Enforce, Don't Change, Says AMI

The Food and Drug Administration should focus on achieving total compliance with the current animal feed regulations instead of changing the existing regulation, AMI Foundation President James H. Hodges told an FDA hearing on animal feed regulations. The hearing was held in Kansas City, MO, to discuss how or whether to strengthen a regulation designed to help prevent the introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) into the nation's livestock population.

"AMI believes the present FDA animal feeding regulations are appropriate given the low level of risk that BSE will occur in the United States," Hodges said. He reiterated that the United States does not have BSE and said "prudent steps" were taken more than a decade ago to prevent the disease.

While Hodges acknowledged the risk is not and never will be zero, he said the risk is lower today than it was when the disease was first recognized as a threat to U.S. livestock. The current animal feeding regulations restrict the use of animal protein derived from mammalian tissues in feed for ruminants.

Because of new information available since the original rule went into effect in 1997, FDA requested information and views from individuals and organizations on the current rule and whether any changes are warranted. The official record of the hearing will remain open until Nov. 21, 2001, to receive written comments. Comments identified with Docket No. 01N-0423 can be submitted (one copy by an individual and two copies by organizations) to the Dockets Management Branch, HFA-305, FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 1061, Rockville, MD, 20852.

Hodges' testimony is available on the Internet at American Meat Institute