In a major step forward for improving the ingredient review process at the Food and Drug Administration, the American Feed Industry Association submitted comments to the agency this week on its draft guidance for industry on ingredient submissions. The draft guidance is a helpful tool for the industry in understanding how to use the pre-submission consultation process and prepare ingredient submissions or food use authorizations for the most efficient review.
The American Feed Industry Association is aware of recent actions in the state of Maryland related to products containing Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (MSBC) as a source of vitamin K. The State Chemist Section is currently not allowing the registration of new products or putting "stop sale" orders for products in the market that contain MSBC in animal feed (other than poultry) and pet foods.
This week, the American Feed Industry Association held a webcast member update with the legislative and regulatory (L&R) team. It covered a number of topics, including African swine fever preparedness and response, a recap of state legislative activities, funding for new ingredients and the latest discussions on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb provided testimony to the House Appropriations Committee, Agriculture Subcommittee on the FDA's fiscal 2020 budget request this week in support of additional funding to improve ingredient reviews.
The American Feed Industry Association is making an appropriations request of Congress to improve the animal food ingredient review and approval process at the Food and Drug Administration. AFIA is asking Congress to appropriate an additional $8 million to hire new staff to help speed up animal food ingredient reviews at FDA.
This week, the American Feed Industry Association's Board of Directors met in Washington, D.C., to discuss association business and advance a few of the animal food industry's policy priorities. The directors took to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where they impressed upon Congress the need for the Food and Drug Administration to have the resources it needs to complete timely animal food ingredient reviews, pushed for the ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and urged a resolution to the trade war with China.
Over 340 people filled the room to discuss feed ingredient definitions at the Association of American Feed Control Officials' (AAFCO) mid-year meeting this week in Savannah, Ga.
The International Cooperation for Convergence of Technical Requirements for the Assessment of Feed Ingredients (ICCF) last month launched its first two draft guidance documents for public consultation covering "Stability Testing of Feed Ingredients" and "Sub-chronic Oral Toxicity Testing in Laboratory Animals." Interested stakeholders are invited to comment on these two documents by Feb. 1.