The National Renderers Association (NRA) worked with other trade groups, including the American Feed Industry Association, National Biodiesel Board, and National Oilseed Processors Association, to gather experts to discuss issues surrounding the use of glycerin in feed at a seminar for the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM’s) Division of Animal Feed in early January. Members of the four associations provided an overview of the biodiesel industry and how it processes glycerin to FDA compliance experts and scientists at CVM’s offices in Rockville, MD. Staff and members of the Soap and Detergent Association were observers and offered technical comments as well.
Mike Zora, Archer Daniels Midland Company, and Chuck Neece, Central Bi-Products, provided an overview of the process of biodiesel production from two different perspectives, those of the soybean and animal fat industries, respectively. Brian White, American Proteins, provided an overview of the history and use of glycerin. Dr. Joe Harris, Westway Feed Products, delved into how liquid feed manufacturers source and use glycerin in feed formulations, including safety issues, and Dr. Brian Kerr, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service, presented research relative to the nutrient value of glycerin in both ruminants and non-ruminants. Leland Tong, National Biodiesel Board, talked about the groups involved in this effort, exports, and future growth.
The seminar concluded with a discussion about potential contaminant levels in glycerin, particularly methanol, in light of a recent regulatory letter issued to industry by FDA that stated glycerin with levels higher than 150 parts per million (ppm) could be considered unsafe for animal feed unless firms had data on the safety of the product at higher levels. While NRA believes this seminar clearly demonstrated to FDA the safety of glycerin at higher levels than required for human food grade, the FDA will be looking for additional toxicity data to refute the data used in setting the 150 ppm limit. NRA continues to work with the trade groups and others to supply the needed data.
The seminar was repeated at the Association of American Feed Control Officials meeting in mid-January, along with presentations on feed by-products from the ethanol industry.
February 2007 Render