the external walls of the facility (unsecured bait
stations). Electric flying insect killers must not attract outside insects and must be placed more than
three meters away from unprotected products. No domestic animals should be allowed to gain entrance
in production or storage areas.
When rodent activity demands, programmes may be set up to utilise poison within the manufacturing
site. In this case, the programme shall be controlled in respect of authorised handling of poison bait and
great care is taken to prevent any bait spillage and subsequent food safety risks:
1. All bait stations must be clearly identified/coded at the point of use;

2. The bait station must be contained in a secure metal trap;
3. The poison must be of a solid block type (not loose granulates).
Usage and handling of pesticides and/or biocides must be done in accordance with applicable regula-
tions46. Pest control as well as the risk of microbiological contamination to the products and facilities
shall be part of the HACCP system and should be documented. Special attention should be taken for
processed feed material such as oilseeds meals, fish meal or maize products.
46 Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the making available on the market and the use
of biocidal products.
42
2.5. Waste management
‘5. Waste and materials not suitable as feed should be isolated and identified. Any such materials
containing hazardous levels of veterinary drugs, contaminants or other hazards shall be disposed
of in an appropriate way and not used as feed.’
Annex II, Chapter VI of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
‘1. Food waste, non-edible by-products and other refuse are to be removed from rooms where food
is present as quickly as possible, so as to avoid their accumulation.
2. Food waste, non-edible by-products and other refuse are to be deposited in closable containers, unless
food business operators can demonstrate to the competent authority that other types of containers
or evacuation systems used are appropriate. These containers are to be of appropriate construction,
kept in sound condition, be easy to clean and, where necessary, to disinfect.
3. Adequate provision is to be made for the storage and disposal of food waste, non-edible byproducts
and other refuse. Refuse stores are to be designed and managed in such a way as to enable them to
be kept clean and, where necessary, free of animals and pests.
4. All waste is to be eliminated in a hygienic and environmentally friendly way in accordance with
community legislation applicable to that effect, and is not to constitute a direct or indirect source
of contamination.’
Waste47 generated from production of insects or their derived products, containing hazardous
levels of contaminants such as mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticide residues, chemicals, or other
hazards (physical) must be controlled. These must be disposed of in an appropriate way to prevent
the contamination of the rearing environment, the substrates used to feed the insects and the insects
themselves. These products are to be labelled and stored in a dedicated area with clear zoning points for
authorized access.
Waste could also include parts from insects, insects that have died naturally insect eggs, and pupas,
together with excrement, or substrate if to be discarded must be properly heated before throwing it away
or burnt, to prevent any potential remaining eggs from hatching in nature. Other wastes generated from
the production process such as discarded packaging material, wastewater, etc. must be taken care of.
When managing such by-products, insect producers shall comply with obligations derived from the EU
ABP legislation (e.g. Article 13 and 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 depending on their ‘categorisation’
according to the ABP legislation)
Examples of waste materials expected from insect production:
1. Substrates discarded due to non-conformity;
2. Packaging used for transport of substrates (e.g. paper sacks, big-bags and disposable
containers);
3. Plastic foil wrapping used to protect bulk packed substrates.
47 Waste: any substance which constitutes scrap material, an effluent, unwanted surplus substance, article which requires disposing of as being
broken, worn out, contaminated or otherwise spoiled.)
43
2.6. Monitoring (sampling and analyses)
2.6.1. General requirements
Insect producers are responsible for demonstrating the safety of the products leaving their production
facilities. Official sampling procedures should be put in place to verify that such conditions are met: e.g.
to verify that their own product safety sampling systems work properly. Such sampling obligations are
often associated with the fulfilment of compulsory microbiological criteria/ targets (e.g. for processed
insect proteins intended for animal feed use) and maximum limits for contaminants (food contaminants
and undesirable substances and products for feed).
While most of the microbiological criteria that are provided for in the EU legislation (e.g. criteria for food
products) concern animal species other than insects48 (see below), insect producers are advised to test
their finished products periodically against those pathogens, as these could have been transmitted to the
animal through the feeding substrate or the production process. This recommendation is in line with the
conclusions from the EFSA’s opinion released on 8 October 2015.
Besides the above-mentioned EU microbiological criteria, insect producers must comply with specific
limits and/or standards as set out in food and feed safety assurance systems, established by national
authorities or private organisations. Such systems may serve as a point of reference for IPIFF and its
members to complement and update the recommendations that are presented in this Guide in the future.
2.6.2. Food safety requirements and recommended practices
Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005 foresees that Listeria monocytogens must be controlled in ready-to-
eat foods (e.g. limit of 100 cfu/g for ready-to-eat foods other than those intended for infants that
are already placed on the market). These limits, therefore, also apply to ready-to-eat food made from
insects.
In addition, microbiological limits have been set for raw materials used in meat preparation, for minced
meat and meat preparation (e.g. absence of Salmonella in 10 g for minced meat and meat
preparation made from other species than poultry intended to be eaten cooked, 500 cfu/g for E. Coli
in minced meat at the end of the manufacturing process), or for cooked crustaceans and molluscan
shellfish (i.e. Salmonella absence in 25 g of product) under Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.
Although these limits are not binding for insect products, insect producers shall assess these risks by
testing their finished products periodically against the above. Proposed applications, shelf life and
further processing should be taken into consideration when considering microbiological limits; by
referring to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005. The microbiological criteria in the table mentioned below
refer to Annex I (Microbiological criteria for foodstuffs) to Regulation (EC) No 2073/2005.
If deemed necessary, insects should also be periodically tested for the presence of other specific
pathogens, and for chemicals (e.g. pesticides or heavy metals and mycotoxins following the limits
foreseen in Directive 2002/32/EC on undesirable substances in animal feed) and physical agents (e.g.
water activity).
48 Contrary to warm blooded animals, mass-reared insects are not likely to contain substantial number of typical pathogen agents – e.g. Salmonella,
Listeria Monocytogenes.
44
An overview of microbiological, physical and chemical parameters commonly monitored by producers
of insects and insect-based products intended for human consumption (prior to being incorporated
as an ingredient in food end-product or to be used as an end-product) are listed below, in addition to legal
obligations by operators. The following listed potential hazards are recommended to be monitored
in start-up phases (during initial risk analysis and determining monitoring plan). Identification of hazards,
are direct control measures to be taken using good hygiene/manufacturing practices to fulfil legal/
product specific monitoring requirements in order to avoid the identified hazards to impact on food
safety. The hazards identified for insect-based products can be controlled by prerequisite programs
and HACCP procedures, which also include several hazards ‘commonly controlled’ under mandatory
EU legal requirements. The hazards are identified, and limits developed based on practices by IPIFF
members. The criteria in the table are subject to products sampled at the end of the manufacturing
process of the production of whole/ground insects, ready to eat or as a food ingredient. The frequencies
for monitoring these pathogens depend on the respective insect species, production methodology and
specification of the insect-based product(s).
Last but not least, authorised insects as food products must fulfil the microbiological criteria as defined
in the ‘Union List of Novel foods’ – Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 for the
concerned product.
45
Microbiological parameters recommended to be monitored:
Main Management
Hazards Severity Target Limit
origins
Hygiene Good
Aerobic flora indicator- Hygiene 10,000 500,000
Process Low Practices
30°C cfu/g cfu/g
Manipulations (GHP)
Hygiene Good
indicator- Hygiene
E. coli Process Low Practices 10 cfu/g 500 cfu/g
Manipulations (GHP)
Hygiene
indicator
Staphylococcus Manipulations Good
coagulase + (raw Medium Hygiene 10 cfu/g 100 cfu/g
(S. aureus) materials or Practices
processing (GHP)
operations)
Sourcing/
Listeria breeding Absence Absence
monocytogenes High management in 25g in 25g
(GHP)
Insects
Absence Absence
Salmonella intestinal High in 25g in 25g
tractus, feed
Cronobacter Sourcing/
spp. breeding Absence Absence
(Enterobacter Insects, feed Medium management in 10g in 10g
sakazakii) (GHP)
Feedstock/
Bacillus Medium breeding
Feed 10 cfu/g 100 cfu/g
cereus management
(GHP)
Sourcing/ Absence Absence

Monitoring
Insect guts Medium breeding in 25g in 25g
Campylobacter
management
Hygiene
indicator- Good Hygiene
Moulds and 100 cfu/g 1000 cfu/g
Process Medium Practices
Yeast Manipulations, (GHP)
feed
Chemical parameters recommended to be monitored:

• Pesticides (organochlorine pesticides, organophosphorus pesticides, other pesticides);
• Heavy metals (lead, cadmium);
• Cleaning and disinfection residues;
• Contamination through material contact.
Physical parameters recommended to be monitored:

• Metal pieces;
• Foreign particles, glass and plastic pieces;
46 • Insect parts such as wings or legs (if applicable).
Allergens
Considering the existence of scientific evidence showing allergic cross-reactivity between insects and
crustaceans, and/or unprocessed or processed insects that may contain allergen(s) originating from
the feed materials which were ingested by the insects, allergen residue and cross contamination among
products must be monitored. Monitoring for the presence of one or more of the 14 EU listed food
allergens and of the insect itself linked to the listed allergen crustaceans is recommended to be included
in the ‘monitoring plan’.
On authorisation of the respective insects as novel food, operators should refer and must mandatorily
follow the specifications on hazards to be monitored, as indicated in the Union list of novel foods.
2.6.3. Feed safety requirements and recommended practices
Samples of the final products taken during or on withdrawal from storage at the processing plant must
comply with the following standards:
1. Salmonella: absence in 25 g: n = 5, c = 0, m = 0, M = 0
2. Enterobacteriaceae: n = 5, c = 2, m = 10, M = 300 in 1 g where:
n = number of samples to be tested;

m = threshold value for the number of bacteria; the result is considered satisfactory if the number
of bacteria in all samples does not exceed m;
M = maximum value for the number of bacteria; the result is considered unsatisfactory if the number
of bacteria in one or more samples is M or more;
and c = number of samples the bacterial count of which may be between m and M, the sample still being
considered acceptable if the bacterial count of the other samples is m or less.
Operators applying the so-called ‘method 7’ (Annex IV, Chapter III, point G. of Regulation (EU)
No 142/2011) must demonstrate the absence of Clostridium perfringens in 1 g of the product. The
sample must be taken directly after treatment, on a daily basis, over a period of 30 production days.
If deemed necessary, insects should also be periodically tested for the presence of other specific
pathogens, including chemicals (e.g. pesticides or heavy metals and mycotoxins following the limits
foreseen in Directive 2002/32/EC on undesirable substances in animal feed) and physical agents (a w).
Some possible chemical and physical parameters identified regarding insect production for feed are
listed below:
• Pesticide residues;
• Mycotoxins (Aflatoxin, Ochratoxins, Deoxynivalenol, Zearalenone, Fuminosin);
• Heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni, Zn);
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons;
• Dioxins;
• Animal proteins;
• GMOs;
• Metal, plastic, stone pieces;
• Foreign objects.
2.6.4. Creating a monitoring programme

Sampling and testing measures implemented by insect producers must be specifically foreseen in the
monitoring programme in chapter 7.3.9. on HACCP.
Some general recommendations regarding sampling for insect products as food and feed are provided
below:
• Sampling based on the results could be intensify or reduced;
• In the case of a positive detection of microbial contamination, it is advisable to test for contamination
afterwards;
• Water activity ( microbial growth does not take place any more, below 0.60 a.w. whatever the matrix)
and pH measurements are of great importance because these constitute the final
47
step in the production process to guarantee food safety. Registration of water activity must be recorded
on the ‘product registration’ form.
An example of monitoring procedures for batches (see definition of ‘batch’ in Annex I) of materials used
in production of insect-based products. Operators are recommended to perform analysis on fresh samples
(or in case stored in freezers not more than 24 hrs) in order to have accurate results on microbiological
colonies.
Insects as Feed:
A batch, subject to the following monitoring plan, may comprise a maximum of 100 tons. For batches
of up to 100 tons, at least 1 sample is taken while for batches of more than 100 tons at least 5 samples
are taken. For the latter a mix of the sample may be made for the analysis. In the context of sampling and
analysis of Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae in feeds, the critical control points must be examined for
Salmonella. The frequency of inspection must be once per month and if this is negative for half a year
then the frequency can be reduced to once per two months. In the event of a positive finding analysis
must be done again once per month for at least half a year. The positive samples must be classified for
corrective measures. Minimum sampling frequencies are illustrated below for a start-up phase.
For incoming raw materials (substrate) for breeding of insects as feed:
Product Analysis Frequency Number of When Responsibility Storage

subsamples locations
Incoming Chemical Residue Every 1 Arrival Internal / External All

raw materials batch qualified laboratory
Moisture content Every 1 Arrival Internal / External All

percentage batch qualified laboratory
Ph Every 1 Arrival Internal / External All

batch qualified laboratory
Mycotoxins, heavy 1 time per 1 Arrival Internal / External All

metals, PAHs, PAs year/ or qualified laboratory
when
suspicion
The frequency of microbiological analysis for raw materials is minimum once a year. In case deviations are
recorded in the breeding facility, testing protocols should be amplified accordingly. Physical hazards should
be determined and monitored accordingly in every batch.
For out going feed products

Insect- Chemical (all), 1 time per 1 1 month Internal / External All

based microbiological year after qualified laboratory
(all) production
feed batch
product
Clostridium 30 days 1 Directly Internal / External All
Perfringens (Method after the qualified laboratory
7 Plan) treatment
Salmonella 30 days 5 During the Internal / External All

(Method filling of qualified laboratory
7 Plan) packaging
Enterobacteria- 30 days 5 During the Internal / External All

ceae (Method filling of qualified laboratory
7 Plan) packaging
48
Moisture content 3x a day 1 During Internal / External All
percentage production qualified laboratory
The frequency of microbiological analysis (all) of the end product can be increased to one time/month if
requested. Physical hazards should be determined and monitored accordingly in every batch.
Production of insects as food
The number of subsamples and frequencies for sampling of insect-based food products should be
increased or decreased when necessary. Specific chemical and microbiological hazards should
be monitored, respective to the conducted risk assessments on the products (depending on insect species
and/or product form) and the weights of each batch. Minimum sampling frequencies are illustrated below
for a start-up phase.

