Source: FDA, 10/25/13

SUMMARY

FDA’s proposed rule on Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) and preventive controls for food for animals focuses on preventing problems in order to improve the safety of these products. The preventive controls provisions of the proposed rule, which are required by the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, would apply to domestic and imported animal food, including pet food, animal feed, and raw materials and ingredients. Facilities producing animal food would be required to have written plans that identify hazards, specify the steps that will be put in place to minimize or prevent those hazards, identify monitoring procedures and record monitoring results, and specify what actions would be taken to correct problems that arise. The proposed rule would also establish certain Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) that specifically address animal food.

FDA is proposing that the requirements be effective 60 days after the final rule is published in the Federal Register. Recognizing that small and very small businesses may need more time to comply with the requirements, FDA is proposing tiered compliance dates based on facility size. The proposed rule will publish in the Federal Register on October 29. 2013. Comments are due by 120 days after this publication date. FDA is also announcing three public meetings to explain the proposal and provide additional opportunity for input.

For more info on the rule, click here.  

COMMENTS

The proposed rule, “Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals,” is published in the Federal Register so that the public can review it and submit comments. FDA considers comments received during the comment period on the proposed rule and then considers revising the rule, based on its review of the comments, before issuing a final rule. The proposed rule and supporting documents are filed in FDA’s official docket on http://www.regulations.gov10. Comments are due 120 dates after the publication date, which i set for October 29, 2013.

FDA has conducted extensive outreach to industry, the consumer community, other government agencies, and the international community to gain input and perspective on how best to implement this and other proposed rules required by FSMA. That input and perspective shaped the proposed rule in a way that will help to ensure they are practical, flexible and effective. FDA will hold three public meetings on November 21, 2013 in College Park, MD, on November 25, 2013 in Chicago, IL and on December 6 in Sacramento, CA. FDA will also participate in several additional meetings during the comment period. View the FSMA Public Meeting page11 for more details on the meetings.

For more info on comments, click here.