Coalition Urges FDA to Consider Other Options to Complete SRM ban on Feed
posted on 8/5/2004 10:59:16 AM

A coalition of organizations representing both the cattle and feed industries sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week voicing their concern that "FDA's advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on BSE mitigation reflects a significant shift in agency philosophy, one that suggests a 'one-step cures all' approach and based almost exclusively upon removal of all specified risk materials (SRMs) from all animal foods". The letter noted that the "implementation challenges in this approach may actually limit its effective implementation" while also causing "significant unintended consequences that adversely impact animal health".

The eight signatories, which include the American Meat Institute, American Feed Industry Association, American Sheep Industry Association, National Cattlemen's Beef Association, National Grain and Feed Association, National Meat Association, National Milk Producers Federation and National Renderers Association, suggested that there may be alternative solutions to consider other than the removal of all SRMs from animal foods. The coalition urged FDA to conduct appropriate risk/benefit and cost/benefit analyses that would evaluate various policies that include options other than a complete ban on SRMs in animal feed.

The coalition also asked the FDA to base their decisions on USDA findings through its current enhanced surveillance program. "A clear reading of the International Review Team recommendations supports conducting an aggressive surveillance program to determine which, if any, additional policy actions are appropriate."

In closing, the coalition "strongly recommended" that in lieu of requiring the removal of all SRMs from animal feed, the FDA propose "a more integrated systems approach that is informed by the results of USDA's enhanced surveillance program and grounded in an appropriate risk/benefit and cost/benefit analysis of various policy options".


posted by anonymous

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