Insect- based Microbiological Once a month 1 Arrival Internal / External All

product as raw (all) when >1 qualified laboratory
material batch is
produced per
month/ every
batch if <1
batch is
produced in 1
month/ if
suspicion
Microbiological Every batch 1 Arrival Internal / External All

(specific)* qualified laboratory
Chemical (all) Once a year 1 Arrival Internal / External All

qualified laboratory
Chemical specific Every batch 1 Arrival Internal / External All

qualified laboratory
During Moisture content Every batch 1 During Internal / External All

production percentage production qualified laboratory
and raw and
material arrival
Insect based Microbiological Once per 1 Process Internal / External All

product final (all) month end qualified laboratory
product**
Chemical (all) Twice per 1 Process Internal / External All

year end qualified laboratory
Chemical specific Per 1 Process Internal / External All

quarter end qualified laboratory
* Yeast/Moulds, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus group, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, criterion

to be maintained according to the risk analysis especially for the monitoring of raw material flours used
for the production of insect based food products.
** Parameters are to be defined based on the products in which insects are incorporated (e.g. insect-based
pastas, granola bars, etc).
Physical hazards should be determined and monitored accordingly in every batch.
49
2.7. Personnel
2.7.1. Information flow and training
The employees, including temporary, recently hired staff, maintenance and transport staff as well
as suppliers, are informed about and trained in their duties and areas of responsibilities. They are aware
of hygiene requirements. The purpose of training employees is to ensure that they have the competencies
needed to meet the corporate objectives on food safety.
The Management and the HSEQ manager make sure all type of staff is made aware of hygiene issues
along the insect food and feed production chains.
Training of all staff - whether permanent, temporary or sub-contractor - shall at least address the
following:
1. GHP and HACCP procedures;

2. Food safety, including carrying out monitoring, corrections and corrective actions;
3. Safety of people, particularly with regard to the potential allergenic properties of the insect species
reared;
4. Specific competencies related to the operations carried out;
5. Basic first aid skills;
6. Principles and conditions for rearing;
7. Principles and conditions for processing;
8. Required documentation;
9. Pathogens and pests that could grow in an insect farm to enable early recognition of disease symptoms.
Newcomers to the organisation shall receive specific training according to a hygiene training schedule
adapted to the competences of the person engaged. The main objective of the frequent (annual) training
scheduled is to ensure that every employee has the skills necessary to evaluate and interpret the results
from the annual HACCP review. Frequent performance reviews shall ensure that each member of staff
has the competencies required to meet the company objectives (particularly on food safety) and tasks
and to successfully complete the tasks their role profile requires. Opportunities for improvement
and expansion of their skill-set shall be provided. The effectiveness of staff training shall be regularly
evaluated.
For internal staff, training also addresses internal management, recording procedures, commercial uses
and when appropriate legislative aspects. There should be personnel on-site who are specifically trained
for emergency situations.
For externals visitors, a HSEQ presentation should be done covering for example:
10. the main factory risks;

11. forbidden behaviour (smoking, running etc.);
12. emergency exits and emergency procedures;
13. individual protection equipment.
2.7.2. Clothing and personal behaviour
‘14. Every person working in a food-handling area is to maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness
and is to wear suitable, clean, and where necessary, protective clothing.
50
The Management ensures staff has access to and is using appropriate clean clothing and protective wear
(e.g. helmet, safety shoes, gloves when required, apron, protective glasses, dust masks) when operating
within the production facilities. A list of necessary clothing should be elaborated and communicated
to the staff and updated when necessary.
Examples of appropriate clothing in insect production facilities:
1. People working in high noise environment should wear ear plugs
2. Helmet and glasses should be used by maintenance staff;
3. People with direct product contact should wear gloves;
4. People working in breeding chambers should wear a mask;
5. When dealing with insect frass, which is a potential allergen, the staff responsible for
harvesting should make sure to use appropriate protective tools (e.g., protective glasses,
dust mask with filters, and aprons).
‘2. No person suffering from, or being a carrier of a disease likely to be transmitted through food
or afflicted, for example, with infected wounds, skin infections, sores or diarrhea is to be permitted
to handle food or enter any food-handling area in any capacity if there is any likelihood of direct
or indirect contamination. Any person so affected and employed in a food business and who is likely
to come in contact with food is to report immediately the illness or symptoms, and if possible, their
causes, to the food business operator.’.
Furthermore, the staff is required to avoid any behaviour that could impact the safety of the food and
feed produces and comply with the following minimum requirements: in particular any form of smoking,
eating, chewing and spitting is prohibited inside the production area. Signs and instructions should clearly
indicate prohibited behaviour and staff must comply with it.
2.7.3. Personal health
Operators who may come in contact with foodstuffs must always be in good health: no person who
suffers from or is a carrier of a disease likely to be transmitted through food or feed is to be permitted
to handle insect products (e.g. whole animals, killed animals, processed products), food and feed, or enter
any food/feed handling area.
Personnel shall be instructed by supervisors to report poor health conditions such as specific
communicable diseases transmissible onto the food/feed products, illness, open lesions or any other
abnormal source of microbiological contamination to avoid contaminating food, food-contact surfaces
or food packaging materials.
The Management will, in turn, submit a declaration to support medical examination in case health
problems are discovered/encountered during operator activities e.g. gastroenteritis; vomiting; carrying
Salmonella; high temperature; a sore throat with fever; infected skin lesions; nose, eye or ear discharges.
Supervisors shall verify that the staff have understood the instructions. People who report or are shown
51
to have the above symptoms shall be excluded from any operations involving food handling until they have
recovered. Personnel must be aware of the diseases which must be reported to the Management.
Subject to legal restrictions in the country of operation, employees shall undergo a medical examination
prior to employment in food contact operations, unless documented hazard or medical assessment
indicates otherwise.
Summary: the implementation of the above mentioned PrPs are summarised here. If the PRPs are properly
implemented, maintained and verified, risks for food/feed safety are reduced.
6.2. Building and Premises
Aim Lay-out, design and maintenance of company premises must be as such that risks
of contamination of insect food/feed is minimised.
Action Risk assessment on environment/company premises and implementing hygiene

practices
• Plan on facility site map
• Plan on access, outlets, physical and organisation separation plans
6.3. Production equipment
Aim • Prevent contamination of insect food/feed products due to unsuitable

equipment design, leading to inefficiency in cleaning and disinfection
procedures. Develop, implement and maintain a cleaning and disinfection
program.
• Prevent contamination of insect food/feed products due to maintenance, lack
of maintenance or not well calibrated equipment. Develop, implement and
maintain a maintenance program
Action • Compliant equipment design to hygiene requirements and cleaning and

disinfection programs.
• Maintenance and calibration procedure, program and records.
6.4. Pest control measures
Aim • Prevent pest (including insects, birds) and excrements from contaminating
insect food/feed products.
• Make a pest control program, implement and maintain it.
Action • Pest control procedure, program and records.
6.5. Waste management
Aim • Identify waste and minimise the risk of unintended introduction into insect
food/feed ingredients.
Action • Waste management procedure, program and records.
6.6. Monitoring (sampling and analyses)
Aim • To demonstrate and ensure the safety of the insects food/feed product.
Action • Risk assessment and develop monitoring plan

• Maintain records
6.7. Personnel
Aim • Establish hygiene policy and access control and communicate these to all
personnel and subcontractors.
Action • Communication of hygiene policy (instruction agreed by employees and

subcontractors)
52 • Access regulation (instruction)
MANAGEMENT OF INSECTS’
SUBSTRATES
3.1. Substrates supply and insect producers sourcing activities
Killing step
Primary production Processing activities
Insect producers select substrates based on a number of criteria, including the nutritional composition,
the expected effects on the targeted insect species (e.g. speed of growth, weight gain, feed conversion
ratio or fatty acid profile), the absence of hazards on the targeted animals or the ease of removal during
harvesting.
Furthermore, the characteristics of the substrates used are critical parameters for a suitable and safe
growth of the animal: in general substrates used for flies (e.g. Musca domestica and Hermetia Illucens)
contain high levels of moisture (sometimes referred to as ‘xiroculture’), whereas mealworm (Tenebrio
molitor) and lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) are usually raised on dry substrates (sometimes
referred to as ‘hygroculture’).
The origin of the substrate is an important factor with respect to product traceability. When procuring
the substrate, it is important to consider the reliability of suppliers and of their management systems.
53
3.1.2. Applicable legislative requirements
Insect producers must only source substrates that are eligible as feed materials for farmed animals within
the European Union - rules as defined under the EU Animal-By-Products legislation (i.e. Regulation
(EC) No 1069/2009 and Regulation (EU) No 142/2011) and not being forbidden by the Feed Marketing
Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 - Annex III, e.g. manure and animal faeces, feed containing
packaging residues) (see the full list of prohibited materials in section 1.2.2.).
Furthermore, any substrate which has been mixed with insect frass (e.g. during the production cycle)
may not be reused in further production cycles. Insect frass is indeed regarded as a category 2 material,
so its mixture with substrates (‘category 3 materials’) shall be classified as ’category 2 materials’, in
accordance with article 9(g) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009)
Finally, insect producers must conform to the general provisions of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 on
feed hygiene. Notably, the substrates sourced outside the insect production facility must be obtained
from a registered or approved feed business operator, in accordance with the aforementioned Regulation
(Article 5(6)).
• Substrates’ suppliers producing or placing on the market certain feed additives, premixtures and/
or compound feed prepared using feed additives shall be approved in accordance with Article 10(1)
of the above Regulation;
• Pursuant to the ‘European Commission Guidelines for the feed use of food no longer intended for
human consumption’ (16 April 2018), suppliers of former foodstuffs must have been registered
or approved under the EU food hygiene legislation49 and/or the EU animal by-products legislation if
these products contain materials of animal origin50.
Finally, substrates suppliers must have implemented a HACCP plan, if not covered by Article 5 (1)
of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 (applicable to ‘primary producers’).
3.1.3. Specifications and checking measures
Substrates sourced outside the insect production facility must be obtained from a registered or approved
feed business operator, or from an approved establishment in accordance with Regulation (Article 5(6)).
It is also recommended that substrate suppliers are selected and audited through internal approval
guidance, taking into account the safety of the product, registration of the production sites, the safety
management system in place and the implementation of good hygiene practices and/or of HACCP
procedures when applicable.
Insect producers must also register the substrate supplier ‘s name, its address and delivery date51,
in accordance with EU specific requirements on traceability and record keeping, as in Article 18
of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002.
Insect producers must keep up-to-date information listing the prerequisites for substrates to be
safely used as feed for insects intended for food or feed purposes (the so-called ‘specifications’). The
specifications also indicate when and to what extent deviations may be accepted.
The specifications must at least cover:
1. The analytical characteristics of the incoming substrate;

2. The results of the risk analysis carried out for each incoming substrate, e.g. the product specification
and monitoring results;
3. The list of approved geographic origins and sources;
4. The animal species for which their use is approved;
5. Notes on any hazards or limitations on their use and any other special characteristics;
6. Conditions of usage (e.g. pH, temperature).
49 See Section 3.2 of the EC Guidelines for the feed use of food no longer intended for human consumption.
50 See Section 4.2 of the above-mentioned EC Guidelines.
51 Annex III on Record-Keeping (b) (iv) Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
54
Insects’ nutrition and the quality of the substrates ingested may have a strong influence on its microflora
(e.g. certain insects may be vectors of Salmonella, Campylobacter or Escherichia Coli) or on the
presence of chemical contaminants, e.g. dioxin and PCB transferred via the substrate - may accumulate
in insects. Furthermore, the substrate may have been contaminated with pests/rodents or other physical
contaminants.
In light of the above hazards, insect producers should carry out regular checks of incoming materials
through sampling measures to verify compliance with parameters as defined in the specifications (e.g.
test against the presence of unauthorised substances and/or applicable limits for contaminants present
in the substrate). Samples and results of the analysis shall be made available to the national competent
authorities upon request at any time.
While EU legislation does not foresee specific regulatory provisions regarding (microbiological
or chemical) analyses and pathogen agents in substrates destined for insects, operators may implement
their own sampling measures/protocols:
• Sampling measures must always be conducted if there is any doubt about the quality of the
substrate and/or in the absence of analyses conducted by the supplier;
• Although the substrates are delivered by trusted suppliers with full traceability ensured and/
or accompanied by analytical results, sampling measures must be randomly conducted to detect
the presence/levels of mycotoxins, heavy metals and residues of pesticides and the samples should
be stored at least until the end of the production cycle of the batch being fed with;
• If the substrates undergo chemical/biochemical (acidification/enzymatic hydrolysis etc.) or any

fermentation processes, the analysis should be conducted, based on the producer’s assessment
of possible resulting hazards on insects.
3.2. Storage of substrates
Insect producers must pay attention to the physical conditions (storage technology, storage atmospheric
characteristics) and biosecurity levels to prevent the introduction of organisms from the environment
surrounding the storage facilities of the substrate.
To this end, insect producers must follow the following principles:
1. Incoming materials must be stored in dry (i.e. for dried substrates), appropriate temperature and
hygienic conditions;
2. Installations must be free from vermin, birds and any form of pests. Storage facilities must have
roofs, walls or other protection systems, and be regularly checked in order to avoid leaks or rodent
infestation;
3. Damaged or corrupted substrates must be contained and evaluated for an exemption
to be reintroduced as substrate or disposal.
Furthermore, there must be a system of site allocation for safe storage (e.g. easily identifiable, intake
identification easily visible). In case of any doubt about the identity of a product during storage (i.e.,
damaged packaging), a ‘non- conformity procedure’ must be established whereby the HSEQ Manager
or any other competent and/or designated person must decide on the destination of the product (re-
identification, clearance for use, disposal, etc.). Records must be kept at all times about the actions taken.
The substrates that have been rejected by the HSEQ Manager must be clearly identified and segregated
from other materials in a manner which precludes their unauthorised used.
55
Finally, insect producers must pre-treat, whenever deemed necessary (i.e. should risks of contamination
be identified), the substrates before feeding them to insects, including through shredding, grinding,
milling, mixing or acidification.
Summary of recommended practices or ‘warning points’ in the management of incoming

substrates
1. Ensure that the substrates are provided by trusted suppliers;
2. Only source your substrate from registered or approved Feed Business Operators
3. Only source and use authorised substrates which are eligible as feed for farmed animals,
in accordance with EU legislation;
4. Ensure that designated and trained staff are present at the point of delivery;
5. Visually control the truck before unloading and accepting the delivery to detect damaged
seals or packaging;
6. Register all batches of substrate;
7. Undertake your own testing/sampling of the substrate following a risk-based approach, after
assessing its potential contamination (notably, you should pay attention to the development
of Salmonella spp., Campylobacter and Enterobacteria);
8. Pre-treat the substrate whenever necessary.derived products - see above).
56
INSECT REARING ACTIVITIES
4.1. Introduction: scope and legal framework
Insect rearing activities cover the following production steps:
1. Administration of substrates to insects;

2. Insect growth phase;
3. insect harvesting;
4. pre-treatment step.
All the above-mentioned steps are regarded as ‘primary production’ activities52 under EU food and
feed safety legislation. Consequently, insect producers that are active in these fields fall subject to
distinct hygiene requirements. In practice, those operations often take place in the same establishment
as of processing activities, therefore limiting the risks for contamination which may arise from transport
from one establishment to another. However, insect producers may decide to outsource certain stages
for the rearing activities. In that case, operators should refer to the recommendations provided in section
4.6. of the Guide.
This chapter applies to insect products intended for human consumption and animal feed.
4.2. Administration of substrates
Killing step
52 Unless when mixing feed additives (see section 1.2.1. for more details). 57
The administration of substrates to insects constitutes an important component of the breeding process.
Such operations are designed to provide insects, specific to their species and consumption habits, with
access to liquid and solid nutrients (i.e. wet and dry substrates) as a source of energy needed for their
growth.
Eggs are usually introduced onto the substrate manually, mechanically or by natural oviposition (directly
from adult insects). The larvae are maintained on the substrate for a certain number of days or weeks
depending on the species produced and the temperature and humidity levels within the building.
4.2.2. Applicable legislative requirements
All operations associated with the feeding of the animals are considered as ‘primary production’ activities
(unless when mixing feed additives). Therefore, they are subject to the specific requirements contained in
Annex I and III of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 and Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004.
For further information, see section 1.2.1. of the present Guide
Annex III of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
‘Feeding’
2. Distribution
‘The on-farm feed distribution system shall ensure that the right feed is sent to the right destination.
During distribution and feeding, feed shall be handled in such a way as to ensure
that contamination does not occur from contaminated storage areas and equipment (…).’
In order to prevent the risks of contamination – which may originate from the introduction of pathogens,
chemical contaminations, cross-contamination - the administration of the substrate to the animals
should be done according to the following principles:
• The substrate used should be selected by taking into consideration the chosen insect species,
based on its mycotic, bacterial and viral disease resistance;
• Each batch of substrate delivered to the animal must be traceable;
• The equipment destined to provide the nutrients/substrates (or any other material which may
enter into contact with the animals) should be certified as ‘food contact’ material (in order to
avoid chemical contamination) and equally thoroughly cleaned;
• Insect producers should thoroughly clean boxes/cages containing insects and equipment
destined to provide the substrate and/or the water to the animal between each batch
of production.
Such principles should help to avoid or minimise any cross-contamination and errors. Any other technical
or organisational measures that are deemed necessary by insect producers to prevent such risks must
be taken (respective to the insect farming techniques, e.g. automated, manual, vertical stacking of breeding
trays, movement of material, etc). These should include regular checks in the course of manufacture53
designation and training of staff at the point of distribution in order to prevent cross-contamination.
53 Annex II, Chapter ’ ‘PRODUCTION’ of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005.

