USA – The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has announced that it is considering a new proposal from Kansas State University (KSU) to handle scientific reviews for its ingredient approval process.
This proposal, originating from KSU’s Olathe Innovation Campus (K-State Olathe), could streamline the review and approval of new animal food ingredients, potentially replacing AAFCO’s previous system.
That system ended with the expiration of its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on October 1.
The FDA and AAFCO’s MOU, which had governed the review and definition process for new animal food ingredients, was not renewed earlier this year.
The expiration of the MOU left a gap in the established procedures for bringing new ingredients to market, creating uncertainty for animal feed and pet food manufacturers.
In response, KSU has proposed a solution to maintain safety, efficiency, and scientific rigor in approving new ingredients.
Under the new proposal, K-State Olathe would manage the ingredient review process, with Dr. Haley Larson, assistant professor of animal health at K-State Olathe, spearheading the effort.
The proposed system would feature a scientific review panel composed of subject matter experts from universities across the United States and independent consultants.
This panel would assess ingredient submissions from the animal nutrition industry and provide recommendations to AAFCO for final approval.
Once approved, the ingredients will be added to AAFCO’s official publication, making them available in animal feed and pet food products.
This new pathway aims to ensure that innovative ingredients can be brought to market more efficiently while still adhering to the highest standards of safety.
A faster, science-driven process
According to Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO, the K-State Olathe proposal represents a significant advancement in the ingredient approval process.
“AAFCO has been considering several pathway options to provide the animal feed industry with a thorough and innovative review process that can bring new ingredients to market safely and efficiently,” Therrell stated. “The proposal from K-State Olathe is scientifically driven, comprehensive, and can be completed in half the time as the former review process we had in place.”
The efficiency of this proposed pathway is particularly noteworthy for an industry that relies heavily on the timely approval of new ingredients to meet evolving nutritional needs for livestock and pets.
As the pet food and animal feed sectors continue to grow, driven by consumer demand for more diverse and functional products, the ability to bring new ingredients to market quickly has become increasingly important.
AAFCO has solicited comments and feedback from regulators, industry experts, and stakeholders on the K-State Olathe proposal, allowing industry voices to weigh in on the potential new process.
Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.
