March 29, 2011
US to have animal feed regulatory programme standards
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has declared that it will work with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to develop voluntary regulatory programme standards for federal and state agencies.
The state agencies involved would be those in charge of facilities that manufacture, package, distribute, or stock animal feed, including pet food.
The Animal Feed Regulatory Programme Standards (AFRPS) will be modelled after the Manufactured Food Regulatory Programme Standards that was effectively launched in 2007 and will also signify a great step in promoting uniformity, equality and constant improvement among feed regulatory agencies. These factors are vital in a successful national integrated food safety system.
Joseph Reardon, Director of FDA''s Division of Federal State Relations (FDA/DFSR) made the declaration earlier this year at the 2011 AAFCO Midyear Meeting. Chad Linton, AAFCO president said, "AAFCO and FDA understand the importance of promoting uniformity across the agencies and will work efficiently and diligently to produce a positive and valuable Animal Feed Regulatory Programme Standard that can be used by the states and FDA. We thank the committee members for their dedication and commitment in creating universal standards that will play a critical role in ensuring the safety of our nation''s food supply."
While regulatory priorities, capabilities, capacities, authorities and activities may differ from state to state and district to district, the new AFRPS will provide the standard for measuring and improving performance in lowering food and feed carried risks to human and animal health. The regulations will be the best practices appropriate for all animal feed and pet food regulatory programmes and could include the performance measures such as a programme''s regulatory foundation, training, inspection practices and procedures and quality assurance.
The committee that is responsible for developing the regulatory programme standards will be headed by cochairs AAFCO representative, Ali Kashani, of the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Jeanette Murphy of the FDA/Center for Veterinary Medicine and project manager, Beverly Kent, FDA/DFSR. The committee has already held two conference calls and a week-long face-to-face meeting. The committee''s goal is to have the regulations available for states to voluntarily implement sometime in 2012.