58
Photo: Courtesy of Protifarm.
4.3. Insect growth phase
Killing step

59
Besides the composition of the substrate, insect rearing conditions may also contribute to the development
of microorganisms (naturally or accidentally) and/or to the presence of chemical contaminants (e.g.
transferred via the growing medium) in the final product. Farmed insects therefore require an adequate
environment and the application of tailor-made techniques that take into account their particular
characteristics.
The key parameters to be controlled include:
1. The temperature: insect growth rate is indeed heavily influenced by temperature levels.
Temperatures between 25°C to 45°C are most beneficial in the majority of cases.
2. Humidity: temperatures must correlate with a specific level of relative humidity, depending
on the phase of development (e.g. approx. 70% of humidity for Tenebrio Molitor, 50-
70 % for Black Soldier Fly and house fly, 90% for crickets and 50% after hatching).
3. Enclosed space: the insect colony must be enclosed and secured to facilitate pest
control and prevent livestock escape. It is common to use multiple self-contained spaces,
each with its own population, water supply food sources, and space maximisers.
4. Ventilation: proper ventilation of the premises is required and must be suited to the species
characteristics and projected temperature/humidity levels. This ensures clean rearing conditions and
avoids cross-contamination through the air.
Generally speaking, a good understanding of the main insect species (including their different life
cycles) used in production activities is necessary for the development of suitable rearing methods
and further processing steps.
Illustration of Common House Fly life cycles
Owing to the differences that exist between insect species (e.g. in terms of nutritional needs), the chosen
substrate or growing environment may differ substantially.
60
Examples:
• Black Soldier flies are typically fed and grown on wet substrates, whereas mealworms
(e.g. Yellow Mealworm and Lesser Mealworm), or crickets are grown on dry materials;
• Intense light and certain wavelengths may affect both feed intake and
pupation of certain insect species: e.g. bright light inhibits the growth
of black soldier fly species and to some extent affects the growth of other allowed species;
• Production equipment used must be shaped and adapted to each species in order to prevent escape
risks: e.g. mealworms can be safely raised in open containers, while Black Soldier Fly or Housefly must
be stored in closed containers specifically designed to prevent any escapes.
The responsibility lies with each producer to optimise and tailor the rearing conditions according to the
specific insect species to ensure that these risks are minimised. Finally, the quality of the insect breeding
flocks is an important parameter to take into consideration (see section 4.3.2. below for more details).
1. Insect breeding flock management:

First of all, it is recommended to use breeding flocks of a known and traceable origin, that can be traced
back for at least 3 generations.
During the rearing process, insect producers should also maintain consistent population density at each
developmental stage and keep records of all breeding flocks (e.g. via a traceability report).
2. Control of overall growing environment:
Farmed insects must be kept in a closed environment, whether in vessels, containers, boxes or cages,
where the supply of air and substrate can be well controlled. Appropriate cleaning and sanitary measures
should also be undertaken to avoid contamination or spread to diseases among the breeding flocks.
Insect producers should set up a pest control plan in the growing rooms (e.g. check the absence
of pests in the breeding rooms such as protection from invasion of external insects or rodent control,
and good conditions of the fixtures). Respective operators and breeders should consider the location
of the production site (e.g. close to marshlands, swamps, etc) to identify potential pest invasion.
more details can be found in section 2.4. ‘Pest control measures’ of the Guide
Having a register on rearing conditions and supplied raw materials will help to control and monitor that
production is between the established limits, to optimise the yield and to guarantee the survival of the
livestock (e.g. Conditions temperature, moisture, substrate quantities, conditions of water - pH, hardness).
Furthermore, if applicable, the correct and appropriate use as well as traceability, of veterinary medicinal
products and feed additives should be maintained.
61
3. Separation of the insect from its feeding substrate before harvesting:
Different practices are used depending on the species reared, the farming system used or the substrates
given to the insects. However, as a general rule, no fresh substrate should be added prior to harvesting:
in some cases, insects are being removed from the growing substrate several hours before harvesting.
Examples of practices followed by insect producers are provided below:
1. Mealworms and crickets usually go through a specific practice in the breeding process for
intestine cleaning before harvesting (e.g. mealworms can be left 12-24 hours after separation
from the substrate to empty intestines before killing);
2. House Fly larvae to be harvested are often isolated from the substrates by lowering oxygen
concentration in a closed container, creating an avoidance of substrate intake by the larvae.
4.4. Harvesting
Killing step
Harvesting operations consist of collecting larvae or adults at the end of the rearing cycle. Insects are
removed from the rearing containers or chambers and then separated from the growing substrate and
frass.
For holometabolic insects (i.e. mealworms, Black Soldier Fly, House Fly) fully grown larvae are
harvested, whereas in hemimetabolous insects (e.g. crickets and grasshoppers) animals are harvested
at young nymphaea or adult stage.
62
The harvesting method(s) used may therefore also differ from one species to another based on their
breeding behaviour:
1. Usually, Yellow Mealworm larvae remain in their growing substrate until they are mechanically
separated (sieving);
2. Black Soldier Fly larvae may naturally (at a mature level) migrate from the moist substrate to a dry
environment, where they can be easily sieved manually or mechanically.
Current sector harvesting practices include:
1. Yellow Mealworm and Black Soldier Fly larvae are often collected by a sieving procedure (manual
or automated);
2. Cricket adults are often collected by sieving from the growing substrate or by insect collecting nets.
The responsibility lies with each insect producer to take account of the characteristics of each insect
species reared and to design a harvesting process, which enables the effective separation of the larvae
or adult insects from their frass, dead individuals and remaining substrates before killing:
1. Most insect producers use sieving machines (for larvae) or ‘sorters’ (vertical devices like stackers,
cardboard tubes or egg trays for crickets);
2. Hand-selecting insects is also sometimes practiced.
In case the sieving technique is used, the following specific measures are recommended:
• Sieve size (mesh) should enable effective one or two-step separation of insects from frass and the
remaining substrate;
• Clean the sieving equipment thoroughly (e.g. washing, use of appropriate cleaning and sanitation
material, drying) and on a regular basis (once between each harvest) in order to limit microbiological
exchange, the proliferation of larvae from unhatched eggs, or the spread of foreign bodies into
breeding insects;
• Equipment, boxes, tools and nets should be cleaned consequently according to respective operators
established safety management protocols (GHPs, PRPs, HACPP principles) to avoid contamination;
• In the particular case of volatile feces, operations should separate it from the larvae in a specific
confined area, in order to avoid contamination of products in other production lines;
• Collected frass intended for use (e.g. land fertilisers) must be controlled (e.g. microbiological analysis,
heavy metals) and stored in a dedicated area. Non-reused frass (e.g. improper for land use/fertilisers)
must be disposed off appropriately;
• If wet residual feeding substrate is reused, a drying step should ensure water activity suitable for
storage. The operator should identify the acceptable water activity for storage periods that would
not encourage microbiological contamination of the substrates meant to be reused.
Besides or in addition to sieving, insect producers are encouraged to use sorting solutions enabling them
to efficiently detect and remove foreign materials (e.g. metals or plastic coming from the equipment)
or dead whole insects (e.g. black color larvae).
63
Photo: Solids Processing.
4.5. Pre-treatment step
Pre-treatment steps generally refer to the cleaning and storage of insect post-harvest to prepare or keep
them in hygienic (e.g. washing) and appropriate conditions (e.g. chilling) before killing and processing.
Chilling is commonly used by producers, i.e. a pre-treatment step which makes it possible to keep the
insects alive while also immobilising them. For example, cold temperatures of 0ºC-5ºC are often used
for Black Soldier larvae and mealworms, while temperatures between 5ºC-10ºC are typically applied
for crickets. The operator ensures that the temperature remains consistent throughout the process.
Such measures provide adequate storage periods to maintain the product properties and avoid
microbiological contamination.
Chilling can be used prior to freeze-drying the insects. Chilled insects can be stored/transported
in containers. The insects have to form a layer of a certain thickness.
4.6. Specific case of sourcing/sub-contracting practices
The acquisition of insect larvae, as well as part or totality of the rearing process, can be outsourced
or subcontracted.
Suppliers or subcontractors responsible for such activities shall fulfil the same legislative requirements and
good hygiene practices as described throughout this chapter (i.e. compliance with Annex I of Regulation
(EC) No 183/2005 and in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004). Their activities should be monitored
through an appropriate vendor/supplier approval system. They should demonstrate their commitment
to GHP, the safety of the feed substrates and the delivered products (e.g. ‘in-house’ inspections).
In the case of multi-species facilities (insect rearing and other animal husbandry activities), rooms
dedicated to rearing activities and those in which incoming substrates have been sorted must be physically
separated from each other to avoid all risks of cross-contamination.
64
All equipment, vehicles, boxes and tools used in the facilities of such subcontractors must be dedicated
solely to insect rearing activities. They must be thoroughly cleaned between batches and not circulated
outside of the insect rearing perimeter.
The admission of people to the facilities must be strictly controlled. Workers involved with different
animals must not enter the rearing perimeter without clean and dedicated clothing, shoes, gloves and
other necessary protective gear.
Summary of ‘recommended practices or ‘warning points’ associated with insect rearing activities
Administration of substrates (Chapter 4.2.)
1. The traceability of the substrates given to the animals must be ensured;
2. Only use certified food contact equipment to provide the nutrients/substrates to the animal;
3. Comply with feed preparation formulas;
4. Visually control the truck before unloading and accepting the delivery to detect damaged
seals or packaging;
5. Between each batch of production, thoroughly clean the equipment destined to host the
insects and/or to provide the substrate to the animal.
During the insects’ growth phase (Chapter 4.3.)
1. Maintain adequate abiotic conditions, especially temperature, light and moisture (taking into
consideration the needs of the species);
2. Register all breeding flocks (e.g. traceability report) and ensure they come from a traceable
source;
3. Check overall environmental conditions to ensure the absence of pests in the breeding rooms.
Harvesting (Chapter 4.4.)
1. Ensure safe and efficient separation of insects from remaining substrates, frass, dead insects
and other foreign bodies;
2. Ensure safe disposal of dead insects, growing substrate and unused frass;
3. Clean thoroughly and regularly the equipment used for harvesting operations;
4. Implement and record analyses on collected frass.
65
CHAPTER 5 – OVERVIEW OF PROCESSING
METHODS APPLIED TO INSECTS
INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
AND ANIMAL NUTRITION
5.1. Introduction: scope, legal framework and general recommendations
Killing step
This chapter provides an overview of the processing methods involved for insects which are applicable
to the production of both animal feed and food for human consumption. The processing methods
discussed in this chapter focus on the killing and post-killing steps resulting in insect-derived ingredients
(e.g. processed proteins or insect fat). Chapter 7. provides a detailed description to implement HACCP
principles for the following processing methods discussed below.
To this end, this chapter is divided into three sections:
1. The killing of the animal (various methods are used);
2. The ‘post-killing steps’ (e.g. freeze-drying/heating);
3. The fat extraction steps (mechanical, chemical).
Yet, the different steps or techniques described throughout this chapter do not constitute an exhaustive
list of all methods that may be used by operators on the ground.
66
5.1.2. Applicable legislative requirements for insects as feed
The killing of insects and the further processing steps required to produce animal feed are covered by
the EU ABP legislation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and its implementing Regulation (EU) No
142/2011). Pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, insects and their derived products (other than
species pathogenic to humans or animals) are treated as ‘category 3’ materials (article 10(l) of Regulation
(EC) No 1069/2009, and are thus authorised for use in feed for food producing animals, if being previously
processed. The possibilities apply without prejudice to the restrictions which may derive from the ‘TSE
legislation’ (Regulation (EC) No 999/2001). (See section 1.2.3 for further details on this subject)
6
Their categorisation as ‘category 3 materials’ implies a number of consequences as to the legal
obligations and safety requirements imposed on producers, including the following:
1. Insect processing establishments must be specifically approved for the processing of killed insects
into insect-based ingredients; (see chapter 1.1.1. for more details on this subject);
2. Insect processing establishments shall comply with a set of general requirements (see below);
3. Insect producers must conform with common processing standards and/or criteria as defined
in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (Annex X, Chapter II, Section, Part 1, point B) (see below).
Insect producers of feed must comply with the methods provided for in Regulation (EU) No 142/2011.
Insect producers must choose between methods 1 to 5 or method 7, as referred to in Annex IV of the
above Regulation:
1. If opting for methods 1 to 5, producers must comply with specific parameters (e.g. reduction
of particle size, heat treatment, time and pressure) as defined in Annex IV, Chapter III, points A to E;
2. If opting for Method 7 operators shall comply with the following conditions (defined in Annex IV,
Chapter 3, point G).
• General requirements
The decision of the operator to destine killed insects (e.g. whole insects, insect PAPs or fat derived from
insects) for other purposes than human consumption (e.g. feed or for technical uses) should be considered
as an irreversible decision, in accordance the provisions of the ABP legislation, i.e. Article 2. 1 (b)
of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009.
Furthermore, the operator shall issue an accompanying commercial document and a health certificates
indicating the destination of the product, in accordance with Article 21(3). of Regulation (EC) No
1069/2009. The latter document shall at least include information on the origin, the destination and the
quantity of such products, and a description of the animal by-products or derived products. Article 26
of the above Regulation provides that the treatment, processing or storage of animal by-products (e.g.
insect PAPs) shall be done under conditions which prevent cross contamination and if appropriate
in a dedicated part of the establishment or plant (e.g. unprocessed materials shall not mixed with insect
PAPs).
• Applicable processing methods
General
‘Terrestrial invertebrates other than species pathogenic to humans or animals’ are classified as category 3
materials, pursuant to Article 10(l) of Regulation (EU) No 1069/2009. As consequence of this qualification,
insect derived ingredients intended for animal feed (e.g. insect PAPs, insect fat, hydrolysed proteins) must
be treated in accordance with validated processing methods (Article 31(1)(b) of Regulation (EC) No
1069/2009).
- These methods are defined in Annex IV, Chapter III to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (method 1-5
or method 7);
67
- Some specific requirements and/or other processing methods are defined in that same Regulation,
notably in the case of fat derivatives (i.e. Annex X, Chapter II, Section 3) and hydrolysed proteins (i.e.
Annex X, Chapter II, Section V)
Required processing methods for insect PAPs
Insect PAPs must be produced in line with the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009
for category 3 materials (i.e. Article 13 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 requires that category 3
materials intended as feed for farmed animals or for the manufacturing of pet food are being processed),
e.g. Article 31 which applies to PAPs to be placed on the EU market as feed for farmed animals, or Article
35 which concerns the feeding of pet animals.
According to Annex X, Chapter II, Section 1, B(2), PAPs with the exception of fishmeal, must have been
submitted to any of processing methods 1 to 5 or processing method 7 (as set out in Chapter III of Annex
IV).
• Required processing methods for fat and oil derived from insects
Defined in Annex I (definition 8) to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 under the terminology of ‘rendered
fat’, fat and oil derived from insects must come from insects which have been processed as required
for category 3 materials (Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009) and follow the production and
processing methods 1 to 5 or processing method 7 (as defined in Annex X, Chapter II, Section 3 to
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011).
• Required processing methods for hydrolysed proteins from insects
In the case of hydrolysed proteins, the processing facility must be approved as it normally applies for
actors processing animal by products in accordance Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 (Article 24 (1)(a)).
Although specific conditions are foreseen in annexes X (Chapter II, Section 5) of Regulation (EU) No
142/2011, no specific method has been defined for the processing of non-ruminant animal by-products.
The responsibility therefore lies with the operator to demonstrate that the chosen methods allow to
prevent risks of contamination.
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Processing method 1 (pressure sterilisation)
Reduction
1. ‘If the particle size of the animal by-products to be processed is more than 50 millimetres, the animal
by-products must be reduced in size using appropriate equipment, set so that the particle size after
reduction is no greater than 50 millimetres. The effectiveness of the equipment must be checked daily
and its condition recorded. If checks disclose the existence of particles larger than 50 millimetres,
the process must be stopped and repairs made before the process is resumed.
Time, temperature and pressure
2. ‘The animal by-products with the particle size of no greater than 50 millimetres must be heated
to a core temperature of more than 133 °C for at least 20 minutes without interruption at
a pressure (absolute) of at least 3 bars. The pressure must be produced by the evacuation of all air
in the sterilisation chamber and the replacement of the air by steam (‘saturated steam’); the heat
treatment may be applied as the sole process or as a pre- or post-process sterilisation phase.’
3. ‘The processing may be carried out in batch or continuous systems.’
Processing method 2
Reduction
1. If the particle size of the animal by-products to be processed is more than 150 millimetres, the
animal by-products must be reduced in size using appropriate equipment, set so that the particle
size after reduction is no greater than 150 millimetres. The effectiveness of the equipment must
be checked daily and its condition recorded. If checks disclose the existence of particles larger than
150 millimetres, the process must be stopped and repairs made before the process is resumed.
2. After reduction the animal by-products must be heated in a manner which ensures that a core
temperature greater than 100 °C is achieved for at least 125 minutes, a core temperature greater
than 110 °C is achieved for at least 120 minutes and a core temperature greater that 120 °C
is achieved for at least 50 minutes. The core temperatures may be achieved consecutively or through
a coincidental combination of the time periods indicated.
3. The processing must be carried out in a batch system.
69
Processing method 3
Reduction
and its condition recorded. If checks disclose the existence of particles larger than 30 millimetres, the
process must be stopped and repairs made before the process is resumed.’
2. ‘After reduction the animal by-products must be heated in a manner which ensures that a core
temperature greater than 100 °C is achieved for at least 95 minutes, a core temperature greater than
110 °C is achieved for at least 55 minutes and a core temperature greater that 120 °C is achieved for
at least 13 minutes. The core temperatures may be achieved consecutively or through a coincidental
combination of the time periods indicated.’
Processing method 4
Reduction
2. ‘After reduction the animal by-products must be placed in a vessel with added fat and heated in
a manner which ensures that a core temperature greater than 100 °C is achieved for at least 16
minutes, a core temperature greater than 110 °C is achieved for at least 13 minutes, a core temperature
greater than 120 °C is achieved for at least eight minutes and a core temperature greater that 130 °C
is achieved for at least three minutes. The core temperatures may be achieved consecutively or through
a coincidental combination of the time periods indicated.’
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Processing method 5
Reduction
2. ‘After reduction the animal by-products must be heated until they coagulate and then pressed so that
fat and water are removed from the proteinaceous material. The proteinaceous material must then
be heated in a manner which ensures that a core temperature greater than 80 °C is achieved for at least
120 minutes and a core temperature greater that 100 °C is achieved for at least 60 minutes. The core
temperatures may be achieved consecutively or through a coincidental combination of the time periods
indicated.’3. ’The processing may be carried out in batch or continuous systems.’
Processing method 7 (refers to) any processing method authorised by the competent authority where
the following have been demonstrated by the operator to that authority:
(a) ‘The identification of relevant hazards in the starting material, in view of the origin of the material,
and of the potential risks in view of the animal health status of the member states or the area or zone
where the method is to be used;
(b) ‘The capacity of the processing method to reduce those hazards to a level which does not pose any
significant risks to public and animal health’;
(c) ‘the sampling of the final product on a daily basis over a period of 30 production days in compliance
with the following microbiological standards.
1. Samples of material taken directly after the treatment:

