Safety & Quality: Page 104

Registration opens for Petfood Forum and Petfood Workshop 2014

Registration is open for Petfood Forum 2014, scheduled for March 31-April 2, and Petfood Workshop: Marketing to Today’s Consumers, April 2-3.

Logistics issues for petfood companies in growth mode

Even recalls due to circumstances beyond a company’s control, or stemming from a problem initiated by a vendor, are unwelcome. A recall can damage valuable assets such as brand image and integrity, both of which are only earned after years of hard work, and of course the petfood industry is no stranger to recalls. Not only can brand image be damaged, the financial consequences can be devastating. Whether you transport the product back to your facility or have it destroyed, multiple complicated logistical elements need to fall in place.

Finding the right partner can be the key factor to success. Just as in a personal relationship, you want to match culture as closely as possible.

Merrick Pet Care petfood facility earns SQF Level 3 certification

Merrick Pet Care’s 195,000-square-foot petfood production facility in Hereford, Texas, USA, earned the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Level 3 certification, signifying Merrick completed a stringent food safety auditing process and verifies that their facilities are in compliance with Certified Hazard Analysis, Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety plans. The SQF Level 3 certification is administered by the Safe Quality Food Institute, a division of the Food Marketing Institute.

AAFCO opens registration for 2014 Midyear Meeting

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has opened registration for its 2014 Midyear Meeting, planned for January 8-10, 2014, at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The meeting will provide an opportunity for one-on-one conversations and networking with Control Officials, industry representatives and others interested in working together on animal feed and petfood issues.

Confusion on petfood coverage in proposal to label genetically modified foods

Advertisements for a proposal to label genetically modified foods in Washington, USA, are causing confusion over whether or not the initiative would cover petfood and meats for human consumption. The fight over the wording of the proposal comes after a measure known as Proposition 37 was defeated in California, USA, in 2012, which had similar wording and major companies funding both sides of the proposal.

Pet Food Regulations

FDA offers guidance on food and color additives in petfoods

In September, the agency published two guidance documents (one proposed, one final) regarding additives for use in animal feed, including petfood. The subject matter that is covered by these documents is not particularly new; however, the guidance they offer to the petfood industry is very helpful.

US government shutdown delays release of FSMA Preventative Controls for Animal Food proposed rule

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) furloughed 68 percent of its staff as a result of the US government shutdown, which impacts the monitoring of foodborne illnesses and contaminants and delays indefinitely the release of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Preventive Controls for Animal Food proposed rule.

Pet Food Market

Petfood and GMO legislation cross paths again

While the US federal government shutdown may threaten legislative-related activity, such as the pending release of the preventive control rule for feed (including petfood) under the Food Safety Modernization Act, plenty of things are still happening at the state and local level. For example, a proposed law on the ballot for November 5 elections in Washington state that would require labeling of genetically modified foods is causing a war of words that has ensnared petfood.

Dog and Cat Food Nutrition

FDA guidance document on new regulations for color additives in petfood available

The US Food and Drug Administration made available a document to help small businesses comply with regulations on declaring color additives in food for animals. The Guidance for Industry #223, Small Entity Compliance Guide – Declaring Color Additives in Animal Foods, provides background information plus answers to questions on the 2011 regulation, which requires all color additives subject to FDA’s certification process be listed on product labels for petfood and animal feed.

Grants for 2014 pet industry trade shows to be given by UK government

Government funding has been secured for two major international pet industry trade shows to be held in 2014, as a result of successful bids by the PetQuip association. Exhibitors at both Interzoo and Global Pet Expo will be funded with grants thanks to PetQuip, the nonprofit UK organization that works to help UK pet care firms grow business internationally.

Pet Food Market

Finished product testing a hot petfood safety topic

Should petfood manufacturers regularly test their finished products for Salmonella, holding them in inventory until test results return? And should that testing be mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of the new preventive control rule for feed soon to be released under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)?

Joint petfood, feed meeting addresses upcoming FSMA preventive control rule

Petfood and feed industry experts speaking at the 2013 Feed and Pet Food Joint Conference [link] September 24-26 discussed elements and challenges of the preventive control rule for feed soon to be released under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). Participants in the conference, presented in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, by the Pet Food Institute and National Grain & Feed Association, also heard from a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the rule.

Page 104 of 154