The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 20 released the sixth rule pertaining to the Food Safety Modernization Act. The proposed rule, Focused Mitigation Strategies to Protect Food against Intentional Adulteration, would require registered domestic and foreign food facilities to address hazards that may be intentionally introduced by acts of terrorism.

Animal food is one of several exemptions listed by FDA in the proposed rule.

"It is our understanding that under FDA's risk-based approach, animal feed and petfood were given an exemption from this rule because of their significantly reduced risk of causing intentional harm to human health," said Leah Wilkinson, American Feed Industry Association (AFIA)'s director of ingredients, petfood and state affairs. "AFIA agrees with FDA's conclusion and will work with our members to provide comments on this proposed rule."

The intentional adulteration rule is published in the December 24 Federal Register. FDA plans to host a public meeting in regards to the rule in College Park, Maryland, USA, on February 20, 2014. Comments on the proposed rule are due March 31, 2014.