clostridium perfringens absent in 1 g of the products
2. Samples of material taken during or upon withdrawal from storage: Salmonella: absence in 25 g: n=5,
c=0, m=0, M=0 Enterobacteriaceae: n=5, c=2; m=10; M=300 in 1 g
where:
n = number of samples to be tested;
M = maximum value for the number of bacteria; the result is considered unsatisfactory if the
71
number of bacteria in one or more samples is M or more; and,
c = number of samples the bacterial count of which may be between m and M, the samples still being
Details of the critical points under which each processing plant satisfactorily complies with the
microbiological standards indicated above must be recorded and maintained so the operator and the
competent authority can monitor the operation of the processing plant. The information to be recorded
and monitored must include the particle size, and, as appropriate the critical temperature,the absolute
time, pressure profile, raw material feed rate and fat recycling rate.’
Annex X of the above Regulation imposes microbiological targets for the derived products.
Annex X, Chapter I of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011
The following microbiological standards shall apply to derived products: samples of the final products
taken during or on withdrawal from storage at the processing plant must comply with the following
standards:
Salmonella: absence in 25 g: n = 5, c = 0, m = 0, M = 0
Enterobacteriaceae: n = 5, c = 2, m = 10, M = 300 in 1 g
where: n = number of samples to be tested;

M = maximum value for the number of bacteria; the result is considered unsatisfactory if the number
of bacteria in one or more samples is M or more; and
c = number of samples the bacterial count of which may be between m and M, the sample still being
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5.1.3. Applicable legislative requirements for insects as food
Producers of insects and products thereof that are intended for human consumption must comply
with the ‘general’ requirements contained in Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 which lays down the
general principles and requirements of food Law (‘General Food Law’), Regulation (EC) 852/2004
on the hygiene of foodstuffs and Regulation (EC) No 853/200454 (definitions in Annex I point 8, Annex II,
Section I on ID marking and Section IV on requirements applicable to frozen food of animal origin laying
down specific hygiene rules for food of animal origin).
Insects are considered as novel food in the EU and are covered under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 requiring
pre-market authorisations before commercialising these products on the EU market55.Authorised
operators shall also comply with the specifications for the authorised edible insects (labelling, hazard
limits) as defined in the Regulation (EU) 2017/2470 establishing the Union list of novel foods (for more
details on this subject, see section 1.2.3)56.
5.1.4. General recommendations
The implementation of GHP throughout the manufacturing process is crucial for the production of food/
feed products, to prevent biosecurity as well as health-associated risks.
To this end, insect feed producers shall refer to the general requirements provided for
in Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005. This Annex sets out the following obligations:
1. Written procedures identifying critical points in the manufacturing process must be established;
2. Measures to monitor the presence of prohibited undesirable substances in the feed are in place;
3. Waste materials must be eliminated;
4. Traceability measures and prevention of cross-contamination;
5. Setting up of HACCP procedures (Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005).
The main duty lies with insect producers to ensure that the processing method(s) implemented are
adequate to achieve the general requirements foreseen in the EU legislation (e.g. processing methods
used may differ substantially from one operator to another and/or according to the species reared).
Insects food producers must follow the requirements laid down in Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, e .g.
Article 4(2). Furthermore, Article 5 of the aforementioned Regulation, requires food business operators
to put in place, implement and maintain a permanent procedure or procedures based on the HACCP
principles. Recommendations on implementing HACCP principles for insect as food and feed activities
are outlined in further detail in chapter 7.
For further information on the above subjects, see section 1.2.1.
54 Article 6 (import conditions)

55 A non-exhaustive list of applications which have been submitted under Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 can be found on the DG SANTE (European
Commission) website, through the following link
56 The Union list of authorised novel food can be found on the DG SANTE (European Commission) website, through the following link
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5.2. Killing step
5.2.1. Introduction
The killing of insects can be performed through different methods, depending on the species reared:
1. Farmed mealworms and crickets are often killed with hot water, boiling vapour or via freezing.
2. Farmed black soldier flies are often subject to mincing and hot water.
The present Guide provides a non-exhaustive list and description of the techniques that are commonly
used by European insect producers.
5.2.2. Heating
Killing by hot water
Killing by heating may be done by plunging insects in hot water (i.e. ‘blanching’). The high temperatures
in this step allow for an instant death of the insects and destroy the microbial flora, thereby mitigating
microbiological hazards in the product. The killing temperatures vary from one insect species to another,
and from their growth status (e.g. for black soldier fly, the temperature applied is usually of minimum 80°
C for about 4-6 minutes whereas for mealworms it goes above 90°C for about 5-7 minutes). It is important
to note that not all possible time temperature combinations will result in a sufficient reduction of possible
microbiological pathogens. The appropriate combinations must therefore be determined by the operator
respective to the species. In addition, respective pathogen monitoring protocols should be conducted.
Blanching times will depend on the end product and legislative requirements (see above sections 5.1.2.
and 5.1.3.). The following conditions should also be considered:
1. The levels of temperatures used;

2. Bacterial spores and their survival on the insects;
3. Any other insects reared in the manufacturing environment.
In case hot water or boiling water treatments are applied, residual water post-treatment should be strictly
monitored in order to avoid microbiological contamination before further processing (e.g. before freeze
drying, or mincing). In case of unwanted contaminants detected, insect producers should implement
necessary corrective measures, in order to mitigate contamination further down in the process
line. Furthermore, in accordance to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, where heat treatment is applied
to foodstuffs in hermetically sealed containers, it is to be ensured that water used to cool the container
after heat treatment is not a source of contamination for the foodstuff.
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Other heating techniques used
Other techniques resulting in near-instant deaths, such as microwave, or infra-red tunnels,

may also be used. Processing parameters such as time of exposure or thickness of products
should be adapted to the species reared. An inadequate heat treatment caused by non-compliance
of time/temperature conditions can lead to a bacterial proliferation The operator shall follow
safety standards (e.g. quick cooling methods, motoring water activity, storage conditions) when
preparing blanched insects for the next steps (e.g. packaging or grinding) of manufacturing.
Photo: Example of a thermal step. Courtesy of Protifarm.
5.2.3. Freezing
Through freezing, the nutritional value of the insects can be maintained until they are further processed.
Insects must be killed at temperatures below 5ºC, (most freezers operate at -20ºC). Operators using such
techniques freeze insects in bulk and set appropriate freezing times to kill the animals. The time varies
from one species to another.
Various methods of industrial tunnel freezing are available such as cryogenic, fluidisation, and impingement,
using liquid nitrogen/CO2 or cooled air.
Before freezing, insects are chilled and deactivated (see section 4.5. for more details), as these methods
ensure a consistently high quality of the product.
Frozen insects could be stored in sealed boxes or bags (at -20ºC) in order to minimise the loss of mass,
prior to further processing.
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5.3. Post killing steps

A number of processing methods may be applied on larvae and/or on adult insects after the killing step.
Referred to in the present Guide as ‘post-killing steps’, these methods have specific purposes in terms
of water, fat or chitin extraction. These steps can be of thermal, chemical or mechanical nature.
The Guide provides a non-exhaustive list and description of the techniques that are commonly used
by European insect producers. Insect producers may therefore apply other techniques than the ones
mentioned below (e.g. spray drying57).
5.3.2. Freeze-drying
Freeze-drying is used to remove water from insects before they are ground or milled. This technique
consists of maintaining a low temperature to dehydrate the insects using sublimation. The subsequent
reduced water activity as well as lower temperatures ensure the low survival and growth microbial flora.
This permits an extended shelf life and mitigates microbiological contamination risks for the product
under the appropriate storage conditions.
In order to ensure the safety of the product, insect producers must conform with the following
procedures:
1. Prior to placing the insects in the freeze dryer, the operator shall ensure that insects are kept away
from any potential contamination sources (potential cross contamination during storage before
freeze drying, transfer or handling);
2. Freeze-drying temperatures must be maintained throughout the process (the level of temperature
required varies according to equipment and processes used);
3. The freeze-drying environment is thoroughly cleaned between two batches.
4. Freeze-dried products are very hygroscopic and ‘attract water’. If not stored in a closed containers,
the water activity of the product may thus rise again and allow microbial growth.
57 Spray Drying is a technique largely applied in various food processing since decades to remove water from products. The insect end product
is a fine insect powder, and no grinding or milling is needed. High temperature air flow meets product droplets in a vacuum chamber where the
drying occurs in very few seconds, according to the equipment and process used. Insects might need to be pre processed before the drying phase,
which means homogenization, dilution, pasteurization or anything else needed for a complete control of the final product outcome. Insect can be
powdered without compromising most of their valuable characteristics because of the very short time the nebulised products are heat treated.
Pressure and temperatures must be maintained throughout the process (their levels can be different according to equipment and processes
used). All equipments environment is thoroughly cleaned between batches.
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Photo: Freezer-dryer. Courtesy of Protifarm.
5.3.3. Heat-based dehydration methods
Depending on the killing method used, larvae or adult insects might still have to be dried in order to remove
the water and avoid microbiological contamination. This can be achieved with an oven, where high
temperatures are maintained to allow moisture to draw off.
In order to ensure the safety of the product, insect producers must conform to the following procedures:
1. Drying temperatures must be maintained throughout the process to ensure product safety and
mitigate any potential microbiological contamination post process (the temperature levels and
time required may, however, vary between insect species or the treatment before drying step (e.g.
blanching time) and processes used (e.g. oven, microwave).
2. The oven is thoroughly to be cleaned between batches and the residues of killed insects are taken
away and disposed of with insect waste.
Photo: Union Microwave property.
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5.3.4. Grinding
The majority of insect applications

in animal feed require a grinding/milling
process which transforms the insects into
fine particles and a homogeneous powder.
Considering the characteristics of the
product (powder form), It is susceptible
to potential microbiological contamination
risk if hygiene practices are not maintained
in production. Water activity and storage
temperatures should be appropriately
monitored (see chapter 7.2.9. Establish
monitoring procedures (Principle 4)).
The grinding/milling machinery should

be cleaned regularly and thoroughly based
on its installation (cleaning-in-place (CIP) Photo: Grinding, Vercella.
and cleaning-out-of-place (COP) systems).
5.3.5. Fractioning
Fractioning consists of applying physical, chemical and biochemical processes to extract protein, fat/
oil, chitin and derivatives (e.g. chitosan and glucosamine) at the end of the process. To obtain fat/
oil mechanical separation (pressing), heat treatment or organic solvents (e.g. supercritical CO2 in low
temperatures under high pressure) might be used. The latter method also preserves the nutritional
values and bioactivity of the dry protein residues (fully defatted insect meal).
Mechanical separation (pressing) and/or heat treatment is used for oil/fat extraction.
Chitin extraction requires chemical and/or enzymatic processing. Insect producers should identify
possible hazards and/or contaminations during the aforementioned processes. Parameters such
as mechanical errors, chemicals hazards (residual from cleaning procedures or mechanical leaks) and
efficient cleaning methods between batches should be considered among others.
Legend: Extraction
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Photo: Mechanical Pressing, Ecolea Technologie
79
STORAGE, PACKAGING, LABELLING AND
TRANSPORT OPERATIONS
Killing step
6.1. Introduction: applicable legislative requirements
Producers of insect products for feed use shall refer to the EU feed hygiene provisions regarding storage
and transport (i.e. Annex II of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005). The same legislation applies to them as to any
other ‘feed business operator that is active in stages other than primary production’. (For more details, see
section 1.2.1).
Regulations and relevant annexes Aspects operators must cover
1. Facilities and equipment
2. Personnel
3. Production
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No
183/2005 4. Quality control, audit
– other levels than primary
5. Dioxin monitoring for oils, fats and derived products
production
6. Storage and transport
7. Record-keeping
8. Complaints and product recall
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Similar requirements are foreseen in EU food hygiene legislation for food business producers (Annex II
to Regulation (EC) No 852/2004): these should, therefore, serve as relevant source of information for
producers of insects intended for food use.
Regulations and relevant annexes Aspects operators must cover
1. General requirements for food premises
2. Specific requirements in rooms where

foodstuffs are prepared, treated or processed
3. Transport
4. Equipment requirements
Annex II to Regulation (EC) No
852/2004 – general hygiene
requirements for all food 5. Food waste
business operators, others than
in primary production
6. Water supply
7. Personal hygiene
8. Provisions applicable to the wrapping and

