"Made in Austria" - and where do the ingredients come from?

Information such as "Made in Austria" or "Produced in Austria" is strictly regulated for food products (via the "Lebensmittelinformationsverordnung" - LMIV), unfortunately not for feed (Feed Regulation 767/2009).

What does “Made in Austria” mean?

This statement indicates that the last significant processing step must have taken place in Austria (so simply packaging in Austria is not sufficient). However, it does not automatically indicate the origin of the raw materials. However, if the country of origin of the primary ingredient (i.e., the ingredient present in the largest quantity or the one consumers usually associate with the name of the food) is not the same as "Made in...", the origin of the primary ingredient must also be stated. This is mandatory for food products.

Food vs. feed – the difference

Unfortunately, the Feed Regulation does not directly correspond to the primary ingredient origin rule in food law. This means that the origin statement is not mandatory for feed unless actively advertised. For example, "Made in Austria" may be stated, but the primary ingredient may, for example, come from a non-EU country without further labeling. This is also not mandatory for organic feed. This can easily give products the impression of being "Austrian," even though the main raw materials were imported.

We find this inadequate and advocate for greater transparency in feed law. Regardless of whether it's for humans or animals, we believe consumers have a right to transparency about the origin of their products.