Posted October 29, 2013
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently
released a proposed rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) dealing
with safety for animal feed and pet food, according to an Agri-Pulse article available
here. The proposed rule is available here.
The rule would establish new Current Good Manufacturing
Practices (CGMP) guidelines for animal feed and pet food producers, and hazard
analysis and preventative control requirements similar to the Hazard Analysis
and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system for the juice and seafood
industries.
The rule will also include requirements for paperwork,
contingency plans in the event of a recall, cross-contamination and other
foreseeable emergencies.
Some on-farm operations would be exempt from the
proposed guidelines. After a draft risk
assessment in February, available here,
FDA determined that some on-farm operations present little threat to animal or
human health.
FDA estimates that compliance will cost the industry
$128 million per year.
Randy Gordon, President of the National Grain and Feed
Association, said he is “eager to work with FDA.”
For more information on food safety, please visit the
National Agricultural Law Center’s website here.