packaging of foodstuffs
9. Heat treatment
10. Training
The following sections outline a set of concrete recommendations for translating these general
requirements into practice.
Furthermore, specifically for food business operators, Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 provides
a harmonised legal EU framework on the general principles of safety and inertness for
all Food Contact Materials (FCMs). The Regulation revolves around the following core principles that
require materials to not: release their constituents into food at levels harmful to human health, change
food composition, taste and odour in an unacceptable way. FCMs Include direct or indirect contact
of materials during the production process of insect-based food products (e.g. containers for transporting
final insect-based food products, machinery to process food, packaging materials, etc.). Furthermore,
specific FCMs could be subject to requirement on import for non-EU countries (e.g. Products originating
or consigned from China or Hong Kong). Furthermore, Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 on Good
Manufacturing Practices for materials and articles intended to come into contact with food, ensures
that the manufacturing process is well controlled so that the specifications for FCMs remain in conformity
with the legislation. Finally, Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 establishes specific requirements for the
manufacture and marketing of plastic materials and articles which are intended to come into contact
with food.
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6.2. Recommended practices for storage and transport operations
6.2.1. Premises layout
The layout of the premises is designed to ensure a safe environment and prevent contamination, allow
maintenance and minimise deterioration.
Live insects (e.g. often destined to pet food animals or farmed poultry species), should be stored
in premises that are designed to avoid any release of the insects into the environment. Furthermore,
distinctive storage arrangements should be in place to segregate between treated (slightly processed e.g.
washing, freezing) and untreated live insects destined as feed. They should also be kept in a different
storage arrangement to avoid cross contamination with processed insects in case the company produces
both types of products.
Storage areas shall also be designed or arranged to allow segregation to avoid cross-contamination
of raw materials (processed), other ingredients (salt, oil, etc.), flavouring ingredients (relevant for insects
as food), packaging, chemicals (e.g. cleaning materials), waste, frass and processed insects. When operators
produce both processed insect products and frass, a clear storage differentiation should be maintained.
A separate area for storing materials identified as potentially unsafe shall be provided (e.g. secure storage
of cleaning and disinfecting materials). Furthermore, producers should prevent non-dedicated vehicles
from parking (e.g. fork-lift trucks, lorries) or circulating in storage areas, where possible.
Dry storage facilities (e.g. used to store dry ingredients, packaging) shall provide protection from
dust, condensation, drains, waste and other sources of contamination. They shall be kept dry and well
ventilated. The storage areas shall be designed to minimize the risk of product contamination respective
to the operator capacities and activity.
The monitoring and control of temperature and humidity shall be applied as required by product
or storage specifications. Products should be kept at appropriate temperature (e.g. low temperature and
humidity to inhibit microbiological growth), considering their composition and potential use, to avoid
microbiological contamination.
Cleaning and disinfection agents and other chemicals which are used for hygienic purposes must,
if applicable, be stored separately in clearly identified areas. This is to avoid the risk of unintentional
contamination or contamination due to negligence.
All materials and products shall be stored off the floor and with sufficient space between the material and
the walls to allow inspection and pest control activities to be carried out.
6.2.2. Premises maintenance and cleaning
The storage premises are checked and maintained in accordance with the evaluation procedures detailed
in the monitoring programme (see chapter 2.6. for more details on the monitoring programme). Maintenance
operations are undertaken by certified and/or qualified agents to ensure adequate functioning of the
premises: e.g. to check that humidity levels correspond to the safety standards applicable for storage,
functioning of airflow systems.
The storage premises are kept clean under any circumstances (e.g. to ensure that pests do not spread). Each
cleaning employee is required to indicate at what time the storage room or storage equipment was cleaned.
The employee signs the document when finished with the cleaning operations. The storage handler keeps
a book with the number of cleaning operations per day or per week, depending on the needs. It is important
to establish a procedure including cleaning and disinfection activities, monitoring of hygiene and prevention
of contamination by cleaning (agents). A documented cleaning and disinfection program is recommended
to include the following elements: cleaning method, standards, frequency, chemicals used, equipment used,
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time and temperature specifications. Records of cleaning and disinfection procedures must be kept. The
cleaning and disinfection agents used must be in accordance with the user instructions of the manufacturer
and product safety data (information on the potential hazards: health, fire, reactivity and environmental).
If cleaning and disinfection agents come into contact with feed/food material, then the responsible
personnel must ensure that the control systems always ensure correct and effective levels of dilution of the
agents. Only permitted cleaning and disinfection agents must be in contact with food/feed materials. These
activities should not form any risk under any circumstances to food/ feed safety. It is to be ensured that
objects used for cleaning, cleaning agents themselves, do not remain behind without need on/ in the cleaned
equipment or areas.
A proper ventilation system equips the storage premises to make sure air-flow is constantly renewed in the
premises. The storage premises must be ventilated to prevent excess humidity or heat.
6.2.3. Control of storage conditions
If insects and insect products are intended for food use, raw materials and ingredients shall be stored
at the temperatures specified by the food establishment responsible for their manufacture. Storage
management of non- insect material should follow the principle of first expired – first out (FEFO).
Furthermore, Regulation (EC) No 37/2005 defines the general conditions for the monitoring of the
temperature in the means of transport, warehousing and storage used for quick-frozen foodstuff.
Material that requires cold storage shall be placed under chilled conditions without any unnecessary delay.
Finished products must be clearly identified and appropriately handled and stored.
Placement of finished products in the warehouse shall be managed according to the principle of first
in – first out (FIFO).
A thermometer must be fitted in a prominent position on a wall of the warehouse. Temperature readings
must be taken regularly, in order to monitor and take corrective actions, on unwanted deviations
in temperatures. A monitoring and maintenance plan should be in place. The latter shall foresee
appropriate methods for measuring the temperature depending on the characteristics of the facilities.
Traffic and pedestrianised access arrangements shall be put in place to ensure the safety of the area
in order to unintentionally or intentionally cause contaminations to the products. Pedestrianised areas
should be clearly marked to avoid accidents and provide directions about restricted access. The traffic
and pedestrian access should be for authorised personnel only. These arrangements should be in place
where applicable depending on the capacities of the producers. Small holding producers may not directly
need to apply traffic arrangements.
Storage conditions are respective to insect-based products and their intended use, some
typical examples of the storage conditions are listed below:
1. Dry, cool and closed for insect powders: These products would typically be further
incorporated into food or feed formations. Considering their characteristics and potential use,
such storage parameters are implemented.
2. Frozen storage for whole insects: these products would typically be further used as feed
or food. Although they could be further ground or used whole, very low temperatures allow
longer shelf life, despite its higher water activity compared to powdered insects.
Producers of insects intended for food use should periodically check the stability of their product during
the shelf life period. In case of deviations, there should be a strategic analysis to identify root causes
and the appropriate actions to be taken. Any deviation during the shelf life period should be properly
documented. (See 7.3.8. Establish critical limits)
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Summary recommendations of control measures in respect to storage operations for insect-based products
• (Locked) closed storage;

• (Locked) closed transport;
• Cleaning and disinfection procedures;
• Prevention accumulation of organic material;
• Visual check on objects foreign to the product;
• First in First Out (FIFO) strategy;
• Sampling plan for analysis of hazards for incoming raw materials and outgoing products;
• Adequate storage conditions with respect to product specifications;
• Documentation.
6.2.4. Transport operations
This section only concerns transport operations of insect end-products (i.e. killed insects); therefore, it
excludes transport of live animals (e.g. breeding stocks or live insects intended for pet food).
6.2.4.1. General requirements and recommended practices
Manufacturers or handlers, whose mission is to transport food and feed products derived from insects,
should maintain the same hygiene standards applied throughout the production chain. These operators
are, therefore, compliant with legal requirements set in Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene
of foodstuffs and Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 laying down requirements on feedstuff (see chapter 6.1.
above for more details).
A few examples of recommended practices are provided below:
• The selection of transports and their activities should be monitored through an appropriate vendor/
supplier approval system, demonstrating their commitment to good hygiene practices, especially
with their transportation units and workers;
• The transporter shall provide information of the previous shipment and proof of disinfection before
insect ingredients are loaded.
Food and Feed business operators shall notify the appropriate competent authority of any establishments
under their control, active in transport as laid down by Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 (see chapter ‘Facilities
and Equipment’ and ‘Storage’) and Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 as amended (see annex II - chapter IV
entilted transport: points 4, 5 and 6).
6.2.4.2. Transport units
Any mode of transport used for transporting food and feed products derived from insects, should
be designed appropriately to avoid cross-contamination due to simultaneous or consecutive transport.
Transport means must be cleanable and must be made of appropriate material or should be appropriately
coated.
The design and manufacture of the transportation units should facilitate inspection, cleaning, disinfection,
and when appropriate enable temperature and cooling control. Sanitary requirements are as important
in the transport operations as they are in the manufacturing activities.
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Upon request by the competent authorities, evidence may be requested to demonstrate that the
heating media or cooling system employed has been properly cleaned, evaluated and safely used.
Before compartments are loaded, they must be inspected by staff authorised by the operator, the
owner or the receiver of the goods (e.g. the truck driver in case of self-service truck stations). An
inspection of the loading compartment will be carried out to establish that the loading compartment:
1. Is clean, dry, odourless and correctly maintained;
2. Is compatible with the loading and transport of the specific products;
3. Is suited to the transport needs and forms a closed whole;
4. Does not contain pests and rodents in the widest sense of the term;
5. Does not contain residues or remains from previous loads and/or from cleaning products.
Appropriate measures must be taken to prevent any harmful influence from other products that
could arise during loading and transport. This must include consideration of other operations when
transporting within a port complex.
Compartments that have been used to transport products regarded as ‘high-risk’ during the previous
load must undergo a risk analysis and may be refused. Construction materials shall be selected
to prevent contamination of reared insects and of the stored products. Floors, walls and ceilings shall
be washable or covered/painted with a washable protective layer. Technologies used for livestock
building construction are recommended, including ‘sandwich panel’ etc. Raw timber, and materials
with rough surfaces should be generally avoided. The operator should prevent non-dedicated vehicles
from parking (e.g. fork lift trucks, lorries) or circulating in storage areas, where possible.
Summary of ‘recommended practices or ‘warning points’ associated with storing or delivery operations
Food and feed storing temperatures:

1. Freeze-dried: unchilled
2. Fresh: 0-7°C
3. Frozen: -18°C or colder
Food and feed storing temperatures:

1. Freeze-dried: unchilled
2. Fresh: 0-7°C
3. Frozen: -15°C or colder
4. Dried: ambient temperatures
If the temperature is warmer than above-mentioned limits, the product must be rejected,
or Q/A must prove that no damage occurred (e.g. microbiological tests, in case of suspected
contamination) to the product due to the fact that was exceeding the above thresholds for the
respective period.
85
Example of elements a Load Compartment Inspection (LCI) module should include:
General Information Product Batch Reference number / Instructing Company

representative and Name of personnel / Name of the
transporter / telephone number of the transporter
Place of inspection (e.g. Storage unit 1/2/3)
Load in Kg
Temperature (if applicable)
Destination
Procedure Information Date / Start time / End time

Previous cargo in compartment Last /second last / third last cargo compliant to standards
predetermined
Cleaning Dry / With water / With water+ detergent / With water+

detergent + disinfection
Inspection Empty
Clean
Dry
Free from pests
Free from remnants from previous cargo
Visual: completely intact and fully closing
Final result Accepted: Yes/No

Remarks
Signatures Surveyor and transporter
Summary recommendations of hygiene control measures in respect to transport of insect-based products:
• Specifications carrier loads to ensure carrier cleanliness and avoid hazard contaminations;
• Specifications carrier loads to ensure adequate product conditions to avoid hazard

contaminations;
• Shipping control to ensure package integrity to avoid hazard contaminations;
• Shipping control to ensure presence of harmful pests;
• Document the above measures.
6.3. Packaging
Sealing and packaging of insects and insect products is a crucial part of the manufacturing process as
it contributes to the condition the products will be in when they reach the end-user. Good hygiene,
environment, security and quality practices must, therefore, be respected throughout the packaging
process to ensure safe food or feed is delivered. To this end, several measures are recommended.
1. The producer using packaging ensures it is clean before insects are placed inside. Where necessary
(such as recycled or reused material) it should be disinfected.
2. The producer ensures the packaging is closed immediately.
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3.
1. Storage rooms and recipients/containers/vessels are kept clean to avoid development of non- desired
pests. Levels of humidity and light exposure are monitored and maintained in accordance with the
end-product needs.
4.
2. When sealing the final product, the operator ensures that no external source of contamination (e.g.
pests, physical hazards, etc) is included in the sealed bag. If potential risks are identified appropriate
measures should be in place (e.g. use of metal detectors in the end of the process lines to detect
possible physical hazards originating from the machinery).
5.
3. The packaging material used (i.e. FCMs) must come form a reliable suppliers in order to mitigate
chemical, physical and microbiological hazards which could compromise the food/feed safety.
Summary recommendations of hygiene control measures in respect to packaging of insect-based products:
• Have certified suppliers for packaging materials receiving records of packaging materials to
avoid packaging material contamination (migration analysis of the materials);
• Packaging material conformity for appropriate storage conditions (e.g. frozen products);
• Maintain staff hygene and attire;
• Set up a cleaning and disinfection plan to avoid chemical residues and microbiological
contaminations;
• Develop a quality control plan and preventive maintenance frm physical hazards;
• Develop production planning and control to avoid labelling and packaging errors;
• Document the above measures.
6.4. Labelling
Edible insect-based food products on authorisation as a novel food, are subject to all provisions of
the Food Information to Consumers (FIC) Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011). Producers of
insects intended for food should indicate on the product label its proper storage conditions, shelf life and
intended use of the product.
Please refer to the IPIFF guidance document on food information to consumers for detailed labelling
guidance for insect-based food products58.
Insects as feed:
1. The rules on the marketing of feed materials and compound feed are established in Regulation (EC)
No 767/2009 on the placing on the market and use of feed, and in compliance with the Regulation
(EC) No 1069/2009 and Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (e.g. labelling as Category 3 material));
2. End products shall be labelled with the legislative ‘mandatory labelling particulars’, and insect- based
feed business operators should emphasise on the following:
• Traceability information (e.g. type of feed, batch or lot number, net quantity, etc.);
• Instructions for use (e.g. general instructions for use, species and category of target animals,
restrictions for certain species, etc.);
• Feed specifications (e.g. mandatory nutritional constituent, etc).
58 IPIFF Guidance the provision of food information to consumers Edible insect-based products. http://ipiff.org/publications-position-papers/
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CHAPTER 7
IMPLEMENTATION OF HACCP PRINCIPLES
BY INSECT PRODUCERS
7.1. Introduction
Food and feed producers use the HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) approach
to anticipate, prevent, eliminate or reduce to acceptable levels physical, biological and chemicals
hazards in the food and feed production chain.
Instead of relying on end-product testing, HACCP offers a preventative approach that can be applied
to the food chain, from primary production – although not required by EU food and feed hygiene
legislation - to the final consumption of the insects irrespective of whether they are intended for food
or feed.
A wide range of prerequisite measures are available, however, specific measures to ensure high quality
and safety may be required respective to different insect species depending on their biological makeup.
It is important to stress that HACCP systems are company-specific and are based on respective farming,
rearing and production techniques followed within the identified company.
Although food safety issues have not arisen from the consumption of edible insects, consumer
confidence is arguably strongly correlated with the perceived safety of a given product. The HACCP is,
therefore, crucial to ensure edible insects are subject to the highest safety standards possible.
The HACCP elements underlined in the following pages aim to provide a basic guide for HACCP aspects
that shall be covered by the industry. The application of HACCP does not apply to primary producers (i.e.
insect farming activities), however, they should be aware of the hazards associated with their activities
and address them using GHP (see recommendations earlier in the document), which may include hazard
monitoring activities. Those establishments that the HACCP applies (after primary production), hazard
analysis is expected, subsequently to which Critical control Points (CCPs) should be determined and
should be concluded that GHPs are sufficient. Operators are also recommended refer to the European
Commission notice (2016/C 278/01) on the implementation of food safety management systems
covering prerequisite programs (PRPs) and procedures based on the HACCP principles.
Reminder: The implementation of the GHPs described in the first chapters of this Guide is a mandatory
prerequisite to the HACCP plan.
7.2. HACCP principles
HACCP is designed to prevent problems before they occur, correct deviations when they are detected
and provide all the records for further analysis. It relies on seven principles:
1. Conduct a hazard analysis;

2. Determine the Critical Control Points (CCP) and Operational Prerequisite Programmes (OPRP);
3. Establish critical limits;
4. Establish a system to monitor the CCP and the OPRP;
88
5. Establish corrective actions to be taken when monitoring indicates that a particular CCP is not under
control;
6. Establish procedures of verification to confirm that a HACCP System is working effectively;
7. Establish record-keeping and documentation procedures.
Implementing a robust HACCP system can be achieved with twelve sequenced steps:
1. Assemble the HACCP team;

