Piensos Costa, which belongs to the Costa Food Group meat holding of Grupo Empresarial Costa, has recently obtained the AENOR certification for the Production of Animals Free of Antibiotics for several of its farms and feed factories. This accreditation certifies that all health guarantees in the production process are met, for the animals to be raised free of antibiotics at all stages of growth from weaning: “This indicates that we do not give antibiotics to animals either orally or by injection and that we conduct in-depth analyses, both of the meat and in the feed and water to check that there is no trace that could affect human consumption”, stated the Quality Control team from Piensos Costa.
This certification adds to other previously obtained certification, such as the Welfair™ certificate for Animal Welfare, also awarded by AENOR, or the Interporc Animal Welfare Spain (IAWS) certificate for animal welfare and biosecurity.
“All of these certifications support our firm commitment to sustainability and caring for people. We were the first white pork meat producers in Spain to obtain the AENOR Animal Welfare certification. Now, with the Antibiotic-Free Animal Production certification, we strengthen our commitment to good livestock practices and to offering the consumer a quality product, which is 100% natural, and in which our farmers and our technical team, whose work has been crucial in obtaining the certificate, play a fundamental role”, explains Jorge Costa, CEO of Grupo Empresarial Costa.
In addition, two other important certifications for the Group have also been renewed: the IFS (International Featured Standards) seal for international quality and the BCR Global Standard for Food Safety. Both represent a global food guarantee and provide companies with an international endorsement in terms of quality, safety and food responsibility.
The new PLA accreditation also ensures the traceability of the raw material throughout the process and that there is no cross-contamination in any of the phases. With this, Costa Food Group increases its portfolio of certifications, which consolidates it as a sector leader in food quality and safety, responsible, effective and environmentally sustainable work, animal care, and respect for people.