AFIA Voices Concern About AAFCO "Standard"
AAFCO has authorized a HACCP Task Force to create a National Feed HACCP “Standard”. AFIA has requested time to meet with AAFCO and discuss its concerns about the speed of the program development, the use of the term “standard” rather than “guidelines”, and AAFCO doing the training and voluntary inspections as proposed. Posted 12/21/07 

Study Determines Ethanol Not Cause of High Food Prices
A recent study has found that corn demand for ethanol production is not the cause of higher food prices. Instead, the report maintains the upward swing in livestock prices began in the late 1990s before the ethanol demand and prices are influenced by energy prices, labor costs and global demand. Posted 12/21/07

Speakers Lined Up for PISC
The Purchasing & Ingredient Suppliers Conference roster of speakers represent the most knowledgable and respected leaders in the industry. A wide range of topics will be covered to give you insight into the direction of the feed industry. Posted 12/21/07

AFIA Advances Leadership Role on Food Safety with Ingredient Import Workshop
AFIA continued its prominent leadership position on ingredient import safety during a “National Dialog” workshop in Chicago, Ill., Nov. 28-29, 2007. Open to all companies in the feed and pet food industries, the event was held in response to increasing concerns over international imports. Primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss an AFIA-prepared draft Guidance for the Industry that will be presented to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Posted 12/7/07
 
OMB Reviewing Final BSE Feed Rule  
FDA has submitted its final BSE feed rule to the Office of Management and Budget for regulatory review. Those familiar with the rule say it is very similar to the proposed rule which places further restrictions on certain specified risk materials, mainly brain and spinal cords, in cattle of a certain age. OMB has 90 days for review of the rule. Posted 12/1/07

AFIA & HHS Discuss Chines Imports  
Chinese feed ingredient imports have been the topic of meetings in the last few months between AFIA and the Dept. of Health & Human Services (HHS). AFIA has urged HHS to keep feed safety prominent in their efforts to reach an agreement with China on exports of food, feed, medical devices and drugs. It is expected any agreement would require China to monitor and/or certify the safety of exports to the U.S. feed and other FDA-regulated products. Posted 12/1/07

Food Safety Initiatives
Although it had been hoped the “fast-track” comprehensive food safety bill would be ready for floor action in December, it is now clear it will not be ready until early 2008 due to industry resistance and a new White House food safety strategy. The Administration’s food safety plan is short on details at this point. Although it is willing to include third party accreditations on inspections, no accreditation process has been created yet, and issues of objectivity of inspections and undue influence are still being discussed. Posted 12/1/07

AFIA's Executive Leadership Summit
The first Executive Leadership Summit, held last week in California, attracted an enthusiastic audience of industry and government leaders. Among the topics presented and discussed by panels of experts were food safety and production, biofuels, imports, workforce trends, and bioterrorism and trends driving the food business. Posted 11/1/07

China 's U.S. Agreement Moving Forward
The U.S. team negotiating with the Chinese government over ingredient and food safety standards for exports say they are confident that the agreement will be finalized when the Chinese delegation comes to D.C. next month for more talks. Posted 11/1/07

AAFCO Rejects Language to Strengthen Confidentiality
Although AAFCO considered language endorsed by AFIA to strengthen the confidentiality of tonnage and fees paid by firms to each state, the language was voted down. The request was designed in response to activist groups requesting information and improper placements in some laws. Posted 11/1/07

Ethanol and High Food Prices
Federal supports for ethanol production are waning as prices for livestock, poultry and meat prices jump and company profits drop. In addition, the National Academy of Sciences reports that production of biofuels threatens U.S. water resources. Posted 11/1/07  

AFIA to Host National Dialog on Import Ingredient Safety
Hosted by AFIA November 28-29 AFIA’s draft “Guidance for Industry” will be examined at the National Dialogue on Import Ingredient Safety on November 28-29 in Chicago. FDA’s perspective on melamine imports and a panel of importers discussing their procedures to insure safe imports will be included in this essential feed industry meeting. Recommendations will then be presented, discussed and incorporated into the draft document. Posted 9/27/07 

Newman and Sellers Meet with CVM Management to Talk Ingredient Safety
FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine representatives met with AFIA’s president Newman and VP Sellers who briefed the agency on AFIA’s information technology plan to share business information and to discuss the “Guidance for Industry” draft for suppliers and ingredient selection for feed. Posted 9/27/07

Regional Conflicts over Farm Bill 'Reform' Emerging on Senate Ag Committee
The saga of the farm bill continues in the Senate. The latest developments include regional conflicts over Farm Bill “reform” emerging on the Senate Ag Committee; Senators are at odds on spending for new programs; the Senate may try to add AgJobs Bill to the Farm Bill; and a farm program extension may be needed if there is no Farm Bill by the end of September. Posted 9/27/07

Pet Food Ingredient Conference to Feature Top Experts
Pet food safety is an important issue to both manufacturers and consumers. Now, AFIA and Poultry Protein & Fat Council have announced the first Pet Food Ingredient Conference, January 22, 2008 in Atlanta, GA. Meet the experts who will be speaking and the important topics to be covered. Posted 9/27/07
 
AFIA Provides Key Input to HHS on China Trade
AFIA met with Health and Human Services officials last week about imports from China. The agency is seeking input from key industry organizations and firms about formulation of an upcoming agreement between the U.S. and its trading partner, particularly addressing safety issues. Posted 8/31/07
 
Association Chair Jim Sullivan Meets with Chinese Feed Leaders
AFIA Chairman Jim Sullivan met with his industry counterpart, Bai Meiqing, who leads the China Feed Industry Association (CFIA) last week in Beijing. The two discussed a variety of international topics including the extension of a current cooperative agreement between the world’s leading two feed associations. Posted 8/31/07

AAFCO Completes Draft of Model GMP Regs for Feed Ingredients
Feed control officials have completed their eight-year initiative on Good Manufacturing Regs and will send the draft to the AAFCO board of directors. AFIA is concerned over effective and uniform enforcement of the regs on a state by state basis. Posted 8/31/07

FDA Allows Use of Electronic VFDs With Restrictions
CVM has issued a clarification on electronic veterinary feed directives (VFD). There are two VFD drugs approved for use in the U.S., one for swine and one for use in aquaculture. Posted 7/20/07

USDA Releases DDGS And Related Co-Products Use In Feed Study
The National Agricultural Statistics Service has released a report on distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and co-products, including corn gluten meal/feed for use in livestock feed in 9,400 operations. Posted 7/20/07 

FDA Allows USe of Election VFDs With Restrictions
CVM has issued a clarification on electronic veterinary feed directives (VFD). There are two VFD drugs approved for use in the U.S., one for swine and one for use in aquaculture. Posted 7/20/07

USDA Releases DDGS And Related Co- Products Use in Feed Study
The National Agricultural Statistics Service has released a report on distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) and co-products, including corn gluten meal/feed for use in livestock feed in 9,400 operations. Posted 7/20/07

AFIA Responds Quickly to Latest Melamine Threat
AFIA quickly responded to the Food and Drug Administration’s notice on May 29 about a voluntary recall of certain products used in feed production that were found to contain melamine and related compounds. AFIA has alerted member companies about the action and distributed guidelines to assist industry members in keeping the situation under control. Posted 6/1/07