December 5, 2024
AAFCO Board Votes to Recommend KSO Proposal to Members
At the 2024 Annual Meeting in August, AAFCO membership passed resolution 2024-002 in response to the expiration of the association’s MOU with the FDA. This resolution granted a board-established task force to explore the possibility of creating a new state-led regulatory pathway for animal food ingredients. On October 1, AAFCO announced a proposal for consideration
November 19, 2024
AAFCO Seeks Feedback on Common Food Index
Organization seeks feedback from industry professionals on list of food items submitted for inclusion to the Common Food Index (CFI). Continuing their efforts to maintain open dialogue and facilitate best practices, The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is soliciting public feedback on those food items recently submitted for consideration to be added toOctober 31, 2024
FDA's Final Guidance for AAFCO-Defined Ingredients
On Wednesday, October 23, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) issued its final guidance to allow animal feed and pet food manufacturers to continue using ingredients published in the 2024 Official Publication (OP) for products sold in interstate commerce. AAFCO is pleased that the FDA’s formal decision will ensure stability and continuity for ourOctober 1, 2024
AAFCO Considering Proposal for New Regulatory Pathway
AAFCO is considering a proposal from Kansas State University Olathe to establish a new regulatory pathway for animal food ingredients. The Association is seeking feedback on the proposed scientific review panel that would replace the former MOU with the FDA. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) announced that it is considering a proposal fromSeptember 26, 2024
Bulk Feed Tote Sampling Methods Study
The Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) Inspection and Sampling Committee is seeking an organization, agency, or group to develop and execute a sampling method study to: Determine the best method for sampling bulk non-liquid feed totes. Determine the appropriate number of subsamples in lot size to evaluate the investigational allowance for crude protein,August 2, 2024
AAFCO AND FDA TO END LONGSTANDING MOU
AAFCO and FDA to end longstanding memorandum of understanding outlining the AAFCO ingredient review process. Both organizations will continue work together to ensure the safety and predictability of the U.S. animal food supply. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) announced that its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationJuly 1, 2024
Q&A with Kristi McCallum
We sat down with longtime AAFCO member and outgoing LMSC chair, Kristi McCallum. Kristi is the Laboratory Manager for the Colorado Department of Agriculture’s Division of Laboratory Services. Kristi will be retiring in summer 2025, and the 2024 Annual Meeting will be her final AAFCO meeting. Please join us in celebrating her contributions from theJune 3, 2024
PFC Votes on Voluntary “Controlled Copper” Claim for Dog Food
AAFCO Pet Food Committee votes not to establish voluntary “controlled copper” claim for dog food. Potential claim may be revisited if future data warrants a review. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Pet Food Committee voted not to establish a voluntary “Controlled Copper” claim for dog food. Research and discussion for a potential claimMay 3, 2024
AAFCO Announces Common Food Index Additions
Organization seeks feedback from industry professionals on list of food items submitted for inclusion to the Common Food Index (CFI). Continuing their efforts to maintain open dialogue and facilitate best practices, The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is soliciting public feedback on those food items recently submitted for consideration to be added to AAFCO’s CommonMay 2, 2024
AAFCO Shares Thoughts on HPAI Virus
AAFCO shares their thoughts regarding the purported link between the practice of feeding dried poultry litter to cattle and the spread of HPAI to dairy cows. Following several media reports alleging that the use of dried poultry litter in dairy cattle diets has caused the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus to spread on dairyMarch 26, 2024
AAFCO to Host Pet Food Seminar
Covering the newly updated model regulations for pet food, ingredient definition process and expert panel discussion during Petfood Forum 2024. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is hosting a workshop about its newly revised Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food and the ingredient definition process. The workshop, Pet Food Seminar,March 4, 2024
AAFCO Shares Concerns Regarding H.R.7380, the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2024
Association voices concerns for label transparency and consumer protection. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), an independent organization that guides state, federal and international feed regulators with ingredient definitions, label standards and laboratory standards, shares its concerns for the current version of the proposed federal legislation that would reduce state oversight and authorityFebruary 8, 2024
AAFCO Receives Unanimous Support from State Agriculture Leaders
NASDA encourages state feed regulatory programs to adopt recommended changes to pet food labels. Heads of departments of agriculture unanimously voted to support the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) revised Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food. The vote took place on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the National Association of StateFebruary 8, 2024
AAFCO Seeks Public Comments
Organization accepting feedback regarding potential voluntary “Controlled Copper” claim for dog food. The Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) Pet Food Committee (PFC) Copper Claim Workgroup is seeking public comments about establishing a “Controlled Copper” claim for dog food. Comments will be accepted through March 1, 2024. The proposed “Controlled Copper” claim would indicateJuly 31, 2023
AAFCO Membership Approves New Model Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food Regulations
