NGFA launches regional FSMA seminars

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2016 – The NGFA is scheduling several regional seminars to educate industry members on the far-reaching new feed safety rules being promulgated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

The seminars, which build upon NGFA’s ongoing training and education programs for FSMA, are being conducted in cooperation with state feed regulatory agencies and state and regional associations affiliate d with NGFA that will help industry members understand the changes, requirements and appropriate exemptions included in the FSMA rules.

“Providing accurate and fact-based information to the animal feed, feed ingredient and pet food industry on how to comply in the most effective and cost-efficient way possible with the requirements of FDA’s final regulations implementing FSMA is one of NGFA’s top priorities as an organization during the next several years,” said NGFA Senior Vice President of Feed Services David Fairfield, who serves as chair of the Animal Food Subcommittee of the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance that consists of subject matter experts from FDA, state feed regulatory agencies, industry and academia who are developing an extensive set of education and training materials on the rules.

Fairfield will lead the seminars with Ralco Animal Nutrition Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Matt Frederking, Marshall, Minn., who serves as chair of NGFA’s Feed Manufacturing and Technology Committee.

Each session will cover FSMA major rules and implementation, and the new requirements for current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs) and preventive controls for animal food. The seminars will focus on the animal food rule and corresponding affected facilities.

“We appreciate the great relationship we have with state feed regulatory agencies and our state and regional affiliated associations,” Fairfield added. “Their involvement, collaboration and cooperation in co-hosting these seminars will be instrumental in extending the outreach for this important information to as wide a universe of the affected industry companies as possible.”

While more events and dates throughout the country will be announced soon, the following locations are confirmed:

• Modesto, Calif., on March 10: “The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act Informational Seminar” (In cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Grain and Feed Association)Seminar topics include an overview of FSMA and specific aspects of FDA’s  final rule for CMPGs and preventive controls for animal food, as well as an overview of supply chain program requirements. The seminar will conclude with a presentation on the perspective of the California feed industry and a panel discussion.

Seminar agenda topics include an overview of FSMA and specific aspects of FDA’s final rule for CMPGs and preventive controls for animal food, as well as an overview of supply chain program requirements. The seminar will conclude with a presentation on the perspective of the California feed industry and a panel discussion.

Register for this seminar here.

• New Ulm, St. Cloud, and Rochester, , on March 29-31: “The FDA’s New Animal Food Rule – How it Impacts You” (In cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Minnesota Grain and Feed Association)

To register, contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Commercial Feed Program at (651) 201-6027.

• Spokane, Wash., on April 22 (In cooperation with the Pacific Northwest Grain and Feed Association)

• Wisconsin Dells, Wis., on May 11 (In cooperation with the Wisconsin Agri-Business Association and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture)

FDA on Sept. 17 published its final regulations mandated by FSMA to establish requirements for CGMPs, hazard analysis and risk-based preventive controls, as well as supply-chain programs that apply to human food, animal feed and pet food.

FDA’s final regulations apply to domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold (store) animal feed and/or pet food, and ingredients used in such products. Generally, with some exceptions, that means the new requirements apply to facilities that are required to register with FDA under the agency’s existing facility registration regulations implemented as part of the Bioterrorism Act.

In November, FDA released the agency’s final rules mandated by FSMA for produce safety, foreign supplier verification programs (FSVP), and accreditation of third-party certification bodies/auditors. FDA’s final rules for FSVP and accreditation of third-party certification cover a wide variety of entities involved with importing food, including importers of raw agricultural commodities (e.g., grain and oilseeds), animal feed and feed ingredients, and human food and food ingredients.

The NGFA has in-depth analyses of FDA’s FSMA rules, as well as recorded webinars on the topic and ongoing education efforts. The 2015 Joint Feed/Pet Food Conference focused primarily on FSMA and FDA’s implementation of the law. For more information about NGFA’s educational resources on FSMA, click here.

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