International dog, cat, pet food standards revised by OIE

The recently adopted revisions of OIE standards included science-based recommendations which recognize the safety of certain cooking practices for extruded dry pet food and heat-treated poultry meat products (including pet food) in a hermetically sealed container, and will allow for the continued and uninterrupted international trade while supporting global public health.

(alkir; BigStock.com)
(alkir; BigStock.com)

Adapted from a press release:

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) published a revision of the organizations’ international standards for dog, cat and other other pet foods. The recently adopted revisions of OIE standards included science-based recommendations which recognize the safety of certain cooking practices for extruded dry pet food and heat-treated poultry meat products (including pet food) in a hermetically sealed container, and will allow for the continued and uninterrupted international trade while supporting global public health. The Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) contributed to the standard-setting process.

The new recommendations regarding pet food, published in the Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2021 edition), results from the organization’s work in developing international standards for animal health, animal welfare and veterinary public health that were adopted by the 182 Members of the OIE. The OIE’s Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapter 10.4., “Infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses,” includes new recommendations that recognize that extruded dry pet food and heat-treated poultry meat products (including pet food) in a hermetically sealed container can be traded internationally irrespective of the disease status of the exporting country. This means that even in if an exporting country has cases of infection with high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses, pet food makers can still manufacture and export them between different countries.

GAPFA first announced a renewable memorandum of understanding with the OIE in 2017, in which the organizations agreed to partner on relevant activities related to setting international standards in pet food safety. The global association maintains strategic partnerships with multiple organizations that share the common goals of promoting pet food safety and nutrition, pet wellbeing and the human-animal bond. The international association maintains additional partnerships with the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) and the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI).

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