BSE ...
BSE
USDA And FDA Want Comments On Interim And Proposed Rule Changes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested comments today (July 9) on further measures to strengthen the system keeping U.S. beef safe from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
An interim final rule, which goes into effect on July 14, prohibits the use of specified risk materials (SRM) [JFS1] in human foods, including certain meat-based products and dietary supplements, and in cosmetics. These SRMs include the brain, skull, eyes, and spinal cord of cattle 30 months of age or older, and a portion of the small intestine (although the whole small intestine is excluded under the rule) and tonsils from all cattle, regardless of their age. The rule would also ban any products from downer cattle in animal feed including pet food. Although FDA’s interim final rule has the full force and effect of law and takes effect immediately upon publication in the Federal Register (July 14), FDA is also asking for public comment on it.
The USDA also wants comments on
• A joint USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and FDA notice that asks for public comment on additional preventive actions that are being considered concerning BSE; and
• A proposed FDA rule on recordkeeping requirements for the interim final rule relating to this ban.
FSIS is also specifically seeking comments on whether a country's BSE status should be taken into account when determining whether a country’s meat inspection system is equivalent to the U.S. regulations including the provisions in the FSIS interim final rules.
APHIS is specifically seeking comments on the implementation of a national animal identification system. In April, USDA announced the availability of $18 million in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to expedite development of a national animal identification system, which is currently underway. APHIS is inviting comments on when and under what circumstances the program should move from voluntary to mandatory, and which species should be covered now and over the long term.
The ANPRM also requests comment on the following measures related to animal feed, which is regulated by FDA:
• Removing Specified Risk Materials (SRM’s) From All Animal Feed, Including Pet Food, To Control The Risks Of Cross Contamination Throughout Feed Manufacture And Distribution And On The Farm Due To Misfeeding;
• Requiring Dedicated Equipment Or Facilities For Handling And Storing Feed And Ingredients During Manufacturing And Transportation, To Prevent Cross Contamination;
• Prohibiting The Use Of All Mammalian And Poultry Protein In Ruminant Feed, To Prevent Cross Contamination; And
• Prohibiting Materials From Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle And Dead Stock From Use In All Animal Feed.
FDA has reached a preliminary conclusion that it should propose to remove SRM’s from all animal feed and is currently working on a proposal to accomplish this goal. Comments on these issues raised in the ANPRM [JFS2] are due to FDA next month.
Full details are available in an online USDA news release.
BSE
USDA And FDA Want Comments On Interim And Proposed Rule Changes
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requested comments today (July 9) on further measures to strengthen the system keeping U.S. beef safe from bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
An interim final rule, which goes into effect on July 14, prohibits the use of specified risk materials (SRM) [JFS1] in human foods, including certain meat-based products and dietary supplements, and in cosmetics. These SRMs include the brain, skull, eyes, and spinal cord of cattle 30 months of age or older, and a portion of the small intestine (although the whole small intestine is excluded under the rule) and tonsils from all cattle, regardless of their age. The rule would also ban any products from downer cattle in animal feed including pet food. Although FDA’s interim final rule has the full force and effect of law and takes effect immediately upon publication in the Federal Register (July 14), FDA is also asking for public comment on it.
The USDA also wants comments on
• A joint USDA Food Safety & Inspection Service (FSIS), USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and FDA notice that asks for public comment on additional preventive actions that are being considered concerning BSE; and
• A proposed FDA rule on recordkeeping requirements for the interim final rule relating to this ban.
FSIS is also specifically seeking comments on whether a country's BSE status should be taken into account when determining whether a country’s meat inspection system is equivalent to the U.S. regulations including the provisions in the FSIS interim final rules.
APHIS is specifically seeking comments on the implementation of a national animal identification system. In April, USDA announced the availability of $18 million in Commodity Credit Corporation funding to expedite development of a national animal identification system, which is currently underway. APHIS is inviting comments on when and under what circumstances the program should move from voluntary to mandatory, and which species should be covered now and over the long term.
The ANPRM also requests comment on the following measures related to animal feed, which is regulated by FDA:
• Removing Specified Risk Materials (SRM’s) From All Animal Feed, Including Pet Food, To Control The Risks Of Cross Contamination Throughout Feed Manufacture And Distribution And On The Farm Due To Misfeeding;
• Requiring Dedicated Equipment Or Facilities For Handling And Storing Feed And Ingredients During Manufacturing And Transportation, To Prevent Cross Contamination;
• Prohibiting The Use Of All Mammalian And Poultry Protein In Ruminant Feed, To Prevent Cross Contamination; And
• Prohibiting Materials From Non-Ambulatory Disabled Cattle And Dead Stock From Use In All Animal Feed.
FDA has reached a preliminary conclusion that it should propose to remove SRM’s from all animal feed and is currently working on a proposal to accomplish this goal. Comments on these issues raised in the ANPRM [JFS2] are due to FDA next month.
Full details are available in an online USDA news release.