1. How do I know I’m really getting a low‑carbon ingredient?
Under MI5.7 Feed LCA, the auditor checks the incoming and outgoing volumes with sustainability characteristics. A product with a sustainability characteristic such as a low carbon footprint (CFP) must be supported by documented, traceable and verifiable data.
This data can include verification statements, primary data statements, and information on CFP. It can also include details on the delivery document that show the product is declared as GMP+ FRA assured – feed environmental footprint
2. Can I combine different data sources for ingredients?
Yes. You can use:
Data from PEF-Compliant databases such as GFLI.
Verified LCA (ISO 14044) and CFP (ISO 14067) studies.
All data must meet MI5.7 Feed LCA data quality requirements (see Chapter 5).
3. Why do I need to use previous-year data?
MI5.7 Feed LCA uses a defined reference period to ensure consistency and comparability of results. In principle, this is the previous calendar year.
You can use a rolling 12-month dataset, as long as it is updated monthly and applied consistently. For this option, not only the ingredient origins need to be updated, but also energy use and transport data. All data categories – origins, energy and transport – need to relate to the same period.
4. What does the auditor actually check?
Auditors review:
Your data sources (ingredient origins, purchase contracts, energy bills, primary data statements).
Your procedures related to MI5.7 Feed LCA (such as scope description and data inventory).
How you apply calculation rules (for example selected tool, origins and weighted averages).
Whether the results can be traced back.
Whether communication is done correctly.
They check both the data and the process, not just the outcome.
5. How does mass balance work in real-life situations?
Mass balance allows a company to balance purchased and sold volumes with certain sustainability characteristics such as a low carbon footprint, within a fixed period of up to three months. Physical segregation is not required.
Example:
In Q1, a company delivers 1,000 tonnes of low-CFP soy to their customer.
At the same time, only 600 tonnes have been received from their supplier. This means that at that moment, the company has a temporary imbalance between incoming and outgoing volumes, using 400 tonnes of conventional soy to fulfil the contract.
Within the three month inventory period, this is allowed if: by the end of the period, the company has received the remaining 400 tonnes of low-CFP soy, and the total incoming and outgoing volumes are balanced again.
(Note: for detailed rules, always consult the full MI5.7 Feed LCA document.)
6. Why isn’t every link in the chain adding transport emissions?
Not all transport stages need to be added separately. For many ingredients, transport is already included in the database up to a certain point.
For example:
For cultivated ingredients, transport related to farming activities is already included.
For processed ingredients, transport from the farm to the processing facility is covered.
Therefore, please pay close attention to the MI5.7 requirements for ingredient selection, energy use and transport as described in §5.3 Ingredient selection, energy and transport.
Final thought
MI5.7 Feed LCA combines flexibility with credible claims. Do you have more questions or cases to share? Your feedback helps us improve our guidance for everyone.
Contact us if you have questions! mailto: info@gmpplus.org