The Pet Food Institute (PFI) has provided comments to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) in response to its request for feedback on considering a proposal from Kansas State University Olathe to establish a new regulatory pathway for animal food ingredients. Although PFI is not in direct opposition to the creation of a new pathway, pet food makers have concerns, including:
- Pet food makers strongly desire an ingredient approval framework that does not place over-reliance on regulatory discretion.
- Use of a public entity like an academic university for a safety review may introduce consumer doubt.
- The burden of proof for a safety review may differ between regulatory agencies (FDA review) and an academic institution.
While we can appreciate the desire by AAFCO to create a replacement pathway for ingredient approvals, PFI recommends that AAFCO wait until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has finalized its current work to improve ingredient approvals before embarking on a new process.
For interviews, contact:
Kelly Kanaras, Director of Communications and Membership
(202) 868-5376
kelly@petfoodinstitute.org