Committees

AAFCO members are invited to volunteer on various industry committees that address industry issues, find solutions, and encourage professional development.

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Animal Feed Committee

To provide a forum for regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to monitor, review, and recommend appropriate revisions to the AAFCO Model Bills and Regulations as related to commercial feed, excluding pet food, including, but not limited to, labeling and manufacturing, with the overarching goals to protect animal and human health, and promote structure and consistency within the industry.

Current Issues and Outreach

Provides a forum for the discussion of new ideas and ongoing issues, and to promote understanding and cooperation between government, industry, and consumers.

Education and Training

Provides a forum where all relevant parties can work to identify training and educational needs that benefit stakeholders within the Association, and to serve as a point of integration for training with other national organizations (e.g., FDA) as needed.

Enforcement Issues

Provides a forum for the discussion, promotion, and development of uniform compliance and enforcement policies and emergency response procedures for AAFCO members. This committee usually meets in closed session, for AAFCO members (regulators) only.

Feed and Feed Ingredient Manufacturing

Works cooperatively with domestic and international stakeholders to develop science- and risk-based regulations.

Feed Labeling

Maintains Feed Labeling Guides and reviews labeling requirements to determine modifications needed to more effectively serve purchasers of commercial feed and feed manufacturers.

Finance

Oversees financial planning to provide strategic advice, financial stability and support to the Board of Directors.

Ingredient Definitions

Provides a forum for the development and recognition of commercial feed ingredient definitions and to compile and maintain those definitions in a comprehensive manual that serves as a resource for regulators and the entire animal food industry.

Inspection and Sampling

Provides a forum for regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to develop effective inspection and sampling procedures and to promote the uniform application of those procedures in practice.

Laboratory Methods and Services

Serves as a technical forum for regulators, industry, and stakeholders to address all aspects of analytical methodology, including method development, validation, verification, and implementation in accordance with national and international standards. The committee will facilitate the exchange of scientific expertise, targeted training for laboratory personnel, and promote the adoption of harmonized, scientifically robust methods and quality assurance best practices for the analysis of commercial feed and pet food.

Model Bills and Regulations

Provides a forum for regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to draft fair and just Model Bills and Regulations, as well as model standards and guidance, that can be maintained and advocated by AAFCO regarding the production, labeling, distribution and sale of commercial feed.

Necrology and Life Membership

Honors deserving feed control officials who have retired and are not involved with regulation, manufacture, distribution or sale of commercial feeds. Informs of the death of an associate and appropriately remembers the deceased at Annual Meetings.

Nominating

Selects individuals qualified to hold positions as officers or to serve on the Board of Directors.

Pet Food

Provides a forum for regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to monitor, review, and recommend appropriate revisions to the AAFCO Official Publication as related to pet food and specialty pet food in order to protect pet and human health and to promote a structure for orderly commerce within the industry.

Proficiency Testing Program

Provides a forum for regulators, industry, and other stakeholders to discuss and improve AAFCO’s internationally ISO accredited proficiency testing program to ensure it is supportive of current regulations affecting animal feeds, pet foods and their ingredients. This committee will monitor the use and performance of analytical test methods and work to provide information to other relevant AAFCO committees as needed. The committee will also work to provide feed testing laboratories with performance-monitoring procedures that are common requirements for laboratory accreditation and produce well-defined testing materials for method validation and quality control. The committee acts as an advisory body for the proficiency testing program.

Strategic Affairs

Provides a forum where regulators, industry, and other stakeholders can share advice and give support to the Board of Directors regarding strategic direction, planning, tracking, and implementation of related Association activities, as well as maintain the Association By-Laws and Procedures Manual to best serve the Board and needs of AAFCO.

Technology

Advises on all matters related to AAFCO’s information technology needs, systems development and related budgetary issues.