2. Describe the food and its distribution
3. Identify the intended use and consumers;
4. Develop a flow diagram describing the process;
5. Verify the flow diagram;
6. Conduct hazard analysis (Principle 1);
7. Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs) (Principle 2);
8. Establish critical limits (Principle 3);
9. Establish monitoring procedures (Principle 4);
10. Establish corrective actions (Principle 5);
11. Establish verification procedures (Principle 6);
12. Establish record-keeping and documentation procedures (Principle 7).
The first five steps are preparatory phases to the application of the classical seven HACCP principles.
7.3.1. Assemble the HACCP team
The HACCP team consists of a group of people responsible for applying the HACCP method. They are
identified within the company and properly trained to implement, review and maintain the HACCP
plan. The team will be in charge of responding to every crisis circumstance encountered related to the
respective product(s).
In cases where the formation of the company consists of few personnel (e.g. startups), the HACCP team
participant could be outsourced or if within the company, undertake multiple responsibilities whilst
fulfilling the required competence of the position.
The team should include multidisciplinary specialists of different levels (field staff and management),
related to the insect sector and have the following skills:
1. Understanding of the biological, chemical or physical hazards connected to products for feed and
food in the insect sector;
2. Having responsibility for, or being closely involved with engineering/producing/controlling activities;
3. Having sufficient knowledge of the hygiene and safety operations applied to the process plant and
equipment;
4. The team lead - HACCP team leader- must be a management representative or have direct access
to management.
89
A representation of a HACCP team for an insect producing company as food and feed is portrayed below.
Name Role HACCP Job title Organisation Contribution Contact Approved

Team email By
XXX XXX HACCP Lead Chief XXXX Select HACCP team, XXX@xxx.com XXX XXX
Operations chair HACCP meetings,
Officer manage HACCP process
XXX XXX Product specialist Technical XXXX Product specifications XXX@xxx.com XXX XXX
Manager
XXX XXX QMS Team QHSE XXXX Quality and XXX@xxx.com XXX XXX
Specialist Hygiene design and
implementation
XXX XXX Process specialists Process XXXX Operations, working XXX@xxx.com XXX XXX
Operator practices specifications
XXX XXX Insect rearing Insect rearing XXXX Insect rearing XXX@xxx.com XXX XXX
expert expert specifications
XXX XXX Entomologist Entomologist XXXX Insect health and XXX@xxx.com XXX XXX
characteristic
specifications
XXX XXX Additional Consultant in XXXX Knowledge in XXX@xxx.com XXX XXX

specialists the food/feed regulations
production
chain
7.3.2. Describe the product and its distribution
A detailed description of the products must be done to provide a relevant basis for the hazard analysis and
ensure a proper assessment of food safety. The following elements should be covered:
1. A description of the feed/food range of products (e.g. Whole insects, protein meal, fat, hydrolyzed
proteins);
2. The origin and description of the intakes at rearing or processing level, ingredients, additives as well
as their prominent physical properties (Aw, pH, etc.);
3. Processing methods involved (freezing, refrigerating, heating, drying, etc.);
4. Microbiological or chemical criteria applicable;
5. Packaging (e.g. carton, plastic-based materials, vacuum, etc.);
6. The storage conditions, shelf life, delivery methods.
A non-exhaustive example of a product description is illustrated below
Name of Product ‘Name of insect species’
Life Stage
Product ‘insect meal, powder,etc’

description
Processing
method used
Category
Raw/Semi-finished/Finished product
of product
Packaging
90
Storage
conditions
Intended use
Destination ‘Intended user’
7.3.3. Identify the intended use and consumers
Considering the applicable regulations for the insect in food or feed, the HACCP team should describe
the normal/expected use of the product by customers, and the targeted consumers (humans, pets,
farmed fishes, etc.).
1. Describe the expected use;

E.g. ‘Name of product’ ‘powder/meal’ is a natural balanced source of protein, fat and fibres,
obtained by processing ‘name and life stage of insect species’ reared on feed material. The product
is a powder/meal typically used at ‘XX %’ for wet/dry pet food/animal feed/fish feed/ edible food
formulations as a source of proteins and fats.
2. Identify the consumers;

E.g. Local and International pet food/ animal feed/fish feed/edible food market
3. Identify possible misuses.

E.g. Improper storage conditions, preparation of formulations.
7.3.4. Develop a flow diagram describing the process
The flow diagram acts as a key element for the comprehension of the steps associated with insect processing
activities.
Preceding, following or sub-contracted steps might also be considered.
The flow diagram must list the consecutive processes and does not need to be complex (block type flow
diagram).
Representation of a flow diagram applicable to insects as food/feed producers and processors based
on IPIFF member activities.
91
Legend: Processing of insects: Processing 2: Integration of processed insects as an ingredient:
1.
8.
Killing step: Blanching/mincing,etc
Reception of raw
(depending
materials
on product specifications)
9.
2. Storage
Cooling/Thermal processing
(depending on product
specifications)
10.
Unpacking
3.
Mechanical seperation/
crushing (depending on product
specifications) 11.
Proccesing/formulating
into food/feed product
4.
12.
Drying/freezing (depending on product
Mixing
specifications)
13.
Thermal treatment
(depending on produt
5. speifications)
Packaging
15.
Packaging
6.
Storage
16.
Storage
7. 17.
Transport Transport
92
It could be supported or annotated with the following technical data, for a better understanding.
1. Segregation of clean and dirty routes;

2. Equipment layout and characteristics;
3. Sequence of process steps (including the incorporation of feed/ingredients/additives, delays
between steps, etc.);
4. Technical parameters of operations (time/temperature at processing or storage of insect
ingredients);
5. Flow of semi-finished/finished products, wastes (including potential cross-contamination).
7.3.5. Verify the flow diagram
An on-site review shall be conducted to demonstrate the accuracy of the diagram. All process routes
including interactions between the personnel, wastes and the product must be investigated.
Evidence of the verification by the food safety team must be documented and recorded.
7.3.6. Conduct Hazard analysis (Principle 1)
Hazard analysis consists on the consecutive implementation of the following activities
1. Hazard identification;
2. Hazard evaluation and preventive measures;
Hazard identification results in creating the most comprehensive list of hazards which are reasonably
likely to occur and cause injury or disease if not effectively controlled.
Different tools can be used by the HACCP team to properly sort hazards at each step of the process
(Ishikawa diagram, histories of non-compliances in the company /sector or a list of predefined questions
– Appendix A).
An example of using 5 Ms method for the process step (Step 9 in the process diagram portrayed above)
on storage of insect sourced raw materials.
Material Insect powder quality, specifications
‘Milieu’ - Environment Atmosphere, surrounding areas, pests
Man Staff hygiene
Method Operating method, cleaning and disinfection plan
Machine Installations, transport equipment
Hazards are usually divided into the following categories:
1. Biological
• pathogenic bacteria (Listeria, Salmonella, Bacillus Cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli), These may
originate from:
- contaminated goods
- water/air used in processing
- accumulation of biofilms in equipment;
93
A representation of a HACCP team for an insect producing company as food and feed is portrayed below.
• Viruses, parasites
These may originate from contaminated goods;
• Yeast and moulds

These may originate from contaminated goods;
• Mycotoxins
These may originate from
- contaminated goods
- long storage and/or bad storage conditions of the goods.
2. Chemical:
• pesticides (Organochlorine, Organophosphorus, Carbamate) residues on goods;
• cleaning and disinfection product residues on equipment’s;
• heavy metals traces on goods;
• equipment maintenance residues.
3. Physical: contaminants such as broken glass, plastic or metal fragments, dead or other types of insect
pests, stones.
4. Allergens (food): Allergens from the insect (allergic cross-reactivity between insects and crustaceans)
themselves and/or unprocessed or processed insects that may contain allergens(s) originating from
the feed materials which were ingested by the insects. Other sources can include products containing
allergens used to formulate final product.
These hazards can be introduced, controlled or enhanced (e.g. introduction, survival or multiplication
of organisms in the case of microbiological hazards).
Please refer to hazards to be monitored in chapter 2.6. ‘Monitoring (sampling and analyses)’.
The second step of the hazard analysis, involves a risk assessment and the definition of preventive
measures.
In the risk assessment identified hazard are rated according to:
1. Their severity of harm for the end user of insect-based products;

2. Their probability of occurrence without suitable control measures.
Even though no hierarchy is imposed, severity and occurrence can be rated from 1
to 5. Their multiplication provides an estimation of the overall risk as well as possible responsive actions.
Example of a risk assessment matrix:
RISK RATING
Severe
Catastrophic (5) 5 10 15 20 25 Unacceptable
Undesirable
Significant (4) 4 8 12 16 20 Acceptable
SEVERITY
Normal
Moderate (3) 3 6 9 12 15
Low (2) 2 4 6 8 10
Negligible (1) 1 2 3 4 5
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

Improbable Unlikely Occasional Probable Frequent
94 OCCURRENCE
Finally, the HACCP team shall describe the control measures required to prevent the occurrence of the
hazard, eliminate it or reduce it to an acceptable level. When necessary, an action plan should be set up,
details of people in charge and lead-times to implement the control measure (see 3.10 – corrective actions).
Outputs of the analysis can be documented and recorded within a table identifying the potential types
of hazards, their causes, the risk of occurrence and proposed control measures for each processing step.
Example of a risk assessment table:
in process diagram
Reference number
Preventive
Process Stage: Hazard Causes Risk measures Decision
Frequency
F*G=Risk
Gravity
oPrP
CCP
PrP
Source Description
(G)
(F)
Microbiological
Contami-
nated MONITORING
Microbiological pathogens 1,2,3 Material insects 5 4 20 OF TEMP/TIME X
Instruction /
training for
Microbiological pathogens 1,2,3 Man Staff hygiene 1 1 1 reception X
Chemical
Controlled
substrate
Management
(analysis, audits),
Killing step: Testing for
Blanching/ pesticides and
Heavy metals and Contaminated heavy metal
mincing,etc Pesticides in material 1,2,3 Material 2 4 8
insects residues. X
(depending
onproduct Physical
specifications)
Metal, plastic, stone pieces Contaminated Instruction /

in material 1,2,3 Man insects 1 4 4 training on handling X
Metal, plastic, stone pieces Contaminated Instruction / training

in material 1,2,3 Material product 1 4 4 on monitoring X
Designated closed
storehouse for raw
material,
Implementation of a pest
control
programm, visual
Pests 1,2,3 Environment Infested goods 1 5 5 control at reception X
Microbiological
MONITORING OF
Microbiological pathogens 4 Method Process errors 5 4 20 TEMP/TIME X
Instruction / training for

Microbiological pathogens 4 Man Staff hygiene 1 1 1 reception X
Drying/freezing Chemical
(depending Cleanliness
on product of the
specifications) cleaning chemicals processing Cleaning and
in material 4 Method area 1 4 4 disinfection methods X
Physical
Metal, plastic, stone pieces Contaminated Instruction / training
in material 4 Method product 1 4 4 on monitoring X
Microbiological
Instruction / training
Microbiological pathogens 5 Man Staff hygiene 1 1 1 on reception X
Chemical
Cleanliness
cleaning chemicals of the Cleaning and
Packaging processing
in material 5 Method area 1 4 4 disinfection methods X
Requires suppliers
of packaging films
content-containing migration
contamination (packaging Contaminated certificates, protected
film) 5 Material goods 1 1 1 packaging X
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Physical
Control at every stage
of the manufacturing
process, quality
Packaging Metal, plastic, stone pieces Contaminated control plan preventive
in material 5 Method goods 2 4 8 maintenance X
Metal, plastic, stone pieces Contaminated

in material 5 Man product 1 1 1 Visual inspection X
Microbiological
Contaminated FIFO, product

Microbiological pathogens 6 Material product 1 4 4 monitoring
Chemical
storage design: separate

for chemicals for
Cleaning chemicals Cross cleaning
Storage in material 6 Method contamination 1 4 4 and disnfection X
Physical
Pest control programme.

Warehouse and loading
areas are dry, locked
and secure, under
Contaminated supervision
Foreign objects 6 Method product 1 4 4 and properly sanitized. X
Microbiological
Check transport
condtions,visual
Contaminated insepections
Microbiological pathogens 7 Method product 1 4 4 (audits, certifictes) X
Transport
Physical
Contaminated Unsutiable transport
Foreign objects 7 Method product 1 4 4 conditions X
Microbiological
Contaminated Cleaning and
Enterobacteriaceae 8 Method goods 1 5 5 disinfection procedures X
- Closed production
Contaminated system - Use only feed
Salmonella 8 Material goods 1 5 5 materials and feed X
additives according
Contaminated to feed legislation
Moulds and yeasts 8 Material goods 2 5 10 and/or X
‚private standards’
requirements
for feeding
of foodproducing
animals.
Instruction / training for
Microbiological pathogens 8 Man Staff hygiene 2 4 8 reception X
Cleanliness
of the Cleaning and
Microbiological pathogens 8 Method reception area 1 4 4 disinfection plan X
Reception of raw
Chemical
material Controlled
reception,Supplier
Management
(analysis, audits), Testing
Heavy metals and Contaminated for pesticides and heavy
Pesticides in raw material 8 Man goods 2 5 10 metal residues. X
Physical
Controlled
reception,Supplier
Management
Metal, plastic, stone pieces Contaminated (analysis, audits), raw
in raw material 8 Material goods 1 4 4 material analysis X
Designated closed
storehouse for raw
material,
Implementation of a pest
control programm, visual
Pests 8 Environment Infested goods 1 5 5 control at reception X
Allergens
Poor storage and The organisation and
Allergen cross mixing raw procedure on storage
contamination 8 Method materials 1 4 4 of raw material X
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7.3.7. Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs) (Principle 2)
A CCP (Critical Control Point) is a step at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent
or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level.
All CCPs require control measures, monitoring procedures, responsible staff and records. In addition,
CCPs require that measurable critical limits be identified to determine safe and unsafe conditions.
Examples of CCPs may include:

1. Chilling;
2. Thermal processing;
3. Metal detectors in process lines.
The determination of CCPs can be done with a decision tree (see Appendix B, which indicates a logical
reasoning approach.
Other significant hazards not identified as a CCP, are defined as oPRP (Operational Prerequisite
Program).
oPRPs are essential to reduce the likelihood of introducing food safety hazards and/or contamination
to the products or the processing environments as well as limiting the proliferation of hazards. These are
not part of HACCP rather GHPs to which more attention needs to be paid by monitoring.
oPRPs require control measures, monitoring procedures, responsible staff and records. They do not
require that critical limits be set.
As a comparison, CCP must be monitored on a permanent basis (continuously or not continuously), while oPRP
are monitored on a regular basis (non-frequent monitoring) but not necessarily on a permanent basis.
Reminder: PrP (prerequisite programs) or GHP (Good Hygiene Practice) are basic food safety
conditions, necessary to implement or maintain a hygienic environment throughout the feed/food chain,
suitable for the production, handling and provision of safe end-products. They are the first step
to implement before considering a HACCP analysis.
An example of a CCP determination regarding insect as food/feed processing using thermal treatment
(Blanching, Thermal treatment, drying) – corresponding to process step 1, 2, 4 in the process chart
portrayed above. One or all the thermal treatment steps could be determined as a CCP depending on the
processing method used for the specific insect species. For this example, step 1- blanching is considered
as a CCP.
97
Description of the CCP: Blanching
Description of risk Unsafe end products by the presence of microbiological contamination
Process step Blanching
Reference number
in process diagram 1
Temperature and/or time too low with as a result insufficient killing

Type of risk
microbiological population
Control measure
Measure Heating of the ‘product’ above ‘XX’ ° C for a minimum of ‘X’ minutes
to guarantee microbiological killing. Also to be considered, that the coldest
point of the product mass (which is not necessarily the centre) has been
subjected to the required time-temperature combination
Control • Equipment temperature log

• Alarm signal in case of temperatures below parameters
• Insects sampling after blanching treatment for post-mortem control:
colour verification (visual control)
• End products sampling for bacteriological analysis (Salmonella and
Enterobacteriaceae)
• Equipment surface examination to ensure efficiency of cleaning and
disinfection measures
Frequency • Continuous measurement during production for

post-mortem inspection,
• Continuous monitoring of the log data for equipment time/temperature
efficiency,
Responsible person Operator
Referral document Sr.no.xx. Procedures production: control measure

