ARLINGTON, Va. — Pet food and animal nutrition industry associations applauded a decision by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) that prohibits an old regulatory policy regarding the approval of new feed ingredients.
According to the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the current policy — dating back to 1998 — has hindered the assimilation of new and innovative feed ingredients and additives into the marketplace in both time and money. Stricter scrutiny of certain nutritive and non-nutritive ingredients, such as those supporting food safety, sustainability, and animal health and welfare, as pharmaceuticals have hindered ingredient change in the fast-growing pet food industry animals and livestock in the US. These include ingredients that promote digestive health and the gut microbiome – a rising trend in pet nutrition.
“AFIA welcomes CVM’s intention to withdraw its nearly 30-year-old regulatory policy, which demonstrates its commitment to partnering with animal feed innovators,” said Constance Cullman, AFIA president and chief executive officer. “This action indicates progress toward fixing a broken process and will allow our industry to begin providing innovations for animal production, but the need does not end here.”
According to David Fairfield, senior vice president of feed at the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), the current regulatory approval process for novel feed ingredients can take more than three years.
“The decision announced by the FDA today will promote the introduction of innovative animal feed products with production benefits that will help keep American agriculture competitive,” Fairfield said. “Notably, our global competitors in Europe, Asia and South America have updated their policies to allow feed products on the market that demonstrate higher efficiency in meat production, as well as byproduct and waste reduction.”
Both Cullman and Fairfield urged Congress to pass the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (Innovative FEED) Act. The Innovative FEED Act aims to alleviate current logjams in the regulatory process for new feed ingredients and builds on the recent CVM decision.
With the enactment of the FEED Act, novel ingredients will be evaluated for safety and efficacy in the framework of food additives, rather than drugs, which will speed up their approval. It was first presented to congress in December 2023 and is still awaiting a vote.
“Congress, now is your chance to act quickly by passing the bipartisan Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (Innovative FEED) Act (HR6687 and S. 1842), which gives the FDA the tools it needs to codify a regulatory pathway and support American animal feed manufacturers,” said Cullman.
Fairfield added that the legislation’s passage “will establish legislative language for a new category of animal feed additives that can improve animal production and well-being, reduce pre-harvest food safety concerns, and boost the sustainability opportunities.”
Learn more about the Innovative FEED Act.
For more regulatory news affecting the pet food marketvisit our Regulatory page.
