The American Feed Industry Association’s pet food committee met virtually this month to discuss topics that impact pet food production and marketing and conduct formal business. It was a widely attended committee meeting, with a record number of over 50 members of the pet food member interest group also participating.
Bill Burkholder, with the Division of Animal Feeds at the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, provided a brief update on the proposed inspection activity for fiscal year 2021. George Ferguson, feed administrator for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, briefed the committee on the progress being made to develop a definition for human grade pet food within the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ working group. Annell Greene, of the Animal Co-Products Research & Education Center at Clemson University, discussed the university’s robust research program addressing many issues of importance to the rendering and pet food manufacturing industries. The AFIA staff also provided updates on association specific activities.
The committee named Tim Law of Darling Ingredients, Inc. to serve as the committee secretary, moving him into the leadership group with Ryan Frank of Mars Petcare US as the chair, Matt Frederking of Mid America Pet Food as the chair-elect and Scott Baker of SEM Minerals, LP as the past-chair.
For more information about the AFIA Pet Food Committee or the AFIA Pet Food Member Interest Group, contact Louise Calderwood, AFIA’s director of regulatory affairs.