Changes to pet food and specialty pet food packaging will provide consistency and transparency. Pet owners will soon find updated packaging and labels when shopping for pet food and specialty pet food products, including treats and supplements — the first major update in more than 40 years. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)July 30, 2023
Q&A with Mark LeBlanc
Why did you first get involved with AAFCO? In 2008, I took over the feed program in Louisiana and had little to no knowledge about the feed regulatory world and had no one to mentor me. Once I became aware of AAFCO, I started attending meetings and was quickly taken under the wings of severalJuly 19, 2023
Q&A With Erin Bubb
Q&A with Erin Bubb Erin is the Plant Industry Division Chief for the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and former AAFCO president (2021). Why did you first get involved with AAFCO? My first meeting with the AAFCO “family” was the Feed Administrators Seminar in 2009. I loved what I saw, and I knew I was all-in.May 31, 2023
AAFCO Perspective on a Proposed New Federalized Regulatory System for Pet Food
AAFCO Executive Director Austin Therrell provides a statement Over the past few months the Pet Food Institute (PFI) has proposed a new system to federally regulate pet food. The organization’s concern around the current regulatory process overseen by state governments was first voiced during the Petfood Forum 2023 convention in Kansas City, Mo., and has beenMay 2, 2023
AAFCO Announces Common Food Index
Organization seeks feedback from industry professionals on initial list of 72 food items. In an effort to open up dialogue and facilitate best practices, The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is instituting a new Common Food Index (CFI) and implementing a process by which items may be added for consideration by stakeholders and theMarch 9, 2023
Expert Panel Upholds AAFCO Guidelines for Copper Concentrations in Foods for Normal Dogs
Panel also stresses need for more stringent regulations concerning food based-causes of disease. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recently announced the findings of an expert panel convened in response to a February 2021 article in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) concerning the current AAFCO guidelines for maximum concentrations ofFebruary 9, 2023
Chapter 7 of The Official Publication
In an effort to trim down the size of the Official Publication, the AAFCO Board of Directors is considering the deletion of Chapter 7: AAFCO Meeting Proceedings. This chapter includes all of the committee reports from the previous Annual and Midyear meetings. In the past, these committee reports have been printed in Chapter 7 ofFebruary 1, 2023
AAFCO Deeply Values FDA Partnership, Supporting Virtual Public Meeting
AAFCO Executive Director Austin Therrell provides a statement CHAMPAIGN, Ill., Feb. 1, 2023 – Following the recent Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) Mid-Year Meeting in San Antonio, and noting its timely theme of “Working Better Together,” executive director Austin Therrell shared AAFCO’s support of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine’s (CVM) upcoming VirtualJanuary 12, 2023
George Ferguson
George currently works as the Feed Administrator for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, where he is responsible for the management of the NC Food and Drug Protection Division’s Regulatory Feed Program. While growing up on a small dairy farm in western NC George developed a passion for agriculture that would eventuallyJanuary 12, 2023
New Standards for Human Grade Pet Food
AAFCO has a new standard for human grade pet and specialty pet food products. This new standard, along with AAFCO’s Guidelines for “Human Grade” Claims, outline how all human grade pet food products should be manufactured in accordance with the acceptable regulations for ready-to-eat human food.January 3, 2023
Get to Know AAFCO’s Austin Therrell
Originally published on the AFIA Feed Bites Blog 1. Tell us a little bit about yourself –what drew you to wanting to lead AAFCO? Therrell: I was fortunate to get involved with AAFCO when I was working in the feed regulatory program at the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. AAFCO played a large role inJanuary 1, 2023
Q&A With George R. Ferguson
What a joy it was to serve as AAFCO’s president in 2022. While my time as president has come to a close, I can’t help but reflect on some of the Association’s achievements from the past year. What were the greatest milestones from 2022? From initiating virtual video formats for increased member participation to partnering with NASDADecember 13, 2022
New Comprehensive Animal Feed Ingredient Submission Course
AAFCO recently launched its Comprehensive Animal Feed Ingredient Submission Course – specifically for industry. The course has been designed for domestic and international manufacturers and distributors of ingredients used in premixes, livestock feeds and pet foods in the United States to learn more about the various ingredient approval processes. Participants are strongly encouraged to completeNovember 13, 2022
FSMA
For all the latest related to FSMA, refer to FDA’s FSMA page. Information can be found here related to webinars, fact sheets, etc. To send FDA an electronic inquiry related to FSMA see FDA’s electronic inquiry page located here. Follow the FDA information pages often as information and updates are being released on a regular basis.November 13, 2022
The AAFCO Pet and Specialty Pet Labeling Guide
The AAFCO Pet and Specialty Pet Labeling Guide is available for purchase! This guide was originally developed to help control officials, industry, and other interested parties to better understand and interpret the AAFCO Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food. This version contains valuable explanations of common labeling issues as well as labelNovember 13, 2022
AAFCO Ingredient Definition Process
The AAFCO definition request process starts with sharing a draft definition for your material with the AAFCO investigator listed on our regulatory page. This draft definition should be written in the same manner as other definitions in the AAFCO Official Publication. (available for 2 week trial purchase on our website for $20). The remainder of theAugust 24, 2022