Late last month, FDA announced its strategy to create definitions and standards of animal food ingredients in order to increase transparency and affirm the safety of the animal food supply. FDA will review the animal food ingredients definitions contained in the Official Publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials ("AAFCO"), a voluntary organization that provides a forum for regulatory officials to provide guidance and recommendations to ensure uniformity of regulation of animal feeds from state to state. The Official Publication includes FDA-approved food additives and ingredients that are generally recognized as safe ("GRAS"), as well as AAFCO-established definitions for other ingredients. FDA intends to align AAFCO ingredient listings with the agency's regulatory process and requirements. FDA plans to publish a proposed rule for animal food ingredients that are approved food additives or GRAS by the agency. For remaining ingredients, FDA's scientists will conduct a review and categorize them as GRAS or food additives, and if the ingredient falls outside these categories, manufacturers will be allowed to file petitions with FDA.
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