Feed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service announced in the Federal Register today that it intends to approve a license for Zoetis, Inc., to market its vaccine for the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus, a product produced with gene editing. Comments must be received by Nov. 14, 2018. The ASF virus is deadly for pigs but not dangerous to humans. The virus, once confined to Africa, has spread through Russia and Eastern Europe and is now killing swine in China, the world’s largest pork-producing country. While the science on the viral transmission of ASF through feed ... Read More

By Dave Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services A National Pork Board (NPB)-issued joint paper, authored by its Swine Health Information Center, as well as the National Pork Producers Council, and American Association of Swine Veterinarians, indicates that observing a holding time period for feed ingredients may reduce the potential transmission of African Swine Fever (ASF) and other pathogenic diseases by feed. The “holding paper” states that the information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not to be construed as recommending or ... Read More

By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Oct. 1 released the results of its FY 2016 Pesticide Residue Monitoring Program that indicate whether the levels of pesticide chemical residues measured by agency in the U.S. food supply are generally in compliance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pesticide tolerances. For human food, the latest report indicates that for the pesticides tested in fiscal year (FY) 2016 (Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016) more than 99 percent of the 2,670 domestic and 90 percent of the ... Read More

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) this week released its Model Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Animal Food (PCAF) Implementation Framework that details components necessary for state animal food safety programs to fully implement the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) rule for Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals. The goal of the PCAF Framework is to provide the foundational knowledge and support to state feed regulatory agencies that are ... Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued on Sept. 13 a Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Update to remind those that may be affected by Hurricane Florence about resources available for animal food producers who may be harvesting, mixing, storing or distributing grains and other foods for animals. Key points from the CVM Update include: Crops harvested from flooded fields are often unacceptable because such waters may contain sewage, pathogenic organisms, pesticides, chemical wastes, or other toxic substances. In addition, mold growth may be of concern for flood-impacted ... Read More

By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services The next compliance date for the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)-related animal food rule is Monday, Sept. 17 – the date when both small and very small businesses involved with manufacturing, packing or holding (storing) animal feed and pet food are to be compliant with the new requirements. Specifically, on Sept, 17, very small businesses (those with less than $2.5 million in animal food sales plus the market value of animal food not sold) are to be in compliance with the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) ... Read More

By David Fairfield, Senior Vice President of Feed Services A fifth case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China was reported on Aug. 30, with other recent outbreaks also reported in Romania and Ukraine. Although these incidents do not represent the first time African swine fever has been detected outside of Africa – outbreaks in Europe and the Americas date back to the 1960s – its recent detection and diverse geographical spread of the outbreaks have raised concerns that the disease may move across borders and potentially affect other countries, including the United States. Published ... Read More

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Aug. 17 issued two guidance documents to help human and animal food facilities meet their registration requirements established under the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, and as amended by the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011. Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding Food Facility Registration (Seventh Edition): This guidance provides information to help owners and operators of facilities that manufacture/process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States understand the registration requirements. The ... Read More

Contamination levels of all main mycotoxins increased in the second quarter of 2018 in Europe and North America, according to the latest data from Biomin. The research company said higher atmospheric temperatures, elevated carbon dioxide levels and water stress associated with climate change all may contribute to higher mycotoxin contamination of crops. “Mycotoxins that contaminate crops and animal feed have been recognized as a risk to farm animals, and account for considerable economic costs to the feed and food industries,” noted All About Feed in an Aug. 13 report. The NGFA provides ... Read More