August 2019 AAFCO Meeting: Other Regulatory Issues

This is supplementary information to the Aug. 9, 2019, NGFA Newsletter article “AAFCO workshop addresses FSMA implementation.”

Additional issues addressed during the AAFCO meeting included:

• Feed Ingredients: The AAFCO membership voted to approve establishing in the AAFCO Official Publication a new tentative definition(s) for T3.1 Suncured Alfalfa Meal, or Pellets, or Ground Alfalfa Hay: T3.1 Suncured Alfalfa Meal, or Pellets, or Ground Alfalfa Hay is the aerial portion of the alfalfa plant, reasonably free of other crop plants, weeds, and mold, which has been dried by solar means, stored as bales or stacks, and finely or coarsely ground. If it is chopped instead of ground, it must be designated as “Suncured Chopped Alfalfa” or “Chopped Alfalfa Hay.” If the ingredient is further dehydrated by thermal means after being ground, it must be designated as “Dehydrated Suncured Alfalfa Meal or Pellets.”  [New language added to existing definition boldfaced and underscored.]

The AAFCO Ingredient Definition Committee:

• Voted to approve moving the following tentative definitions to official status: 1) 69.8 Oat Fiber; 2) 33.25 Stearic acid; 3) 33.26 Palmitic Acid; 4) 57.167 Manganese Hydroxychloride; 5) 73.311(A) Hydrogenated Glycerides; 6) 73.401 Colored Graphite Tracer; 7) 73.450 Cashew Nut Shell Liquid; 8) 87.50 Cashew Nut Shell Extract.

• Has established a workgroup to formalize a list of ingredients identified in distribution but that are not included within the AAFCO Official Publication and recommend how such a list would be disseminated and used.
• Feed Contaminant Levels: A workgroupestablished by the AAFCO Feed and Feed Ingredient Manufacturing Committee continues to evaluate the AAFCO guidelines for contaminant levels permitted in mineral feed ingredients. It is anticipated that the workgroup will present recommended guidelines during the mid-year AAFCO meeting scheduled for January 21-23, 2020 in Albuquerque, N.M.

• Labeling Requirements for Potentially Toxic Nutrients: The AAFCO Feed Labeling Committee continued discussions about whether to establish maximum label guarantee requirements for nutrients that may cause toxicity when present in animal feed and pet food at high concentrations. A previously established workgroup will continue to  evaluate the issue.

• Pet Food: The AAFCO Pet Food Committee had significant discussions related to efforts to modernize pet food labels, as well as means to verify human grade claims made for pet food products. Committee workgroups will continue to address these issues and bring final recommendations to the committee in the future.