AAFCO Meeting Begins Thursday August 10, 2017

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is set to commence its annual meeting in Bellevue, Washington, on Thursday, August 10, 2017, marking a pivotal moment for discussions that shape the landscape of pet food and animal feed regulation across the United States. This gathering, scheduled to open its general session at 8 AM Pacific Time, is a crucial forum where industry stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and consumer advocates converge to deliberate on ingredient definitions, labeling standards, and enforcement policies. For the first time in its history, AAFCO began offering options for public participation, allowing interested consumers to listen to key sessions online via WebEx or through a dedicated conference call line, underscoring a nascent shift towards greater transparency in its proceedings.

Understanding AAFCO: The Architect of Pet Food Standards

AAFCO, an independent, non-profit organization, stands as the bedrock of pet food regulation in the United States. Its membership comprises representatives from state departments of agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While not a direct regulatory agency in the traditional governmental sense, AAFCO plays a profoundly influential quasi-regulatory role. The organization is primarily responsible for developing and owning the legal definitions of all pet food and animal feed ingredients. Furthermore, it crafts "model bills" and regulations that are frequently adopted verbatim as state law, effectively standardizing the requirements for pet food manufacturing, labeling, and distribution across different states. This unique position means that AAFCO’s decisions directly impact what goes into pet food, how it’s described on packaging, and ultimately, what pet owners feed their animals.

The pet food industry is a significant economic sector, with market values consistently in the tens of billions of dollars annually. In 2017, the U.S. pet food market was estimated to be well over $25 billion, a figure that highlights the vast scale and economic importance of the industry regulated by AAFCO’s guidelines. The sheer volume of products and the diversity of ingredients necessitate a robust, standardized regulatory framework, which AAFCO strives to provide. Its guidelines aim to ensure product safety, nutritional adequacy, and truthful labeling, although consumer advocates often argue for greater transparency and stricter adherence to "human-grade" standards.

The Regulatory Landscape: A Tripartite System

The regulation of pet food in the U.S. operates under a complex tripartite system involving federal, state, and AAFCO authorities. The FDA, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), is the primary federal agency responsible for ensuring the safety and proper labeling of pet food. It sets national standards for feed ingredients and monitors for adulteration and misbranding. State feed control officials, often part of state departments of agriculture, are responsible for enforcing these regulations within their respective states, frequently adopting AAFCO’s model regulations and definitions into state law. AAFCO itself acts as the standard-setting body, providing the definitions, labeling guidelines, and model regulations that both federal and state authorities utilize. This interconnected system, while aiming for consistency, can sometimes lead to challenges in enforcement and create confusion regarding specific standards, particularly as the industry evolves with new ingredients and manufacturing processes.

Key Discussions and Agenda Highlights

The August 2017 AAFCO meeting is particularly anticipated due to several critical agenda items, especially those concerning ingredient definitions and the ongoing Pet Food Label Modernization initiative. While public meetings are held twice a year (January and August), AAFCO members and stakeholder representatives engage in numerous additional meetings throughout the year, often via webinars. The results and proposals from these internal discussions frequently culminate in presentations and decisions at the public sessions, making these meetings crucial disclosure points.

For pet food consumers, two sessions stand out as most significant: the Ingredient Definitions Committee meeting and the Pet Food Committee meeting, both scheduled for Friday, August 11, 2017.

The Ingredient Definitions Committee: Scrutinizing "High Profile Ingredients"

The Ingredient Definitions Committee meeting is slated for Friday, August 11, 2017, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM Pacific Time. This committee is charged with the vital task of establishing and refining the legal definitions for all ingredients used in pet food and animal feed. These definitions are paramount because they dictate how manufacturers can describe ingredients on product labels and what quality standards those ingredients must meet.

One particularly intriguing item on this committee’s agenda is "Discussions: a) Status on high profile ingredients." While specific ingredients are not detailed in the public agenda, "high profile" could refer to a range of substances that have recently garnered significant industry or consumer attention. This might include novel proteins (e.g., insect meal, alternative meats), plant-based ingredients, or by-products that have been the subject of debate regarding their nutritional value, sourcing, or processing methods. For example, discussions around "meat meal" definitions have historically involved debates over the type, quality, and processing of animal tissues included. Similarly, the use of certain synthetic additives or preservatives often generates discussion. The outcomes of these discussions can significantly impact both ingredient procurement for manufacturers and consumer perception of product quality and transparency. Clear, precise definitions are essential for preventing mislabeling and ensuring that consumers understand exactly what they are purchasing.

