AFIA Reaches Historic Agreement with Other Feed Industry Associations on FDA Guidance for Ingredient Supplier Selection

Richard Sellers

In March, the AFIA Executive Committee approved a draft Guidance for Industry to present to FDA regarding how the feed industry should select ingredient suppliers. The basis for the draft guidance is the supplier selection program in AFIA’s hallmark Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program.

AFIA asked four other industry trade groups to consider supporting the draft document and to offer it to FDA collectively. After some discussion on the draft, an agreement has been reached to offer the document collectively. The draft will be presented at a meeting later this month to FDA/CVM Director Dr. Bernadette Dunham. The supporting organizations are the National Grain and Feed Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, National Renderers Association and the Pet Food Institute.

AFIA believes the joint industry presentation will provide FDA the support it needs to issue such guidance, which is now entitled, “Guidance for Industry: Recommendations for Selecting Suppliers of Safe Ingredients for Animal Food.” A copy will be on the AFIA website after the presentation to FDA.

The draft was developed last fall and an industry meeting was held in November 2007 to solicit comments. The final draft was presented to the AFIA Executive Committee in March and received concurrence on presenting it to FDA. Shortly thereafter, a meeting was scheduled with other industry groups to gain their concurrence, which was received this week.