AFIA commends House introduction of Innovative FEED Act

USA – The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has strongly supported the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (Innovative FEED) Act, which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on March 18. 

The legislation aims to modernise outdated U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, streamlining the approval process for certain animal food ingredients by shifting them from the complex and costly animal drug review process to the more suitable Food Additive Petition (FAP) pathway.

Currently, the FDA regulates some new animal food ingredients as animal drugs, subjecting them to an extensive approval process that can hinder innovation. 

The Innovative FEED Act seeks to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by creating a new category of animal food substances that function within animals’ gut microbiomes or in the feed they consume. 

This would deliver benefits such as improved animal health and production, enhanced food safety, and better on-farm conservation practices.

“This bill is necessary to fix a broken regulatory system that has forced animal food innovators to pursue foreign markets instead of prioritising American farmers and ranchers,” said AFIA President and CEO Constance Cullman. 

“By appropriately regulating 21st-century feed and pet food ingredients, this legislation will help drive animal nutrition advancements while supporting food safety and environmental sustainability.”

If enacted, the bill would allow animal food innovators to label and market their products more transparently based on their intended benefits, such as increased livestock efficiency, reduced food safety risks, improved pet wellness, and a smaller environmental footprint. 

While the FDA already has the authority to review new animal food ingredients, this legislation is necessary to formally establish the FAP as the regulatory pathway for these innovations.

AFIA has urged bipartisan support for the measure and called on the U.S. Senate to introduce a companion bill to accelerate progress. 

“We urge the Senate to act swiftly so we can cut unnecessary bureaucratic red tape and empower the FDA with the appropriate authority to advance animal nutrition solutions,” Cullman stated.

The Innovative FEED Act has garnered broad support across the food and agriculture sectors. 

Endorsing organisations include the National Milk Producers Federation, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Grain and Feed Association, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Animal Supplement Council, North American Renderers Association, Meat Institute, U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, Agricultural Retailers Association, and the American Pet Products Association.

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