1. Peanut Standards and Sampling/Testing Procedure - Compulsory Standard

• General
  
  For BSA approval all BSA members must operate to an aflatoxin content level of ‘nil detectable’ using the sampling and testing procedure detailed below. In general, appearance must be good in terms of minimal content of splits, wrinkles and discoloration. Mould should not be present. All peanut samples requiring testing for aflatoxins should be forwarded to Eurofins Scientific Ltd, 47-69 Woodside Business Park, Shore Road, Birkenhead, CH41 1EP (Tel: 0151 647 9175) where an account for the BSA is held.
  
• Sampling and Testing
  
  Members must independently batch test each container (c. 18 tonnes) on receipt as follows:
  
• Eight sacks (50kg) or sixteen sacks (25kg) must be selected at random from each consignment.
  
• A sample of 500g (if from a 50kg sack) or 250g (if from a 25kg sack) should be taken from each sack and blended/ mixed into one 4kg bag.
  
• This should then be split into two bags of equal weight, both marked with a label showing, batch reference number, date of receipt, year of crop, suppliers reference number, total weight of consignment, purchase order number and the delivery note number.
  
• One sample is to be retained by BSA member for a minimum period of 18 months. The other is to be sent to an Independent Testing Laboratory.
  
• Resultant certificate to be filed by member for a minimum period of 18 months.
  
• BSA Standards Officer to be immediately notified in the event of any test result showing above ‘nil detectable’. Standards Officer will advise on further recommended action(s).
  

2. Seed Mixes - Compulsory Standards

For BSA approval, seed mixes should comprise the following minimum and maximum percentages:

NIL ALLOWABLE - The following ingredients are not permitted in mixtures displaying the BSA logo.

• Whole Peanuts
• Biscuit
• Extruded Dried Pellets (eg. Dried biscuit)
• Seasoned/spiced or salted ingredients
• Large Striped Sunflower
• Lentils
• Whole Pulses
• Vetch
• Whole Maize
• Flaked Barley
• Dried Rice
• Split Peas

Straights - The following straights are considered as valuable high energy food sources and as such can carry the BSA logo with the recommendation that these feeds can be fed as a straight from an appropriate feeder or feeding station.

• Black Sunflower
• Sunflower Hearts
• Peanut Granules
• Niger
• Live foods
• Dried Mealworm

In addition:

• No seasoned, salted or spiced ingredients should be presented for wild bird consumption.

3. Suet - Compulsory Standards

Suet-based products are rapidly growing in popularity in the UK as a wild bird food, providing as they do a high energy source during colder weather conditions. Uptake by garden birds is extremely good at these times.

The following list describes the types of product that would fall into the “suet” category, but it is by no means exhaustive:

• Fat Balls
• Square/Rectangular Cakes
• Pelletised Suet
• Suet-filled half or whole coconuts
• Suet in cylindrical shapes
• Suet bound around wooden or plastic stems/sticks
• All of the above blended with nuts, seeds, fruits, insects or a combination/combinations of these additives.

Given the recent UK problems with Foot & Mouth, BSE and Aflatoxins, the BSA has adopted the following standards:

1. Suet should be derived from animals that have received ante and post mortem examination by veterinary officers and found to be fit for human consumption.
2. All suet should be processed at a fully licensed and approved EU or USA abattoir.
3. Any suet products that are blended with peanuts, either in whole or granular from, must use peanuts that contain a nil detectable aflatoxin level.

4. Other Foods - Compulsory Standards

All other feeds, seeds and suet -based products must be free from mould, vermin traces, infestation or other contaminants.

5. Bird Feeders

In summary, bird feeders should be efficient at dispensing food to the target species without putting them in any danger and without wasting the food through spillage or soiling.

Compulsory Standards

• Avoid sharp edges.
• Ensure that feeding points (ports) are carefully designed to avoid any chance of a bird being caught by the neck.
• Peanut feeders must not allow birds to take away whole nuts or large parts of nuts since this can cause problems in the breeding season (April to September). Where this is unavoidable, a warning must be printed on the packaging.

