Global Regulatory Frameworks, Safety Protocols and Industry Standards in Fish Feed Quality Control: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Fish feed safety is crucial to the continued health, productivity and sustainability of aquaculture systems worldwide. As aquaculture quickly expands in both developed and developing nations, feed quality has emerged as a critical determinant of food safety, environmental impact and economic viability. In 2024, the global feed industry demonstrated a promising rebound, with total feed production rising by 1.2%, from 1.380 billion metric tons (mt) in 2023 to 1.396 billion mt, underscoring the sector’s resilience. Within this, aquafeed production reached 52.966 million mt, reaffirming its critical role in supporting aquaculture’s upward trajectory and global food security. While contaminated or nutritionally unbalanced feed poses major risks to human consumers through the food chain, in addition to posing a threat to the health of aquatic animals. This review's objective is to evaluate critically the international regulatory frameworks, safety protocols and industry standards that govern fish feed quality. It highlights key international guidelines such as Codex Alimentarius, the OIE Aquatic Animal Health Code and the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), along with national regulations in the USA, European Union, India and other major aquaculture producing countries. The study further explores core safety systems like Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), ISO 22000, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and how they contribute to holistic risk management throughout the feed supply chain. Although there has been a lot of progress in bringing safety standards globally but infrastructure, resource limitations and regulatory enforcement remain issues in developing nations. This paper advocates for increased international collaboration, digital traceability tools and capacity-building initiatives to bridge regulatory gaps and enhance feed safety worldwide.