The Next AAFCO Meeting is Virtual

Pet owners can listen to the meeting for no charge or for a fee you can ask a question.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a private organization that writes pet food laws. Each year the organization hosts two meetings (one in January, one in August) to discuss and vote on new regulations and definitions for pet food/animal feed. AAFCO members – which consists of state and federal government employees – are the only individuals allowed to vote on any new rule or definition. During the meetings, attendees are allowed to ask questions regarding the discussion topics.

This year, because of COVID-19, AAFCO is hosting a virtual meeting – Wednesday August 5, 2020 through Friday August 7, 2020. Pet owners can listen to the meeting for free, or if you wish to be a little more involved in the meeting – pet owners can pay the $350.00 fee to attend virtually. Paid virtual attendance allows pet owners the ability to ask questions and give opinions (only regarding the discussion topics). Paid virtual attendance also allows pet owners the ability to watch a webinar of the meeting versus only listening in.

Topics of discussion of concern to pet owners include an update on Human Grade pet foods during the Pet Food Committee session. There has been discussion for several years at AAFCO about lessening the standards for a human grade pet food. As well, AAFCO has been developing a verification system for the ‘Human Grade’ claim on pet food labels. FDA originally verified the claim, but several years ago FDA handed that responsibility over to state feed officials (state Department of Agriculture representatives). State feed officials were not pleased at the human grade verification duties, and in turn asked AAFCO to develop a system where verification of human grade pet food would be performed by the USDA Agriculture Marketing Services. AAFCO will write the ‘standard’ (or requirements) for human grade pet food and USDA AMS will be responsible for verifying all requirements are met.

Our concern – because AAFCO will be responsible for the standard or requirements of a human grade claim on pet food labels – is the standard itself will be watered down to an extent the claim has little meaning. We will be listening closely to this discussion.

Also during the AAFCO Pet Food Committee meeting will be discussion of “Therapeutic Claims” of pet foods, an update on AAFCO’s Pet Food Label Modernization efforts, and a discussion of “Fatty Acids and Arachidonic acid (ARA) – Are they essential or not essential per AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles?“

The Pet Food Committee Meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 5th-2:15 PM (EDT) – 3:00 PM (EDT).

The Ingredient Definitions Committee will take place in two sessions on two different days. Day 2 is of more interest to pet owners. It appears that AAFCO will be discussing animal protein pet food ingredients (meat and meat meal ingredients). We have not been provided to more specifics of what the discussion will be, but we intend to be listening closely. Our consumer association – Association for Truth in Pet Food – submitted to AAFCO improved animal protein pet food ingredient definitions 1 1/2 years ago. We have not been notified our proposed ingredient definitions will be discussed, but we are hopeful.

The Ingredient Definitions Committee Meeting will take place on Thursday, August 6 – 1:15PM (EDT) – 3:00 PM (EDT) and Friday, August 7 -1:15 PM (EDT) – 3:00 PM (EDT).

Another session of interest will be AAFCO’s presentation from former FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine director Bernadette Dunham. Dr. Dunham is scheduled to discuss “One Health” – an effort to encourage physicians and veterinarians to work together, “advocates a comprehensive approach to health and environmental problems.” As Dr. Dunham herself allowed pet food/animal feed to contain diseased animals and animals that have died other than by slaughter during her time at FDA – it will be interesting to hear her spin on the One Health initiative.

AAFCO has not posted call-in information yet (for pet owners to listen). For those with interest, you can visit this page on the AAFCO website: https://www.aafco.org/Meetings/Annual/2020 – and watch for a category of ‘Committee Final Agenda’ to be posted. When the Final Agenda of each meeting is posted, it will include the phone number for pet owners to call in to listen (for free) to each session.

We will be participating the the paid webinar (and asking questions) and will provide pet owners a full update after the meeting.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food

Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.

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