Recently at FDA headquarters in Washington, DC, the agency held a public meeting on the proposed regulations in pet food. I watched the meeting online – here are some highlights of that meeting.
The bulk of this meeting was FDA explaining the proposed regulations that are currently open for comment. There will be two more meetings – one of which Mollie Morrissette will be attending in her home state of California – this will be next week (yea Mollie!). To read about the proposed regulations, Click Here. After the FDA portion of the meeting, the agency allowed those in attendance to pose questions. Here are some of the comments I noted…
The AFIA (American Feed Industry Association) commented they brought “90 people with them” to this meeting. AFIA complained that the time frame to comment (120 days) was “unrealistic” and the lobby group for animal feed manufacturers and ingredient suppliers opposed the FDA linking animal food regulations to human food regulations. AFIA stated they believed “Congressional intent was to separate animal food and human food”. And they shared they have begun discussions with their attorneys to separate human food and animal food within the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act laws.
The Humane Society of the United States supported the FDA proposed regulations. The HSUS also stated they felt equal standards should be required of all foreign suppliers.
Some of the complaints were related to the bulk handling and transportation of animal feed. As example, in most human food facilities the equipment is stainless steel for easy clean up (contamination prevention) and the transportation of human food must meet specific requirements (to prevent contamination). Often animal food manufacturing equipment or bulk handling equipment is not stainless steel (not allowing for easy clean up) and transportation of animal feed does not have to meet particular safety standards. An FDA spokesperson – in response to the complaint what the proposed safe handling requirements will be – stated that animal feed manufacturers will not have to change their equipment to (as example) stainless steel – but they will be required to keep equipment clean.
There was a comment relating to trade and these proposed regulations in other countries that export goods (animal feed and ingredients) to the U.S. It was mentioned that New Zealand is already approved (having similar Good Manufacturing Practices as these proposed FDA regulations), and it was stated that EU countries are close to being approved. And then China was mentioned. Dr. Tollefson (FDA) stated (regarding China’s approval) “It’s tied up with the trade negotiations going on with the Asian countries.” This statement left me a little concerned…why would/how could ‘trade negotiations’ have anything to do with required Good Manufacturing Practices?
Other organizations in attendance were American Veterinary Medical Association, National Chicken Council, Purdue Foods, National Renderers Association.
The overall feeling I got from the comments at this meeting was industry is a bit concerned – not at all happy with the proposed regulations.
Again, fellow pet food safety advocate Mollie Morrissette will be attending – and speaking – at the California FDA meeting. I’m confident she will tell us every detail of her experience.
I will have more details on the proposed FDA animal food/pet food regulations soon – and an easier way for everyone to comment. Coming soon.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
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Mollie Morrissette
December 1, 2013 at 5:47 pm
I can’t wait. I finally will have an audience with the FDA. And I’m getting some one on one time with Dr. Dan McChesney.
I asked three questions at the first meeting online that were not posed to the panel live — instead they were referred to Dan privately. I got a nice letter from him with a confusing explanation, and he suggested we discuss the issues in person at the meeting in Sacramento.
I’m still slaving away over my comment on the proposed animal food rule – it’s turning into an epic piece of work. I will condense my comment into a short speech for the meeting, and then I will have the opportunity of asking the panel any question I want. It should be priceless.
I will be joined by a long time reader of TAPF who also lives in Northern California. It should be lots of fun. I’m really looking forward to it.
If anyone else wants to come, I would love to meet you. I also feel it is important to have pet parents there letting the FDA have a glimpse into our world and how we have been personally affected by a contaminated pet food or treat.
To find out more about the meeting: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm371844.htm
Laurie Matson
December 1, 2013 at 8:27 pm
Good going Mollie!! I can’t wait to hear about all this!! So very much appreciate what you and Susan do for all of us!! Would love to be there but $$$ are an issue!!! Good Luck!!!
molly
December 30, 2013 at 11:40 pm
You are a true blessing for leading the charge! I’d love to go to a meeting with such “important” Government officials. Although, I would have been thrown out for trying to strangle them. I have no tolerance for their complete disregard for life (human and animal) over the almighty dollar.
Mollie Morrissette
December 1, 2013 at 5:56 pm
Oops! Almost forgot — the meeting in Sacramento (that yours truly will be at) will be broadcast live over the interwebs via Adobe webcast and those wishing to attend virtually simply sign up ahead of time. For registration and webcast information, go here: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm371844.htm, where you may register online by completing the electronic registration form. The meeting will be available for public viewing via Adobe Connect at https://collaboration.fda.gov/dec_6_fda_fsma_public_meeting/ at the time of the meeting. Pretty cool!
Gindy51
December 3, 2013 at 6:39 am
If the pet food industry is unhappy, there must be something good in the regulations. We all know they’d love nothing more than to slop any old crap into pet foods in order to further their bottom line. It is ALL about the profit for these industries and their lobbyists.