The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in November announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Association of American Feed Control Officials Inc. allowing the FDA to formally recognize AAFCO’s list of feed ingredients. The memorandum also defines the role the FDA can play in determining the suitability of feed ingredients offered for addition to the list.

“This is a significant step forward in FDA’s efforts to enhance the safety of feed. And it allows FDA to formally recognize the valuable contribution AAFCO makes in determining suitability of feed ingredients,” said Dr. Dan McChesney, director of CVM’s Office of Surveillance and Compliance.

AAFCO, a voluntary organization comprised largely of regulatory officials responsible for enforcing state laws and regulations concerning the safety of animal feeds, publishes an annual list of all ingredients it has reviewed and found suitable for use in animal feeds—as well as a list of ingredient definitions and common or usual ingredient names. However, these lists do not have the force of law.

Under the memorandum, the Center for Veterinary Medicine will assign scientists to work with AAFCO in reviewing petitions for new feed ingredients or for modifications to existing ingredient definitions. In addition, before it adopts a new feed ingredient definition or amends an existing one, AAFCO will ask CVM for advice and a letter of concurrence.

The memorandum also requires AAFCO to remove a definition from its official publication if FDA provides convincing scientific evidence that the ingredient is no longer suitable for its intended purpose.

The memorandum remains in effect until Sept. 1, 2012. [February 2008 PET AGE]