Your customers’ safety is at the forefront of every conversation you have in the feed and food industry. One way you can ensure product safety is by complying with regulations for animal feed. You also protect your business from hefty fines and penalties due to noncompliance with feed guidelines. Find out what kind of regulations you must follow in order to maintain proper compliance with your feed formulation while meeting the needs of your customers.
FDA and Feed Formulation Guidelines
In your quest to meet compliance guidelines for feed formulation, start with those federal agencies that set industry regulations. In 1938, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was enacted by Congress, resulting in the establishment of the Food and Drug Administration. According to the FFDCA, anything involved in the production of food including animal feed ingredients is to be regulated.
The FDA maintains safety regulations that protect the integrity of animal feed. This includes animal feed for livestock including chickens, cows, and sheep, as well as domesticated pets like cats and dogs. Within the FDA, there are several agencies that handle regulatory compliance for animal feed in particular. This is because, in 1996, the Dietary Supplement and Health Education Act of 1994 changed the nomenclature for feed supplements for animals.
These types of supplements that can be used in animal feed production now fall under the jurisdiction of the FFDCA as it did before the DSHEA was passed. As a result, the FDA considers feed or dietary supplements to be food or a new type of drug for animals. More importantly, this changes the way the FDA regulates animal feed.
Center for Veterinary Medicine and Feed Regulations
One example of this is the FDA and the Center for Veterinary Medicine. The CVM is designated by the Food and Drug Administration to regulate drugs doled out to animals intended for food, as well as food additives. More importantly, it is the CVM who develops animal feed regulations. The Center for Veterinary Medicine also determines which guidelines to set for animal feed manufacturers.
The CVM follows a basic set of principles when regulating animal feed. First, animal feed must be pure and wholesome and made without harmful ingredients or substances. In addition, animal feed must be produced in a clean environment and safe work conditions. Accurate labeling is required on animal feed products and ingredients.
Labeling Feed Formulations
Speaking of labeling feed formulations, a key to maintaining compliance for feed, in general, involves the way you label your feed. This labeling requirement extends to anything that features the label and branding of the product, such as marketing materials. According to the FFDCA regulation for animal feed labeling, in 21 CFR Title 21 Part 501, all of your feed labeling must indicate the:
- Product name including any brand names
- Statement for product use aka purpose statement
- Ingredients list
- Product quantity contained in the package
- How to use the product
- A guaranteed analysis
- Any caution statements or warnings
- Contact information for the feed manufacturer
You are also required to follow any state requirements for feed labeling. You can find out about the latest state-wide labeling requirements by receiving the Official Publication of the AAFCO published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials. To receive a copy of this publication, contact AAFCO at 217-356-4221.
Upgrade with Software for Compliance
One way to ensure the integrity of your animal feed is to use feed formulation software. By using technology to formulate animal feed recipes, you avoid safety concerns due to human error. This helps you maintain the utmost quality in your feed. At the same time, your company saves money with fewer wasted ingredients or ruined batches.
Optimize your feed formulation to develop low-cost recipes with high-quality ingredients. It all begins with Adifo Software for feed and food industry professionals. Contact Adifo Software today to speak with a distributor for your industry in your area.