The Pet Food Committee: Driving Label Modernization and "Feed vs. Food" Disclosure

Following the Ingredient Definitions Committee, the Pet Food Committee meeting will take place on Friday, August 11, 2017, from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time. This session is expected to feature critical discussions surrounding the Pet Food Label Modernization working group, an initiative aimed at overhauling existing pet food label requirements to enhance clarity and consumer understanding.

A central point of discussion at this meeting is a proposal for a "feed/food labeling disclosure." This initiative, strongly advocated by consumer representatives such as Susan Thixton of TruthAboutPetFood.com and Mollie Morrissette, seeks to mandate clear labeling that differentiates between ingredients considered "feed grade" and those meeting "human-grade" or "food grade" standards. Currently, many pet food ingredients, even if derived from sources that could be consumed by humans, are often produced and handled under conditions that do not meet human food safety standards, thus classifying them as "feed grade." Consumer advocates argue that without this explicit disclosure, pet owners are often misled into believing their pet’s food contains ingredients equivalent to those found in human food products.

The FDA has reportedly shown support for this labeling requirement, a stance that consumer advocates hoped would be publicly reaffirmed at this AAFCO meeting. This federal backing would lend significant weight to the proposal, potentially accelerating its integration into AAFCO’s model regulations. In anticipation of this meeting, consumer advocates organized a petition to demonstrate widespread public support for the "feed/food" disclosure. This petition, which closed for signatures on Tuesday, August 8, 2017, was intended to be presented to the Pet Food Committee, underscoring the strong consumer demand for greater transparency. The petition aimed to gather a substantial number of signatures to impress upon AAFCO the urgency and importance of this labeling change.

The implications of adopting a "feed/food" disclosure are substantial. For consumers, it would provide unprecedented clarity, allowing them to make more informed choices based on their desired quality and safety standards for their pets’ diets. For manufacturers, it could necessitate significant changes in sourcing, processing, and labeling practices. Those currently using feed-grade ingredients might face pressure to upgrade their supply chains to meet human-grade standards or clearly differentiate their products. While this could entail increased costs for some producers, it also presents an opportunity for brands committed to higher quality to distinguish themselves in the market.

Public Access and Engagement

AAFCO has made provisions for public access to these critical discussions. For both the Ingredient Definitions Committee and the Pet Food Committee meetings on August 11, 2017, individuals can register to view the meeting via WebEx (accessible at fass.webex.com) or listen in through a conference call line (US TOLL 1-650-479-3207). Specific access codes are provided for each session: 660 195 549# for the Ingredient Definitions Committee and 666 808 790# for the Pet Food Committee. Agendas for these sessions are also made publicly available on the AAFCO website, providing a roadmap for the discussions. This public accessibility represents an important step towards demystifying the pet food regulatory process and empowering consumers to engage directly with the decision-making bodies.

Broader Impact and Future Implications

The decisions and discussions at this AAFCO meeting, particularly concerning ingredient definitions and label modernization, carry significant implications for the future of the pet food industry and pet ownership. Clearer, more precise ingredient definitions can enhance product integrity and reduce consumer confusion, fostering greater trust between pet owners and manufacturers. The "feed/food" disclosure, if adopted, could redefine quality perception in the pet food market, potentially leading to a bifurcation of products explicitly labeled for their ingredient grade. This could drive innovation and competition among manufacturers to meet evolving consumer expectations for transparency and quality.

Historically, the pet food industry has faced various challenges, including significant recalls (such as the 2007 melamine recall) and ongoing concerns about ingredient sourcing and safety. These events have consistently highlighted the need for robust regulatory oversight and transparent labeling. The push for label modernization and specific disclosures like "feed/food" status is a direct response to these historical challenges and consumer demands for better information. Consumer advocates, through their persistent engagement and lobbying efforts, have played an increasingly vital role in shaping these discussions, demonstrating the power of organized public interest in influencing regulatory bodies.

As the meeting concludes, a full report of its outcomes is anticipated, providing detailed insights into the decisions made and the path forward for pet food regulation. The ongoing work of AAFCO, beyond these public meetings, through numerous webinars and working group sessions, signifies a continuous effort to adapt and refine standards in a dynamic industry. The August 2017 AAFCO meeting in Bellevue stands as a testament to the complex interplay between industry, government, and consumer advocacy in striving for a safer, more transparent, and trustworthy pet food supply.