Pet Food Regulations: Page 47

California voters reject Prop. 37 food labeling initiative

On election day, voters in California, USA, rejected Proposition 37, an initiative aimed at providing consumers with information about genetically engineered food. If passed, the initiative would have mandated that processed foods no longer be labeled as "natural," and retailers would be responsible for ensuring all processed foods containing any covered any covered material are identified as “Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering” or “May be Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering.”

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No GMO labeling required for petfoods (yet)

For readers outside of California who do not follow state election issues, there was an initiative on the November 6th ballot that, if passed, would have had profound effects on petfood labeling nationwide. The “California Right to Know Genetically Engineered Food Act,” better known as Prop #37, enjoyed an early lead in the polls with over 70% of the state population supporting the measure. However, a reported $45.6 million negative campaign apparently swayed voters otherwise, so in the end it lost with approximately 47% in favor and 53% opposed (at last count).

Pet Food Market

Petfood and food labeling initiative on California ballot defeated

Proposition 37, an initiative on the California election ballot that would have required manufacturers and retailers to label any products made with genetically modified ingredients and prohibited use of the label claim "natural" for any processed food products (including petfoods), has been defeated. As of the latest election results on Wednesday, November 7, the ballot measure trailed 53% to 47%, with 98% of the vote counted, according to Silicon Valley MercuryNews.com.

Pet Food Market

US election outcomes could affect petfood safety, labeling

When I was in Shanghai, China, a few weeks ago for Petfood Forum China and Pet Fair Asia, I was somewhat surprised by the number of people who asked about the US presidential election on November 6. I suppose I underestimated how integrated China is becoming into the global economy and political scene, and how much news from outside the country reaches its citizens despite government censorship and blocking of certain media.

Council of Agriculture promotes petfood bill in Taiwan

The Council of Agriculture recently promoted its petfood bill at the Legislative Yuan public hearing, stressing that Taiwan lacks comprehensive laws to regulate the local petfood industry. First introduced in March and currently under review, the proposed “Pet Food Safety Management Act” would require commercial petfood manufacturers to provide ingredients labeling and comply with residue levels for harmful substances.

Petfood Industry hosts successful first Petfood Forum China

Petfood Industry and WATT successfully held the first WATT Petfood Forum China on October 12, at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center, in Shanghai, China. Petfood Forum China's 170 attendees from China, Japan, Thailand, the US and Europe had the chance to listen to a variety of educational sessions, covering topics from pet nutrition to petfood regulation and safety to petfood packaging.

Petfood Forum China attendees learned from industry experts about pet nutrition, petfood safety, regulations, packaging and more.

European Commission regulation limits melamine in petfood

After recent reports of wet petfood containing melamine levels in excess of the 2.5 mg/kg legal limit, the European Commission created a Regulation to amend Annex 1 to Directive 2002/32/EC, which sets the legal maximum level of melamine in animal feed. Although the legal limit of melamine in canned petfood will remain at 2.5 mg/kg, a footnote has been added to state that this is on an “as sold” basis rather than a 12 percent moisture basis.

AFIA to host petfood Import/Export Seminar in December

The American Feed Industry Association will host the Import/Export Seminar, December 4-5, in Arlington, Virginia, USA, to educate and discuss with industry members the regulatory trade requirements for petfood, feed and ingredient industries. Participants will learn about current constraints, hear regional trade updates, and learn about the roles and resources of different government agencies.

Petfood companies must re-register with FDA by December 31

A part of the Food Safety Modernization Act, facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold petfood in the US or foreign petfood facilities that export to the US must re-register with the US Food and Drug Administration in even-numbered years. In 2012, facilities must re-register between October 1 and December 31, or face civil or criminal penalties, including the possibility of product seizure and plant closure.

Pet Food Regulations

FDA proposes guidelines for therapeutic petfoods

The concept of using diet in the management of disease in dogs and cats can be traced back to the 1940s, when Mark Morris Sr., DVM, first marketed a restricted protein product for the feeding of dogs with chronic kidney disease. Since that time, therapeutic petfoods (also known as veterinary medical foods) have shown themselves to be a vital component of the veterinary practitioner’s arsenal for managing a number of medical conditions.

Pet Food Ingredients

Petfood Forum debuts in China

Petfood Forum, the premier group of events exclusive to the global petfood manufacturing industry, is debuting in China next week. Petfood professionals from throughout China and the world will come together on October 12 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center.

FDA Annual Report criticized for omitting status of regulations

In August, the US Food and Drug Administration submitted its second Annual Report on Food Facilities, Food Imports and FDA Foreign Offices, as required by the Food Safety Modernization Act, which details the progress FDA has made in protecting petfood and food safety. However, organizations criticize FDA because the Report does not include the status of some regulations the Food Safety Modernization Act required to be publicized, including:

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