The primary quality requirement for imported soybean meal in the EU is its protein content, but several other key criteria are also emphasized. This was highlighted by Pavlo Zhovtonozhko, Director of Falcon Agro Group LLC, during his speech at the “Soybean and Meal Market” conference in Kyiv on March 27.
“Safety indicators are extremely important, as the EU has tightened its regulations in this regard recently. Therefore, when soybean meal is used in livestock farming, there must be a clear guarantee that it will not negatively impact animal health,” he stated.
Additionally, according to Zhovtonozhko, fiber content is another significant factor, though it is more of a commercial than a consumer-related issue. Contracts typically specify an upper limit for protein and a lower limit for fiber, which means processors aim to minimize fiber content, but from an economic point of view, this makes sense.
“In terms of specific figures, the EU standard for protein content in soybean meal is 45-46%, which aligns with Ukrainian soybean meal. American soybean meal, on the other hand, follows U.S. standards, with a low-protein variant containing (about 44% protein) and a high-protein variant at (47-48%). Generally, the EU imports soybean meal that meets its own standards, although some companies also purchase high-protein soybean meal, which belongs to a different price segment,” the speaker noted.
Additionally, he added that there are several other differences between Ukrainian and American soybean meal, particularly in terms of anti-nutritional factors such as urease content. In the U.S., the permissible urease level is up to 0.5%, whereas in Ukraine and the EU, it must not exceed 0.1-0.2%.
For more updates from the “Soybean and Meal Market” conference, visit the event’s page.
