AAFCO to Conclude MOU With FDA On Animal Feed Ingredients

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) announced that its longstanding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), governing the definition of animal feed ingredients, will not be renewed after its expiration on October 1, 2024. This decision concludes a 17-year partnership under MOU 225-07-7001, which has significantly shaped the standards and practices of the animal feed industry.

Austin Therrell, Executive Director of AAFCO, expressed disappointment over the non-renewal but emphasized the organization's ongoing commitment to work closely with the FDA and state regulatory bodies. "Our ingredient definition process has been a model of state-federal collaboration," Therrell stated. "We remain dedicated to ensuring standardization and safety in the animal food industry."

With the impending end of the MOU, AAFCO will cease accepting new feed ingredient definition requests on September 1, 2024, to allow sufficient time for processing final submissions to the FDA before the October deadline.

Both AAFCO and the FDA have assured stakeholders of their efforts to ensure a smooth transition. The FDA is currently reviewing its procedures for animal food ingredient reviews to enhance public health protections and streamline the approval process for new products.

Therrell also hinted at potential new directions for AAFCO, saying, "This change allows us to explore innovative approaches and partnerships in the feed ingredient sector, focusing on strong, science-based solutions for state regulators."