CVM Shifts Focus on Feed Ingredients

By Diane B. McColl –

According to Sharon Benz, Ph.D., Director of the Division of Animal Feeds in FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine ("CVM"), CVM is moving away from enforcement discretion for new animal feed/pet food ingredients.  In a conversation with HP&M's Diane McColl, Dr. Benz said that henceforth, CVM will encourage manufacturers to comply fully with the FDC Act by seeking food additive approvals or establishing "generally recognized as safe (GRAS)" status for new ingredients, instead of pursuing Official Definitions by the Association of American Feed Control Officials ("AAFCO").

With regard to ingredients already subject to an AAFCO definition, Dr. Benz stated that CVM will continue to exercise enforcement discretion pursuant to CVM's existing Memorandum of Understanding with AAFCO.  Dr. Benz confirmed that CVM has no plans to re-review the existing AAFCO Official Definitions.  CVM will focus its limited resources on food additive petition and GRAS Notice reviews rather than AAFCO Official Definition reviews.  (See our previous post on CVM’s GRAS Notification Program.)