On October 30, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a hearing in Kansas City, MO, to solicit information and views on its present animal feeding regulation, “Animal Proteins Prohibited in Ruminant Feed.”
FDA stated in its news release that it recognized new information had emerged on bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeld-Jacob Disease since the rule went into effect in 1997. Therefore, FDA felt it necessary to request information and views from individuals and organizations on the present rule and whether changes in the rule or other additional measures are needed. The agency had 17 specific questions it wanted answered.
The rendering industry was well represented at the hearing. Of the 20 witnesses who testified, there were nine from the rendering industry – the National Renderers Association (NRA), Fats and Protein Research Foundation, Animal Protein Producers Industry (APPI), and six individual companies. In addition, there were several additional renderers present in the audience.
The message from all renderers was the same: the regulation was not in need of change.
Testifying on behalf of the NRA, Mike Langenhorst, Anamax Corporation, stated, “The NRA believes that the current rule provides adequate protection of public health and has accomplished its intended goals as laid out in 1997. We realize that there has been concerns expressed with certain aspects of the rule, but feel that these concerns can be addressed by providing proper resources for inspections and data management.”
Langenhorst also submitted a recent study by the Sparks Companies commissioned by the North American Renderers Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Coalition outlining different scenarios if various animal proteins were restricted in feed for farm animals (see Industry Faces Catastrophe If Additional Feed Regu-lations are Implemented on page 10).
Representatives from the American Meat Institute, the American Feed Industry Association, the National Grain and Feed Association, the Pet Food Institute, and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation reinforced the renderers’ views. Only two organizations called for a major overall of the feed ban – the Consumers Union and the Farm Animal Concerns Trust.
What does this hearing mean for the rendering industry? It means we were well represented with a consistent message for this phase of the FDA review of the current regulation.
Dr. Murray Lumpkin, acting deputy commissioner, FDA, opened the hearing by saying that this hearing and subsequent comments from interested parties would help to determine whether the rule would be opened for changes. The panelists at the hearing gave no indication of their intentions upon hearing of the testimonies. Seventeen of the 20 people who testified at the hearing essentially said there was not sufficient need to reopen the rule.
APPI President Dr. Don Franco stated, “The record clearly indicates that the instituted controls in the United States starting in 1986 immediately after the confirmatory diagnosis, and continuing in a constant manner to recently promulgated regulations of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service imposing import restrictions, are effective. Cumulatively, government policies are working and provide ample assurances that adequate constructive measures and controls are in place to ensure the safety of animal protein feed ingredients destined for the feed/food chain.”
The North American rendering industry submitted more detailed comments by the November 21, 2001, deadline. The comments called for stricter import controls of feed and animal products; supported efforts to attain 100 percent compliance of the rule by renderers; and stated that renderers would not be opposed to the licensing of rendering facilities as it relates to the compliance with the rule if it would help with enforcement, so long as this does not become a bureaucratic nightmare.
Industry representatives continue to work with FDA/Center for Veterinary Medicine officials assuring them of our commitment to have 100 percent compliance of the rule.
We won’t know the outcome of the hearing or comment period for several months. If FDA decides to change the rule, there will first be a proposed rule and we will again have the opportunity to comment.
This past year has presented many challenges for renderers. We started 2001 with faulty and incomplete reports from FDA on compliance to the rule. The Texas feed yard situation, where prohibited meat and bone meal was accidentally fed to cattle, caused a negative wave of public relations and media challenges.
In addition to the obstacles we face domestically, we continue to fight for our export markets.
Because of these and other issues, NRA saw the need to become proactive. A very successful Congressional Fly-In gave us the chance to take our story to members of Congress. Over 100 congressional offices were visited. We were positively received in every office. There have been many follow-up activities with these congressional offices and plans are being made to have another event in 2002.
From the Association - December 2001 Render