Control measure
Recording Paper and/or electronical documentation (quality department document)
Corrective Actions in the event of deviations
Corrective action • Action on equipment deviations (time/temperature) and check product

temperature
• After consultation, reheat or dispose
98
Responsible person Production Manager
Referral document
Sr.no.xx. Procedures production: corrective action
corrective action
Recording Paper and/or electronical documentation (quality department document)
Verification Paper and/or electronical documentation (quality department document)
Method Calibration equipment
Frequency Minimum once a year or when in doubt
Referral document
Sr.no.xx. Calibration report
corrective action
Responsible person Production manager
Comments
7.3.8. Establish critical limits (Principle 3)
For each CCP, the HACCP team must determine critical limits and tolerances for monitoring purposes.
These limits must be established to ensure that the hazard never exceeds the acceptable level
in the finished product. Limits must be measurable, clearly documented and validated.
Example of criteria:
1. Temperature, time or pressure according to processing methods (e.g. Annex IV, Chapter III
of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011)
2. Moisture level (Water activity)
3. pH
Example of management of process monitoring during blanching of edible insects

Operating limit: Blanching time and temperature is adequate
Critical Limit:
Process parameters
- Blanching temperature: more than XX°C;
- Blanching time: more than X min;
Insect’s post-mortem inspection:
- 100 % of killed dead insects;
- 0 % of dead black insects;
Process adjustment:
Implementation of verification procedures on equipment efficiency and or staff competency
99
Corrective action:
Implementation of corrective actions on equipment deviation and product quality.
Operating limit
Critical limit
Process adjustment
Corrective action
7.3.9. Establish monitoring procedures (Principle 4)
Monitoring procedures are essential to demonstrate product compliance with specified critical limits
and feed/food safety requirements. Respective food/feed business operator, who produces, trades,
processes or stores the feed/food material must set up, implement and carry out a monitoring plan, based
on the operators own risk assessment for the undertaken activities. Monitoring procedures also facilitate
CCP tracking. This enables immediate corrective actions to be taken when a loss of control is noticed and
before a critical limit is reached. Observations or measurements of each CCP provide accurate records and
written evidence to justify the possible retirement of insect PAPs before they are placed on the market.
Each company has its own responsibility and specifies the Critical Points for its own business situation and
determines a minimum sampling plan. A sampling process diagram should be part of the sampling plan.
This shows the Critical Points for the process control.
For each CCP, the monitoring procedure should include:
1. The description of monitoring methods;
2. Parameters for hazards;
3. Corrective actions if trends indicate a loss of control;
4. When, how and who is performing monitoring and checking.
Staff responsible for the monitoring process must be trained and fully aware of the monitoring
techniques for which they are responsible.
Refer to example in 7.3.7. Determine Critical Control Points (CCPs) - Description of the CCP: Blanching
100
7.3.10. Establish corrective actions (Principle 5)
For each CCP, a pre-established set of corrective actions should be planned to avoid hazardous feed/food
from reaching customers.
Corrective actions should include:
1. The identification of people in charge of implementing the corrective actions;

2. The means and methods required to correct the cause of the deviation;
3. The disposition to be taken with the non-compliant product (finished or semi-finished) manufactured
during the process deviation;
4. Recording of all context information about the non-compliance and verification checks.
Please refer to the example provided on CCP determination and description - 3.7. Determine Critical
Control Points (CCPs) (Principle 2).
7.3.11. Establish procedures of verification to confirm that a HACCP

System is working effectively (Principle 6)
Verifications determine the validity of the HACCP system and its ability to operate according to the
plan. The proper instituting of verification processes of HACCP plans should be undertaken during its
development and implementation, maintenance and upon HACCP System change.
Procedures should be established for verification. Verifications should be handled by persons with
appropriate and sufficient expertise. To determine if the HACCP system is working correctly, the
verification methods can include random sampling and analysis. Verification frequencies should be enough
to confirm that the HACCP system is working effectively. When necessary, this review might result in the
amendment of existing procedures. The changes should be incorporated into the documentation and
recordkeeping system, to ensure that up-to-date information is available.
Examples of Verification activities include:

- Review of the HACCP system and its records, e.g. via audit and inspection;
- Review of incidents on product recall, complaints;
7.3.12. Establish documentation concerning all procedures and

records appropriate to these principles and their applications
(Principle 7)
The records kept for HACCP system should include:
1. Records that are generated during the operation of the HACCP system.
2. A summary of the hazard analysis, including the rationale for determining hazards and control
measures.
3. The HACCP Plan, including:

a. A list of the HACCP team and assigned responsibilities;
b. A description of the finished product, including its distribution, intended use and target
consumer;
c. A list of product ingredients and incoming materials;
101
d. A plant schematic;
e. A Verified flow diagram;
f. A List of hazards identified;
g. Critical Control Point determination - decision tree;
h. A HACCP Plan Summary Table that includes information for:
• Steps in the process that are Critical Control Points;
The hazard(s) of concern;
Monitoring;
Corrective actions;
• Verification procedures and schedule;
• Record keeping procedures.
3. Support documentation such as HACCP plan review, verification and validation records.
102
ANNEX I
GLOSSARY OF DEFINITIONS
The following glossary provides the most relevant EU regulatory and non-regulatory definitions
applicable to the insect food and feed sectors in the context of good hygiene, security, environment
and quality practices.
This annex is subject to change, according to the regulatory developments occurring in the food and
feed sectors which might impact the insect sector.
1. EU regulatory and non-regulatory definitions
1. Batch59: an identifiable quantity of feed/raw material/material/product determined to have

common characteristics, such as origin, variety, type of packaging, packer, consignor or labeling,
and, in the case of a production process, a unit of production from a single plant using uniform
production parameters or a number of such units, when produced in continuous order and stored
together.
2. Biosecurity: proven procedures and practices to prevent or limit the exposition of the flocks
to external biological factors and to minimise farm influence on surroundings.
3. Critical Control Point (CCP): a step at which control can be applied and is essential to prevent
or eliminate a food safety hazard or reduce it to an acceptable level.
4. Cleaning: the removal of soil, dust, food residue, dirt, grease or other objectionable matter.
5. CIP: Clean-In-Place
6. Competent authority60: the central authority of a Member State competent to ensure

compliance with the requirements of the applicable regulation or any other authority to which
that central authority has delegated that competence.
7. Contamination61: the presence or introduction of a hazard.
8. Environment: the natural world, as a whole or in a particular geographical area, especially

as affected by human activity.
9. Equipment: any items, machinery used for the purpose of the treating, processing,
manufacturing or packing insects for food and feed.
10. Establishment: any unit of a feed or food business.
11. Established breeding lines: farmed insects have to be kept as established breeding lines
in captivity for at least three generations, with traceable well documented origin.
12. Farmed insect62: any insect species kept deliberately in established culture, maintained in
a controlled environment on a mass scale.
13. Feed hygiene63: the measures and conditions necessary to control hazards and to ensure fitness
for animal consumption of a feed, taking into account its intended use.
59 Art 3 2. (r) of Regulation (EC) No 767/2009

60 Art 2 1. (d) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
61 Art 2 1. (c) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
62 Art 3(6) of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009
63 Art 3 (a) of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
103
14. Food Contact Materials: Food Contact Materials (FCMs) are all materials and articles intended
to come into contact with food, such as packaging and containers, kitchen equipment, cutlery and
dishes. These can be made from a variety of materials including plastics, rubber, paper and metal.
15. Food safety: assurance that food is acceptable for human consumption according to its
intended use.
16. Feedingstuff64: means any substance or product, including additives, whether processed,
partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be used for oral feeding to animals.
17. Foodstuff65: ‘food’ (or ‘foodstuff’) means any substance or product, whether processed,
partially processed or unprocessed, intended to be, or reasonably expected to be ingested by
humans.
18. Former foodstuffs66: means foodstuffs, other than catering reflux, which were manufactured
for human consumption in full compliance with the EU food law but which are no longer intended
for human consumption for practical or logistical reasons or due to problems of manufacturing
or packaging defects or other defects and which do not present any health risks when used as feed.
19. Good Hygiene Practices (GHP)67: essential conditions and activities that are necessary
to maintain a hygienic environment throughout the food (and feed) chain(s) suitable for the
production, handling and provision of safe end-products.
20. Good quality products: products which have reached higher quality standards from a safety
perspective according to the GHP outlined in this Guide.
21. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points): a system which identifies, evaluates and
controls hazards which are significant for food safety.
22. HACCP system/plan68: a document prepared in accordance with the principles of HACCP
to ensure control of hazards which are significant for food safety in the segment of the food
chain under consideration.
23. Hazard70: a (micro)biological, chemical, physical or allergen agent in, or condition of, food
or feed with the potential to cause an adverse health effect.
24. HESQ: Health, Environment, Safety and Quality
25. Insect frass: mixture of excrements derived from farmed insects, feeding substrate and dead
insects or part of insects
26. oPRP: an oPRP is identified during the hazard analysis as essential in order to control the likelihood
of introducing food safety hazards to and/or the contamination or proliferation of food safety hazards
in the product(s) or in the processing environment. oPRPs are defined as a PRP that has a control
measure that controls a significant hazard—ISO 22000.
27. Packaging68: the placing of one or more wrapped foodstuffs in a second container, and the latter
container itself which protects the quality of the product.
28. Prerequisite programme (PRP): list of the measures to be undertaken in order to maintain full
control of hygiene, biosecurity and quality of farmed insects.
64 Art 3 4. of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002

65 Art 2 of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
66 Annex, Part A (3) of Commission Regulation (EU) No 68/2013
67 ISO22000:2005
68 FAO, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and guidelines for its application
697 Art 3 14. of Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
70 Art 2 1. (k) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 31 Art 2 1. (k) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
104
29. Primary products71: products of primary production including products of the soil, of stock farming,
of hunting and fishing.
30. Primary production of feed72: the production of agricultural products, including in particular
growing, harvesting, milking, rearing of animals (prior to their slaughter), or fishing resulting exclusively
in products which do not undergo any other operation following their harvest, collection or capture,
apart from simple physical treatment.
31. Processing73: any action that substantially alters the initial product, including heating, smoking,
curing, maturing, drying, marinating, extraction, extrusion or a combination of those processes.
32. Processed animal protein (PAP)74: animal protein derived entirely from Category 3 material, which
have been treated in accordance with Section 1 of Chapter II of Annex X (including blood meal
and fishmeal) so as to render them suitable for direct use as feed material or for any other use
in feedingstuffs, including pet food, or for use in organic fertilisers or soil improvers; however, it does
not include blood products, milk, milk-based products, milk-derived products, colostrum, colostrum
products, centrifuge or separator sludge, gelatine, hydrolysed proteins and dicalcium phosphate, eggs
and egg-products, including eggshells, tricalcium phosphate and collagen.
33. Processed products75: foodstuffs resulting from the processing of unprocessed products. These
products may contain ingredients that are necessary for their manufacture or to give them specific
characteristics.
34. Potable water76: water meeting the minimum requirements laid down in Council Directive 98/83/
EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption.
35. Quarantine: temporary retirement of breeding flocks in order to eliminate potential risks
of contagious factors, parasites transmission or other factors (e.g. risk of inbreeding). This
is an important element of biosecurity.
36. Substrate for insects: The feed material used to farm insects (including feed material(s),compound
feed or feed additive(s)).Insect producers must only source substrates that are legally authorised
as feed for insects within the European Union - rules as defined under the EU Animal-By-Products
legislation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 and Regulation (EU) No 142/2011), the Feed
Marketing Regulation (i.e. Regulation (EC) No 767/2009), Annex III ‘prohibition to use manure/
animal faeces’) and Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 as regards the authorisation of feed additives.
37. Traceability77: the ability to trace and follow a food, feed, food-producing animal or substance
intended to be, or expected to be incorporated into a food or feed, through all stages of production,
processing and distribution.
38. Treated insects: these refer to insects that have undergone treatment after the killing step such
as drying or freezing, without changing the nature of the insect as a product.
39. Processed insects: these refer to insects that have undergone processing methods such as mincing
or grinding that have changed the composition of the product.
71 Art 2 1. (f) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004

72 Art 3 (f) of Regulation (EC) No 183/2005
73 Art 2 1. (m) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
74 Annex I 5 of Regulation (EU) No 142/2011
75 Art 2 1. (0) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
76 Art 2 1. (g) of Regulation (EC) No 852/2004
77 Art 3 15. Regulation (EC) No 178/2002
105
ANNEX II
LIST OF INSECTS AUTHORISED FOR THE
PRODUCTION OF PROCESSED ANIMAL
PROTEINS INTENDED AS FEED FOR
FARMED ANIMALS (OTHER THAN FUR
ANIMALS) WITHIN THE EU78
1. Gryllodes sigillatus (Walker, 1869)
Order: Orthoptera; Family

Gryllidae
Tropical house cricket, Indian house cricket

or banded cricket, native to Southwest Asia,
widespread in tropical regions around the world.
Due to its high thermal optimum, this species
is considered non-invasive in temperate zones.
Adults grow up to 20-22 mm, both male and

female have reduced wings, in females only a small
scale is visible behind the thorax. Tropical house
crickets are light yellow in colour and can be easily
distinguished from house crickets by two thick, black
bands on the thorax and upper abdomen.
Figure 1. Gryllodes sigillatus
Incubation period (days from egg-laying to hatching) 12a
Time to maturity (days from hatch to max body weight) 33-40b
a = Ivy and Sakaluk (2005) b = McFarlane (1964)
1. Species are extremely resistant to environmental conditions, and is very productive in mass culture,
tolerating the high population density.
2. Protein content in larvae and imagines varies from 60 to 70% (d.m.), with fat content of 20-25 %
(d.m.) and generally lower chitin content than average crickets.
3. Species is immune to the cricket paralysis virus.
78 In accordance with Point 2 of Part A of Section 1 of Chapter II of Annex X to Regulation (EU) No 142/2011
106
2. Gryllus assimilis (Fabricius, 1775)

Gryllidae
Jamaican field cricket, tropical species of cricket

native to West Indies and Southern part of North
America. Due to its high thermal optimum, this
species is considered non-invasive in temperate
zones.
Adults grow up to 25-28 mm, both sexes are fully

winged. Adult females are slightly bigger with
prominent ovipositor protruding from the abdomen.
Crickets are greyish yellow in colour, more robust
than house crickets.
Figure 2. Gryllus assimilis
Incubation period (days from egg-laying to hatching) 12
Time to maturity (days from hatch to max body weight) 42-49
1. Species is relatively resistant to environmental conditions, and is productive in mass culture,

however under high population density it shows a tendency towards cannibalism.
2. Protein content in larvae and imagines varies from 50 to 65 % (d.m.), with a fat content of 25-30 %
3. (d.m.). Contains a high level of chitin.
3. Acheta domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Gryllidae
House cricket, native to Southwest Asia, widespread

in tropical and temperate zones. Species are native
to most of the European countries.
Adults grow up to 20-22 mm, both sexes are fully

winged. Adult females are slightly bigger with
prominent ovipositor protruding from the abdomen.
Figure 3. Acheta domesticus Crickets are greyish yellow in colour.
Incubation period (days from egg-laying to hatch) 11a
Time to maturity (days from hatch to max body weight) 32-49b
a = Nowosielski and Patton (1965) b = Ghouri and McFarlane (1958)

107
1. Species are resistant to environmental conditions, and is very productive in mass culture, tolerating
high population densities. The species is however very susceptible to the Cricket Paralysis Virus
2. Protein content in larvae and imagines varies from 60 to 70% (d.m.), with a fat content of 20-25 %
(d.m.).
4. Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758)
Order: Coleoptera; Family: Tenebrionidae.
Figure 4. Tenebrio molitor Adult, larva, pupae respectively. Photos courtesy of HiProMine.
Lesser Mealworm Mealworm

