Frequently Asked Questions

SafeDown™ is a health safety certification that ensures down and feather products meet the highest requirements regarding health and hygiene. It was established in response to a clear need for a label that verifies the biosafety of animal by-products, especially in light of emerging public health concerns.

The certification is in line with the strictest health rules in the world - the European Union's health rules regarding animal by-products. It guarantees that certified products are 100% safe from any health hazards, such as bird flu and other infectious diseases harmful to humans.

SafeDown™ specifically focuses on health and hygiene standards throughout the entire supply chain, from breeding to final distribution. While other certifications might verify aspects like ethical sourcing or origin, SafeDown™ is unique in its exclusive focus on biosecurity.

SafeDown™ complements the Hungarian Down Traceability System (HDTS) - while HDTS certifies the Hungarian origin of the product, SafeDown™ ensures compliance with the European Union's strictest biosecurity requirements.

In recent years, the topic of public health has become increasingly important, with new viruses and diseases affecting both humans and animals. This has changed how consumers approach end-products, especially those derived from animal by-products.

Down and feather products, being animal by-products, need to meet strict health standards to ensure they are free from any pathogens that could potentially cause harm to humans. SafeDown™ certification provides this assurance, verifying that the down meets the highest possible health and hygiene standards at every stage of the manufacturing process.

The SafeDown™ certification process involves rigorous checks throughout the entire supply chain:

1. Oversight of breeders for mother geese and mother ducks
2. Inspection of each egg at the hatcheries
3. Monitoring of goslings and ducklings on pre-raising and raising farms
4. Inspection of raised geese and ducks before and during processing
5. Verification of every domestic and international waterfowl feather shipment

Each stage is overseen by government authorities, including state veterinarians, ensuring that the highest biosecurity standards are maintained throughout the process.

SafeDown™ requires continuous monitoring and compliance with health regulations. Facilities in the Hungarian supply chain are regularly inspected by government authorities, particularly state veterinarians.

The entire supply chain is HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) conformed and controlled, which means that critical points in the process are identified and monitored to prevent health hazards. Each shipment requires health certifications certified by a veterinarian authority.

Currently, SafeDown™ certification is available with shipments of Hungarian Goose Down and Hungarian Duck Down from FBZ Hungária Ltd. The certification is specific to the Hungarian supply chain, which operates under the strict oversight of government authorities and veterinary inspections.

The certification is based on compliance with the European Union's health rules regarding animal by-products, which are among the strictest in the world.

SafeDown™ adheres to the European Union's health rules regarding animal by-products, which are recognized as some of the strictest in the world. These regulations establish rigorous requirements for health and hygiene throughout the entire production process.

Additionally, the entire supply chain is HACCP conformed, a systematic preventive approach to food safety that identifies, evaluates, and controls biological, chemical, and physical hazards.

SafeDown™ ensures compliance through multiple levels of control from the very source to the final product. Every party in the Hungarian supply chain is overseen by government authorities, including state veterinarians.

For every shipment, each member of the supply chain must substantiate and receive state health certifications certified by a veterinarian authority. This multi-layered approach guarantees absolute hygiene and safety.

SafeDown™ is recognized as a significant biosecurity certification in the down and feather industry. By adhering to the European Union's strict health regulations, SafeDown™ certified products meet or exceed the health and safety standards of most international markets.

The certification provides valuable assurance to buyers and consumers worldwide that the down and feather products they purchase are free from health hazards and have been produced under rigorous safety controls.

SafeDown™ certified down buyers are provided with a signed SafeDown™ Certification for their shipment and optional clothing tags. These can be used on packaging, product labels, and marketing materials to demonstrate compliance with the certification's biosecurity standards.

The SafeDown™ label provides a visible assurance to consumers that the down or feather content in the product meets the highest health and hygiene standards.

Each SafeDown™ certified down shipment comes with:

1. A signed SafeDown™ Certification document that verifies the shipment meets all required health and hygiene standards
2. Optional clothing tags that can be attached to final products
3. Health certifications from state veterinarian authorities

This documentation provides a complete paper trail verifying the biosecurity of the down throughout the supply chain.

Yes, SafeDown™ certification can be used alongside other certifications like the Hungarian Down Traceability System (HDTS) or other ethical and quality certifications. In fact, SafeDown™ complements these other certifications by focusing specifically on biosecurity aspects.

For example, while HDTS certifies the Hungarian origin of the down, SafeDown™ ensures compliance with biosecurity requirements. Together, they provide comprehensive assurance about both the origin and safety of the down.

Consumers can identify SafeDown™ certified products by looking for the official SafeDown™ tag or label on the product. These tags feature the SafeDown™ logo and may be attached to the product or included on the packaging.

Genuine SafeDown™ tags contain specific security features and information that verify their authenticity. If you have doubts about the authenticity of a SafeDown™ tag, you can contact us directly for verification.

Consumers should care about down biosecurity for several important reasons:

• Health Safety: Properly certified down ensures that the product is free from pathogens that could potentially cause health issues.
• Quality Assurance: Down that undergoes strict health inspections is generally of higher quality and produced under better conditions.
• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your down products have been rigorously inspected provides reassurance about the safety of products you use daily.

As public awareness of health and hygiene continues to grow, biosecurity certifications like SafeDown™ allow consumers to make informed choices about the products they purchase.

SafeDown™ certification focuses on the health and hygiene aspects of down rather than its performance characteristics. However, the strict oversight and quality controls inherent in the SafeDown™ certification process often correlate with higher overall quality standards.

The rigorous inspections and controls throughout the supply chain help ensure that only the best quality down reaches the market. This can indirectly contribute to better performance in terms of insulation, loft, and longevity of the down products.