Guidelines

• Feeding ports should be offset so that a higher bird is unlikely to defecate on one feeding lower down.
• Feeding ports should be baffled to restrict the loss of food when the feeder swings in the wind.
• Plastic edges should be concealed from the jaws of Squirrels.
• Seed feeders need to be of sufficient diameter to allow foods to descend easily.
• The bottom of any feeding tube should be designed to push the food to the side of the feeder where the birds can easily reach it.
• Seed trays should be designed to shed or drain rainwater.
• Feeders should be designed so that they can be dismantled for cleaning and should be made from materials which will not be damaged by normal cleaning methods.
• Spiral feeders which might be extended by the weight of a starling should be avoided as other birds may be trapped.
• Squirrel-proofed feeders which store food within a protected area must be designed in such a way that birds can escape from the protected area easily, rapidly and from several directions.
• Information should be included about the importance of maintaining cleanliness and good hygiene.

Compulsory Standards

• The table must be open on all four sides (unless it is designed to be fixed to a tree or wall) to allow birds to see predators and to escape easily.
• An edge or rim helps to keep the food on the table but must have breaks in it to allow rainwater to drain away quickly . Alternatively, adequate sized drainage holes must be included in the floor of the table.
• Bird tables must be sold with siting instructions which recommend a position near to cover into which birds can escape from predators, but which is far enough away from trees and fences from which cats can pounce.
• Information must be included about the importance of maintaining cleanliness and good hygiene.

• Ensure that the feeding surface is as smooth as possible: this reduces the amount of food particles, dust and other debris that can become trapped, and makes it easier to clean.
• Incorporating a hopper for the bird food, rather than letting it lie loose on the table, will reduce contamination by droppings.
• A roof should overlap the entire feeding surface in order to keep the food as dry as possible.
• It is beneficial if the bird table can be easily moved since food falling from the table can become contaminated and a source of disease. As with bird feeders, it is best if the table is moved every few weeks.
• Hooks can be included for hanging bird feeders in order to attract the widest range of species.
• A smooth pole for mounting the table will help to discourage rats and cats.

7. Standard Nest Boxes for Tits

Standard nest boxes, commonly called tit boxes, are the most likely type to be occupied since the requirements of the birds are fairly well understood.

Compulsory Standards

• Always use insulating materials such as wood of at least 15mm thickness. Do not use thin wood, plywood, corrugated cardboard, plastic or solid ceramic materials. Birds may occupy boxes made from unsuitable materials if no other nest sites are available but they are unlikely to be successful. Boxes made from dense materials like ceramics can be dangerous since they are likely to be too hot or too cold for chicks to survive.
• Never fit a perch – the birds do not need it and it invites and assists predators.
• Never incorporate a nest box in a bird table. The nesting birds come into conflict with the feeding ones.
• Never use spirit based, persistent timber treatments.
• Ensure that customers receive siting instructions.

• The ideal thickness of wood to use is 19mm.
• It is best to use nails or screws rather than use glue which will make the box too airtight and encourage condensation.
• As a general rule boxes should not have holes of less than 32 mm. The vast majority of customers will be pleased to have any tit in their box so it is counterproductive to exclude the larger Great Tits by having a smaller hole.
• Ensure that the internal floor area of the box is at least 20 square inches (130 square centimetres) or, better still, 25 square inches (160 square centimetres). It has been shown that tits will lay reduced sized clutches in smaller boxes.
• If the box is to be promoted as being suitable for sparrows, the physical dimensions need to be increased by 25% and the entrance hole needs to be 35mm.
• Try to include a waterproof but opening lid. This allows cleaning in the autumn. In addition, the educational and general interest of seeing what is happening inside is valuable for conservation and significant numbers of young birds from boxes are ringed and recorded.
• It is best not to use any kind of timber treatment but, if you do, use water based, plant-friendly chemicals and treat the whole box.
• The best method for fixing to a living tree is an aluminium nail. Steel or brass fixings may represent a danger to future chain-saw operators.
• If possible design the box so that the back is all in one piece. This ensures that the box does not leak if water runs down the object to which it is fixed.
• It is preferable to include a brief synopsis of what might happen if the box is occupied.

Hygiene- Guidance Standards

Members must make every effort to convey whatever guidelines the Association recommends to their customers.

Last updated: 15/01/07