Alphitobius diaperinus Tenebrio molitor
1-1,2 cm 1-2 cm
Figure 5. Mealworm species, credits Protifarm
Known as mealworm, species of the darkling beetles. It has a cosmopolitan distribution, being
common in Europe, as a pest of the grain storages.
108
The adult beetles are up to 15-18 millimeters long. It is shiny black or brown with reddish brown
elytra. The eggs are oval, whitish, about 1.5 millimeters long. The larvae resemble larvae of other
mealworms, at the final stage measuring up to 25 millimeters in length.
Incubation period (days from egg-laying to hatching) 10-12
Time to maturity (days from hatch to adult) 280-400
1. Species is resistant to environmental conditions, and is very productive in mass culture, tolerating
high population densities.
2. Protein content in larvae varies from 50 to 65% (d.m.), with a fat content of 30-40 % (d.m.) highly
depending on the feed and rearing conditions.
5. Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer, 1797)
Order: Coleoptera; Family:

Tenebrionidae
Known as lesser mealworm or litter beetle, species

of the darkling beetles. It has a cosmopolitan
distribution, being common in Europe, as
a pest of the grain storages and poultry farms.
The adult beetles are 6 millimeters long, oval

in shape. It is shiny black or brown with reddish
brown elytra. Colour is variable among individuals
and subpopulations and changing with age. The
antennae are paler at the tips and are covered in tiny,
yellowish hairs. The elytra have shallow longitudinal
grooves. The eggs are narrow, whitish, about 1.5
millimeters long. The larvae resemble larvae of other
Figure 6. Alphitobius diaperinus, mealworms, at the final stage measuring up to 11
millimeters in length.
Incubation period (days from egg-laying to hatching) 10-12
Time to maturity (days from hatch to adult) 280-400
1. Species are resistant to environmental conditions and is very productive in mass culture.
2. Protein content in larvae varies from 50 to 65% (d.m.), with fat content of 30-40 % (d.m.) highly
depending on the feed and rearing conditions.
109
6. Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758)
Order: Diptera; Family: Stratiomyidae
Figure 7. Hermetia illucens adult, larva, pupa. Photos courtesy of HiProMine
Black soldier fly, composting fly belonging to the soldier fly family. It is supposedly native to South America
but is currently widespread in tropic and temporal zones worldwide. As it requires a high level of UV
irradiation and temperatures above 24 °C to mate it must be considered as non invasive species
in colder zones.
The adult flies reach up to 15-18 millimeters in length. Adults are black, showing mimicry to wasps The
eggs are round, yellow and about 0.5 millimeters in diameter. The whitish larvae grow up to 25 millimeters
in length, going through six instars to reach the brown prepupa stage. Prepupae leave the moist compost
environment to seek for a dry place to pupate, that enables efficient separation of the larvae from the
substrate. Larvae of the BSF are very efficient composters, being able to digest a whole variety of organic
products.
Incubation period (days from egg-laying to hatching) 4a
Time to maturity (days from hatch to max body weight) 12-60
a = Tomberlin et al., 2002
1. Species grow in a wide range of environmental conditions, and is very efficient in mass culture,
tolerating high population densities and being able to complete the life-cycle within 3 weeks.
2. Protein content in larvae varies from 40 to 50% (d.m.), with a fat content of 35-45 % (d.m.) with high
lauric acid content. Exact composition highly depends on the feed and rearing conditions.
110
7. Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758)
Order: Diptera; Family: Muscidae

House fly, most common fly species, with a cosmopolitan distribution, therefore it is a native
species in Europe.
Figure 8. Musca domestica adult and larvae respectively. Photos courtesy of Amusca.
The adult flies reach up to 10-12 millimeters in length. Adults are grey to black with four longitudinal
dark lines on the back, and the body covered with hair-like protrusions. Eggs are usually laid on decaying
organic matter, yellow in colour and about 0.5 millimeters in diameter. After few days of incubation, they
hatch into legless white maggots which after two to five days of development transform into reddish
brown pupae of ca. 8 mm in length.
Incubation period (days from egg-laying to hatching) 1
Time to maturity (days from hatch to max larval body weight) 2-30
1. Species are resistant to a wide range of environmental conditions, and is very efficient in mass
culture, tolerating high population densities.
2. Protein content in larvae varies from 40 to 65 %(d.m.), with a fat content of 20-45 % (d.m.). The
amino acid profile composition highly depends on the feed and rearing conditions.
111
ANNEX III
IPIFF CONTRIBUTORS TO THE GUIDE
As members of the IPIFF Task Force on ‘Good Hygiene Principles’, the following companies contributed
actively to the development of the present Guide:
HiProMine
Entomo Farm
NextAlim
Protix
Ynsect
Protifarm
Jimini’s
Koppert
Andromeda
NextProtein
Innovafeed
BioBee
Agronutris
Danish Technnological Institute
Mutatec
Agriprotein
Hermetia
Amusca
Entogourmet
Invers
KU Leuven
Entoprotech
Università di Pisa
Entocycle
Enterra
Next-Generation Network
112
ANNEX IV
LIST OF CONSULTED EUROPEAN FOOD
AND FEED BUSINESS SECTORS
The Members of the Advisory Group on the Food Chain and Animal and Plant Health - based on the
revised membership established by the European Commission in 2017- are being consulted on the
present Guide. Namely the following stakeholder organisations
AESGP : Association of the European Self-Medication Industry
AIPCE-CEP : European Fish Processors and Traders Association
ANIMALHEALTH EUROPE
AVEC : Association de l’Aviculture, de l’Industrie et du Commerce de Volailles dans les Pays de

l’Union Européenne
BEUC: Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs
CEFIC: European Chemical Industry Council
CELCAA: European Liaison Committee for Agriculture and agri-food trade
CLITRAVI : Centre de liaison des industries transformatrices de viande de l’UE
COCERAL : Comité du commerce des céréales, aliments du bétail, oléagineux, huile d’olive, huiles et
graisses et agrofournitures de l’UE
COGECA: European agri-cooperatives
COPA: European farmers
ECPA: European Crop Protection Association
ECSLA: European Cold Storage and Logistics Association
EFFAT: European Federation of Food, Agriculture and Tourism Trade Unions
EFPRA: European Fat Processors and Renderers Association
EHPM: European Federation of Associations of Health Product Manufacturers
ELO: European Landowners’ Organisation asbl
ENA: European Nurserystock Association
EOCC: European Organic Certifiers Council
EPBA: European Professional Beekeepers Association
EU specialty food ingredients Federation of European Specialty Food Ingredients Industries

(previously known as ELC)
113
EUROCOMMERCE
EUROCOOP: European Community of Consumer Co-operatives
EUROGROUP FOR ANIMALS
FACE: Federation of Associations for Hunting and Conservation of the EU
EU FEAP: Federation of European Aquaculture Producers
FEDIAF : Fédération européenne des industries des aliments pour animaux familiers
FEFAC : Fédération Européenne des Fabricants d’Aliments Composés
FEFANA: EU Association of Specialty Feed Ingredients and their Mixtures
FESASS Fédération Européenne pour la Santé Animale et la Sécurité Sanitaire
FoEE: Friends of the Earth Europe
FOODDRINKEUROPE
FOODSERVICE EUROPE
FRESHFEL Europe: the forum for the European fresh fruits and vegetables chain
FVE: Federation of Veterinarians of Europe
HOTREC: Hotels, Restaurants and Cafés in Europe
IFOAM EU GROUP: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements EU Regional Group
INDEPENDENT RETAIL EUROPE Independent Retail Europe (formerly UGAL) - Union of Groups of
Independent Retailers of Europe
PAN EUROPE : Pesticide Action Network Europe
PFP: Primary Food Processors SLOW FOOD Slow Food (NA)
SNE : Specialised Nutrition Europe
UEAPME : Union européenne de l’Artisanat et des petites et moyennes entreprises
UECBV : Union Européenne du Commerce du Bétail et de la Viande
114
APPENDIX A
EXAMPLES OF QUESTIONS TO BE
CONSIDERED WHEN CONDUCTING
A HAZARD ANALYSIS.
As outlined by the FDA in the ‘HACCP Principles and Application Guidelines’ source
(https://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/HACCP/ucm2006801.htm#impl)
The hazard analysis consists of asking a series of questions which are appropriate to the process
under consideration. The purpose of the questions is to assist in identifying potential hazards.
1. Ingredients:
• Does the feed/food contain any sensitive ingredients that may present microbiological hazards
(e.g., Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus); chemical hazards (e.g. aflatoxin, antibiotic or pesticide
residues); physical hazards (stones, glass, metal, packaging material) or prohibited constituents
(e.g. prohibited animal proteins)?
• Are potable water, ice and steam used in formulating or in handling the feed/food product?
• What are the sources (e.g. geographical region, specific supplier)?
2. Intrinsic Factors - Physical characteristics and composition (e.g. pH, type of acidulants, fermentable
carbohydrate, water activity, preservatives) of the food/feed during and after processing.
• What hazards may result if the food composition is not controlled?

• Does the food permit survival or multiplication of pathogens and/or toxin formation in the
feed/food during processing?
• Will the feed/food permit survival or multiplication of pathogens and/or toxin formation
during subsequent steps in the food chain?
• Are there other similar products in the market place? What has been the safety record for
these products? What hazards have been associated with the products?
3. Procedures used for processing.
• Does the process include a controllable processing step that destroys pathogens? If so, which
pathogens? Consider both vegetative cells and spores.
• If the product is subject to recontamination between processing (e.g. cooking, pasteurising) and
packaging which biological, chemical or physical hazards are likely to occur?
4. Microbial content of the food
• What is the normal microbial content of the feed/food?
115
• Does the microbial population change during the normal time the feed/food is stored prior
to consumption?
• Does the subsequent change in microbial population alter the safety of the feed/food?
• Do the answers to the above questions indicate a high likelihood of certain biological hazards?
5. Facility design
• Does the layout of the facility provide an adequate separation of the dirty route from the clean
route?
• Is the traffic pattern for people and moving equipment a significant source of contamination?
6. Equipment design and use
• Will the equipment provide the time-temperature control that is necessary for safe feed/
food?
• Is the equipment properly sized for the volume of feed/food that will be processed?
• Can the equipment be sufficiently controlled so that the variation in performance will be
within the tolerances required to produce a safe feed/food?
• Is the equipment reliable or is it prone to frequent breakdowns?
• Is the equipment designed so that it can be easily cleaned and sanitised?
• Is there a chance for product contamination with hazardous substances (e.g. glass, metal pieces)
• What product safety devices are used to enhance consumer safety?
• metal detectors
• magnets
• sifters
• filters
• screens
• thermometers
• To what degree will normal equipment wear affect the likely occurrence of a physical hazard (e.g.,
metal) in the product?
• Are allergen protocols needed in using equipment for different products?
7. Packaging
• Does the method of packaging affect the multiplication of microbial pathogens and/or the
formation of toxins?
• Does the package include instructions for the safe handling and preparation of the feed/food b y
the end user?
• Is the packaging material resistant to damage thereby preventing the entrance of microbial
contamination?
• Are tamper-evident packaging features used?
• Is each package and case legibly and accurately coded?
• Does each package contain the proper label?
• Are potential allergens in the ingredients included in the list of ingredients on the label?
116
8. Sanitation
• Can sanitation have an impact on the safety of the feed/food that is being processed?
• Can the facility and equipment be easily cleaned and sanitised to permit the safe handling of
feed/food?
• Is it possible to provide sanitary conditions consistently and adequately to assure safe feed/foods?
9. Employee health, hygiene and education
• Can employee health or personal hygiene practices impact upon the safety of the food being
processed?
• Do the employees understand the process and the factors they must control to assure the
preparation of safe feed/food?
• Will the employees inform the Management of a problem which could impact upon the safety of
feed/food?
10. Conditions of storage between packaging and the end user
• What is the likelihood that the feed/food will be improperly stored at the wrong temperature?
• Would an error in improper storage lead to a microbiologically unsafe feed/food?
11. Intended use
• Will the food be heated by the consumer?

• Will there likely be leftovers?
12. Intended consumer
• Is the food intended for the general public?

• Is the food intended for consumption by a population with increased susceptibility to illness (e.g.
infants, the aged, the infirmed, immunocompromised individuals)?
117
APPENDIX B
DECISION TREE FOR CRITICAL CONTROL
POINT (CCP) DETERMINATION
SOURCE : ADAPTED FROM CODEX ALIMENTARIUS
Do preventative Modify step,

Question 1 measurement (s) process or
exists? product
No
Yes
Is control at this step

necessary for safety? Yes
No Not a CCP Stop

or oPRP
Is the step specifically designed
to eliminate or reduce the
Question 2 likely occurence of a hazard Yes
to an acceptance level?
No
Could contaminationwith
identified hazard (s) occur
Question 3 in excess of acceptable level (s)
or could this increase
to unacceptable level?
Yes No Not a CCP Stop

or oPRP
Will a subsequent step

Question 4 eliminate identified hazard
(s) or reduce likely occurence
to an acceptable level?
Yes No CCP or oPRP
Not a CCP Stop

or oPRP
118
Does monitoring of control No
Question 5 measure allows to detect
a loss of control?
Yes oPRP
Is it possible to apply a No
Question 6 critical limit to
the control measure?
Yes
CCP
119
120

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for European Union (EU)

producers of insects as food

Chapter 2 – Prerequisite programs: infrastructures and general conditions

3.1. Substrates supply and insect producers sourcing activities 53

Chapter 4 – Prerequisite programs: insect rearing activities 57

4.1. Introduction: scope and legal framework 57

Chapter 5 – Overview of processing methods applied to insects intended for 66

5.1. Introduction: scope, legal framework and general recommendations 66

Chapter 6 – Prerequisite programs: storage, packaging, labelling and transport

6.1. Introduction: applicable legislative requirements 80

Chapter 7 - Implementation of HACCP principles by insect producers 88

Annex I: – Glossary of definitions 103

Annex II – List of insects authorised for the production of processed animal

Annex III – IPIFF contributors to the Guide 112

APPENDIX A: Examples of Questions to be Considered When Conducting

Arnold van Huis

Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands

An initiative by the International Platform of Insects for Food and

Objectives of the Guide:

In addition, this Guide specifies requirements enabling to:

Scope of the Guide and legal framework

Notably, the recommendations contained in the document should

Overall structure of the document

The Guide is complemented by the following four annexes:

Annex I contains a glossary of definitions, mainly extracted from EU regulatory provisions;

1.2. Applicable EU regulations

1.2.1. ‘General’ EU food and feed hygiene requirements

Applicable EU legislative provisions

Producers of insects for Producers of insects for

Considered as ‘primary production’ activities

Operators must ‘register’ their activities

Applicable hygiene requirements

Must comply with Annex I,

1. Regulation (EC) 1. EU Animal-By-Products legislation

Being considered as ‘non-primary production’ activities (e.g. processing),

Article 5 of Regulation Article 29 of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009

Activities subject to Activities subject to ‘approval’

Registration Registration as ‘feed business

Hygiene Package Regulations – Regulation (EC) No

Regulation (EC) No - Implementation of hygiene Regulation (EC) No - Compulsory

Regulation (EC) No - Implementation of hygiene Regulation (EC) No Regulation (EC) No

Insects as food and feed operators involved in the ‘management Index

- sorting obligations – Art.4

- implementation of a HACCP plan- Art. 29(1)(a) and (c)

• Feed materials of vegetal origin;

Where to find the applicable EU requirements?

Applicable EU rules revolve around the following sets of legislation:

Prohibited materials as substrate for insects

Restrictions stemming from the ‘TSE’ Regulation

Former foodstuffs of animal origin

EU residue limits for contaminants and requirements applying to feed additives

Non-exhaustive list of substrates /substrates categories commonly used by EU insect producers

2. Fruits and vegetables and their derived products;

3. Commercial feed authorised for all animal species25;

4. Unsold products from supermarkets, food industry or bakery establishments26 if composed

5. Fat derived from the processing/rendering of parts of slaughtered animals.

Regulation (EC) No 396/2005 - maximum residue levels of pesticides

Undesirable Substances Directive (i.e. Directive 2002/32/EC)

1.2.3. Overview of the EU regulatory possibilities for using insect