FDA Publishes Rule on Animal Feed Reg Changes

April 25, 2008 -- A final regulation barring certain cattle materials from all animal feed, including pet food, has been issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The final rule was published in the April 25 Federal Register and can be accessed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/08-1180.htm.

According to the FDA, the final rule further protects animals and consumers against bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

The materials that can no longer be used in animal feed are the tissues that have the highest risk for carrying the agent thought to cause BSE, FDA said. These high-risk cattle materials are the brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older. The entire carcass of cattle not inspected and passed for human consumption is also prohibited, unless the cattle are less than 30 months of age or the brains and spinal cords have been removed. The risk of BSE in cattle less than 30 months of age is considered to be exceedingly low.

The removal of high-risk materials from all animal feed will further protect against inadvertent transmission of the agent thought to cause BSE, which could occur through cross-contamination of ruminant feed with non-ruminant feed, through feed ingredients during manufacture and transport or through misfeeding of non-ruminant feed to ruminants on the farm. The added measure of excluding high-risk materials from all animal feeds prevents any accidental feeding of such ingredients to cattle.

The regulation announced today finalizes a proposed rule that the FDA issued for public comment in October 2005. The final rule will be effective April 27, 2009, to allow the livestock, meat, rendering and feed industries time to adapt their practices to comply with the new regulation.

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