Quarterly NewsletterQ3 2024 |
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A Letter from Our President |
Dear AAFCO Members, |
I hope everyone’s summer is off to a great start! It’s a busy time of year for the board of directors and committee chairs as we prepare for the upcoming Annual Meeting in San Antonio. |
We have a lot of important business to cover at Annual this year, and I strongly encourage you to take a look at the committee agenda topics and come prepared to discuss them in the meetings. |
Prior to the Annual welcome reception on August 6, we are holding a one-day Feed Labeling Workshop. This is a great opportunity for newer regulators and industry partners to get a comprehensive overview on feed labeling requirements, and it’s a good refresher for those of us with a few years under our belts! You can preview the workshop agenda here. Registration details for both Annual and the Feed Labeling Workshop are in the newsletter below.
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In other news, AAFCO recently finished updating the Pet Food Labeling Guide to reflect the changes made during the Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM). The guide is a great tool to better understand and interpret the AAFCO Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food. I would like to thank all the volunteers who contributed to this project.
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As we start to look to fall, I have two events for you to ink on your calendar:
AAFCO committee chairs are invited to attend our annual fall briefing with FDA leadership in September. This meeting will be very important for training and team building opportunities. Basic Inspector Training Seminar (BITS) in October will offer in-depth classroom and field training for new inspectors. |
I hope you all enjoy the rest of your summers and find time to relax with friends and family. You can find me poolside with my family! Take care and I look forward to seeing you in San Antonio.
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Sincerely, |
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Joshua Arbaugh President |
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Annual Meeting Agendas
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We encourage everyone attending the Annual Meeting to review the business meeting and committee agendas prior to arriving in San Antonio. We will have a lot of important topics to discuss and resolutions for members to vote on. Reviewing these agendas ahead of time will allow you to maximize participation and make informed decisions.
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| View Agendas |
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Pet Food Labeling Guide |
The 2024 Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food Labeling Guide includes the new model regulations from the PFLM project, including: detailed guidelines and instructions for the new pet nutrition facts box, revised intended use and nutritional adequacy statements, new label and packaging visual examples, and in-depth information about Pet Food Regulations. |
| Get The Guide |
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Call for Speakers |
Interested in presenting at an upcoming AAFCO meeting or know someone who would be a great speaker for an AAFCO event? We are looking for experts for presentations, panel discussions and keynote speakers for future workshops, seminars, and meetings. Speakers and presentations must be relevant to animal food in the United States. Submit a proposal, white paper, or draft presentation to the Event Planning Workgroup for consideration. |
| Submit to be a Speaker |
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New E-Commerce Website |
Get your AAFCO apparel, custom manufactured triers, and PPE on the new AAFCO Depot e-commerce site. The site will be live this month! |
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Last chance to register for Annual! We’ve got important announcements, networking events, and special presentations from experts across the regulatory, lab, and feed manufacturing sectors.
The hotel room rate is valid through Monday, July 15. Be sure to book your room this weekend! |
| Register Now |
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Feed Labeling Workshop |
August 6, 2024 | 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. |
Join us for a one-day Feed Labeling Workshop in conjunction with Annual. The workshop will focus on typical labeling issues and train attendees on the proper way to label certain ingredients. It's ideal for industry partners and new regulators looking to learn more about commercial feed labeling, medication in feed, ingredient definitions, label claims and intended use, and more. |
| Register Now |
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AAFCO & FDA Annual Fall Briefing September 9-13, 2024 Fort Worth, TX *Committee chairs invited to attend |
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Basic Inspector Training Seminar (BITS) October 21-24, 2024 Boise, ID |
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Recruit with AAFCO |
AAFCO’s Job Opportunities site is a great resource to recruit top talent in the animal feed and pet food industry. With thousands of website visits each month, we can help get your available positions in front of inspectors, lab technicians, and other management level folks across the country. |
| Submit Your Job Today |
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Current Job Opportunities |
The following position is currently listed on the AAFCO Job Opportunities site: |
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Please note that these openings are submitted by the hiring organization and are not endorsed by AAFCO. |
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New Canadian Feed Regulations
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has published the Feeds Regulations, 2024. The modernized regulations update the requirements for ingredient approval, product registration, labeling, and standards for feeds; as well as introduce new requirements for hazard analysis, preventive control plans, and licensing. These modernized regulations will improve the safety of livestock feed and the food production continuum, reflect international best practices, support innovation within the animal feed sector, and increase Canada's alignment with key trading partners. |
| Read More |
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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 the past 30 years and wishing her well in her next chapter.
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Why did you first get involved with AAFCO? |
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Colorado’s laboratory was not attending AAFCO meetings and I felt that we were missing out on connecting with other state laboratories, regulatory and industry. These connections and in-person discussions are invaluable, not only to stay abreast of current issues, but to be able to see the big picture beyond laboratory testing.
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What do you think has been your greatest contribution to AAFCO throughout the years? |
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I hope that my ability to bring people together and make them feel welcome is my greatest contribution as LMSC chair. I feel strongly that every voice matters, and the best ideas and solutions are not from a few but from everyone. Different perspectives, experiences, and knowledge levels are what make AAFCO and the LMSC so valuable. |
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How has AAFCO played a role in your career? |
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Through participation in AAFCO, I gained so much knowledge. Being in a room with brilliant minds for eight hours is a great way to learn about new technology, best practices, how to solve issues, and how to handle day-to-day lab issues. In addition, I gained confidence! I was shy, unsure of myself, and a terrible public speaker. AAFCO members and leaders supported me and gave me the confidence to step up and use my voice. Because of this, I was able to really discover what true leadership means and am able to support young people just starting their careers. |
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What do you hope to see for AAFCO in the next 5 years? |
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I hope to see greater member involvement on committees and greater meeting attendance, especially from scientists. I hope AAFCO keeps growing its training and resources for laboratory and regulatory staff because it is so valuable and no one else offers it. Finally, I hope it promotes careers in agriculture for the next generation.
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What is the legacy you wish to leave? |
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A few years ago, the LMSC and I started a solid laboratory training network. This training and support for state labs and all laboratory personnel is so important to me. These are specialized science fields that are unique to animal food testing and labs spend so much time and so many resources to train new staff. Through an AAFCO supported training network, managers will be able to send analysts to other state labs for training or do virtual training from the AAFCO LMSC website. My hope is that this training program provides consistent, quality training to allow the trainee to return to their lab and train others. |
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Anything else you would like to add? |
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As I end my 30+ year career as a scientist, I would like to thank the people who guided me, believed in me, and supported me along the way. I am truly honored to have been a part of AAFCO. I am so proud to have been able to work with all of the great people who volunteer their time and who have dedicated their careers to ensure the safety and well being of animals. I will treasure the friendships I have made for forever. |
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