AFIA Congratulates FDA Commissioner Nomination

November 12, 2021

Contact Victoria Broehm, Director of Communications

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) congratulates Dr. Robert Califf for his nomination to serve a second time as the Food and Drug Administration’s commissioner. AFIA’s President and CEO Constance Cullman issued the following statement today upon hearing of President Joe Biden’s official nomination. 

“On behalf of the U.S. animal food industry, we congratulate Dr. Robert Califf for his nomination to serve as head of the Biden administration’s Food and Drug Administration and look forward to working with him on animal food industry priorities. Of great importance is approving innovative feed ingredients that allow our industry to deliver quality nutrition to domestic livestock and pets and reduce our environmental impact.

“Currently, it takes an averages three-to-five years for ingredients to be approved through the FDA’s rigorous review process. For each year of delay, it costs companies $1.75 million annually in revenue. As a medical doctor, Dr. Califf can appreciate that the science in animal nutrition is progressing just as quickly as the science in modern medicine, and producers need these ingredients to help their domestic livestock reach their full potential. The FDA also continues to stand behind an outdated policy that regulates some ingredients as ‘drugs,’ versus ‘feed,’ which has left the United States uncompetitive in the global landscape, as other countries are moving forward in record time with technologies that will enable them to achieve their climate goals.

“Dr. Califf will be instrumental in writing the next chapter in U.S. history by helping us not only to end this pandemic, but to provide the kind of thought leadership we need to play the long-game in many areas touched by food and agriculture. We urge the Senate to act quickly on his nomination.”