FDA Revises Animal Feed Safety Rule

Today Congressman Cramer applauded the recent decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow farmers better access to spent grains from breweries and distilleries. In 2013, the FDA proposed a restrictive rule based on the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which would have applied burdensome regulations to the distribution of spent grains for use as animal food. After receiving comments from stakeholders, the FDA announced they are changing their proposals and seeking public comment for 75 days.

"I am happy our calls to temper some of the onerous potential of FSMA have been heeded by the FDA. It's unfortunate it took this much effort to achieve a common sense correction, considering the rule in its original form would only encourage the growth of landfills, rather than the bellies of our livestock," said Cramer.

For hundreds of years, brewers and distillers have allowed farmers access to their leftover grains for use as animal feed, for little or no cost. The FDA's initial rule threatened to disrupt this mutually beneficial arrangement by forcing the brewers to dry and package the grains instead of simply allowing farmers to pick up the grains as-is.

Congressman Cramer is a cosponsor of the Protecting the Sustainable Use of Spent Grains Act of 2014, which exempts alcohol-related facilities who distribute spent grains used for animal consumption from this rule.

"I encourage any concerned North Dakotans to submit comments on this revised rule, because it is not too late to weigh in and have an impact on the outcome. The FDA has said it will consider comments received on the original rule, as well as comments received on this revised version, before issuing a final rule in 2015," Cramer added.

Source