The Pet Food Institute (PFI) has raised concerns in their comment submitted to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), about a proposal from Kansas State University Olathe (KSUO) to establish a new regulatory pathway for approving animal food ingredients. PFI highlighted several issues it believes could affect ingredient safety, consistency, and regulatory acceptance.
KSUO’s proposal aims to create a scientific review panel that would oversee animal food ingredient approvals, potentially replacing the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AAFCO and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). PFI stated that while it does not fully oppose the proposal, it has concerns about how the new approach might impact the pet food industry.
One major concern is the potential conflict of interest due to KSUO’s funding from industry partners. PFI warned that this could lead to perceptions of bias, which might undermine the credibility of ingredient reviews.
PFI also questioned the enforcement of ingredient approvals through this new pathway, noting that it may not be universally accepted by all states. This could lead to inconsistencies in ingredient regulation across jurisdictions. Additionally, PFI pointed out potential challenges with international recognition of ingredients approved by KSUO, as many countries currently rely on FDA-backed ingredient approvals.
PFI also raised worries about the expertise involved in the review process. The institute emphasized the need for a consistent standard of safety and scientific rigor, similar to the FDA’s current practices. While PFI supports efforts to streamline ingredient approvals, it urged AAFCO to adopt a flexible approach that aligns with ongoing improvements to the FDA’s approval process, including the new interim pathway (AFIC).
PFI concluded by emphasizing the importance of careful review before adopting any changes to ingredient approval processes.
