Pet Food Institute responds to AAFCO proposal on ingredient approval pathway | PetfoodIndustry

PFI recommends that AAFCO delay the development of a new pathway until FDA finalizes ongoing improvements.

The Pet Food Institute (PFI) has submitted feedback to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regarding a proposal by Kansas State University to establish a new regulatory pathway for animal food ingredients.

Recently AAFCO said it was considering a proposal from KSU’s K-State Olathe Innovation Campus to provide the scientific review for its new animal food ingredient submission pathway. This proposed pathway would replace AAFCO’s former Ingredient Definition Request process that sunsetted on October 1, 2024, following the expiration of AAFCO’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While PFI does not outright oppose the KSU proposal, it expressed several concerns.

Key issues raised by PFI include the desire for an ingredient approval framework that minimizes reliance on regulatory discretion and potential consumer skepticism about using an academic institution for safety reviews. PFI noted discrepancies in the burden of proof required for safety reviews between the FDA and academic bodies could further complicate the process.

PFI recommends that AAFCO delay the development of a new pathway until the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalizes its ongoing improvements to the current ingredient approval process. This approach, PFI argues, would ensure a more consistent and transparent framework for ingredient safety evaluation.