FDA Expands Electronic Safety Reporting for Animal Food

By Ricardo Carvajal –

FDA announced that it has implemented a new electronic reporting tool for livestock animal food problems, which the agency refers to as the Livestock Food Reporting Portal.  Essentially, the portal expands the categories of reports that can be submitted through the Safety Reporting Portal, which is used for reporting a range of potential safety issues to FDA and NIH.  That portal will now accept reports about foods made for livestock from veterinarians, livestock producers, and other consumers. 
Expansion of electronic reporting should help FDA better detect and respond to potential safety issues associated with food for livestock.  In its instructions for submission of such reports, FDA asks for a description of the problem (e.g., “foul odor, off color, inconsistent texture”), information on any clinical signs of illness, and contact information for the treating veterinarian. 

Below is a list of the types of reports currently accepted through the Safety Reporting Portal:

• Reportable Food Registry Report (mandatory): A food facility or responsible party that manufactures, processes, packs, or holds foods who is submitting a reportable food report.
• Reportable Food Registry Report (voluntary): A federal, state, or local public health official who is submitting a reportable food report involving human and/or animal food. 
• Pet Food Report: A veterinarian or veterinary staff member who is submitting a product problem and/or adverse event report involving pet food. 
• Pet Food Report: A consumer or concerned citizen who is submitting a product problem and/or adverse event report involving pet food. 
• Livestock Food Report: A veterinarian or other professional who is submitting a product problem and/or adverse event report involving livestock food. 
• Livestock Food Report: A consumer or concerned citizen who is submitting a product problem and/or adverse event report involving livestock food. 
• Animal Drug Report: A marketing authorization holder (manufacturer) for an animal drug who is submitting a report on a product problem and/or an adverse event.
• Tobacco Product Report: A healthcare professional submitting a product problem and/or health-related problem report involving a tobacco product. 
• Tobacco Product Report: A consumer or concerned citizen who is submitting a product problem and/or health-related problem report involving a tobacco product.
• Dietary Supplement Report(mandatory): A dietary supplement manufacturer, packer, or distributor who is submitting a mandatory serious adverse event report. 
• Dietary Supplement Report (voluntary): A consumer, concerned citizen, or healthcare professional who is submitting a report about an illness, injury, or product problem associated with dietary supplement(s), or a manufacturer, packer, or distributor who is submitting a dietary supplement voluntary adverse event and/or product problem report.
• Gene Research Study Report: A clinical trial primary investigator or researcher who needs to report an adverse event involving a gene research study.