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It is time to close out the 2024 year and report distribution for the July – December 2024 period. For your convenience, pre-populated inspection fee report forms have been sent out by our Feed Advisor, Lizette Beckman. If you have not received the report, please email feedreg@agr.wa.gov to request the form or you can find the form on our program website along with additional information about commercial feed inspection fee reporting. Note the important information in the email to help ensure you submit a complete and accurate report and avoid it being returned with possible late fees.
Remember, if you are registered or licensed with the department, you are required to file a semiannual report regardless of the amount distributed or if fees are due.
The deadline for reports to be submitted to the department (not postmarked) is January 31, 2025.
Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) Corner
Handling and Storage Instructions on PFLM compliant labels are optional. However, if a company choose to utilize this option, there are specific graphics that are used on a pet food or specialty pet food label to communicate those instructions to the consumer. The graphics above can be found on the PFLM Resources section of the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) website at https://www.aafco.org/pflm
In addition, if the Handling and Storage Instructions are present, the following regulations must be followed:
- The instructions should have a bolded header: “Handling and Storage Instructions”
- Header is not required for small packages with a total printable area less than 40 square inches.
- Must be separate and distinct from any feeding directions
- Must be displayed in a conspicuous manner
- If graphics are used, only the graphics shown above may be used. These graphics and accompanying text are available on the AAFCO website.
You may also reach out to our Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food Specialist, Kim Truett at KTruett@agr.wa.gov.
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Welcome to the Animal Feed Program Newsletter
A monthly newsletter with quick news, information, and tips for the animal food industry in Washington State and beyond..
In This Issue
 Acronyms & abbreviations found in this issue
AAFCO: Association of American Feed Control Officials
AFIC: Animal Food Ingredient Consultation
AFP: Animal Feed Program
ASF: African Swine Fever
CBD: Cannabidiol
CDP: Cannabis-derived Products
FDA: US Food & Drug Administration
FFGWAP: Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program
GFI: Guidance for Industry
GMP: Good Manufacturing Practices
GRAS: Generally Recognized as Safe
IPPE: International Production and Processing Expo
PFLM: Pet Food Label Modernization
RFI: Request for Information
WSDA: Washington State Department of Agriculture
WSU: Washington State University
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Free Resources and Assistance from the Department of Commerce
 Washington Department of Commerce has partnered with Hagerty Consulting to launch the Federal Funds Grant Writing Assistance Program (FFGWAP) to assist community-based organizations, local government agencies, tribes, businesses, and other entities eligible to receive federal funds. This includes food banks, food hubs, school districts, library districts and more.
This is a FREE service to help your organization with applying for federal grants that support clean energy, climate resilience, and Greenhouse Gas emission reduction projects and programs. This service can help you with proposal writing and development, aligning federal opportunities to organizational and community projects, navigating federal rules and regulations, proposal design and project management, and more! They also offer grant writing technical support.
Looking for grant opportunities? Visit FundHubWA.
If you are an organization or government agency within Washington that is eligible to receive federal funding, you can email WAFederalGrants@hagertyconsulting.com to learn more about the FFGWAP.
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FDA Finalizes Guidance on Interim Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) Process
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) finalized Guidance for Industry (GFI) #294: Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC).
As previously announced in August 2024, the FDA is evaluating its current pre-market animal food review programs, specifically the animal Food Additive Petition and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Notification programs, to determine if changes are needed to better serve public health and improve the path to market for new animal food ingredients. While the FDA conducts its program evaluation, the agency intends to conduct voluntary consultations with firms developing animal food ingredients through the new Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) process, which is described in GFI #294.
AFIC is an interim process providing an additional way for firms to consult with the FDA regarding animal food ingredients and for the FDA to identify potential safety concerns associated with such ingredients, to help support firms developing animal food ingredients for which they may have otherwise utilized the AAFCO ingredient definition process.
For more information: FDA Finalizes Guidance on Interim Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) Process.
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FDA Solicits Public Comments on Use of Cannabis-Derived Products in Veterinary Medicine
The FDA CVM has released a request for information (RFI) soliciting comments from the public, particularly veterinarians, related to the use of cannabis-derived products (CDP) in animals. The focus of this RFI is on cannabidiol (CBD) products and other products derived from hemp. The FDA is interested in general trends associated with these products, such as information about usage trends (e.g., product selection, indications, etc.), quality standards, benefits of use, potential drug interactions, adverse events and safety problems, and toxicological concerns.
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Educational Opportunities |
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Jan. 17, 2025
Virtual Webinar
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Supply Chain Program Webinar for Food Safety Modernization Act
This training helps small to medium food processors learn more about the supply chain requirements. Small and medium businesses are businesses, including any affiliates and subsidiaries, employing fewer than 500 full-time equivalent employees. Register here.
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Jan. 21-23, 2025
In-person, Virtual, or Listen-in Meeting
Little Rock, AR
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AAFCO Midyear Meeting
Members will be voting on AFIC and an AAFCO ingredient pathway proposal. Visit the event page to learn more.
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Jan. 23, 2025
Virtual Webinar
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WSU - Basics of Sanitation & GMP en español
This virtual course provides basic information about sanitation & GMPs for food plants. The course walks through the principles of sanitation, sanitation chemicals, employee practices, plant design, and other related topics in Spanish. Visit WSU's website.
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Jan 28-30, 2025
In-Person Expo
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Jan. 29, 2025
Virtual Webinar Series
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FDA & Stop Foodborne Illness - Food Safety Culture
The FDA is again partnering with Stop Foodborne Illness to co-host this seven-part webinar series. Each hour-long webinar will feature industry experts who will address critical aspects of food safety culture, building from basic assumptions which underpin an organization’s food safety work to the messages and programs which support an organization’s food safety culture.
For more information and to register, click here.
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Jan. 31, 2025
In-Person Training
Othello, WA
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WSU - Dry Cleaning and Sanitizing Workshop
This workshop is on managing microbial risks in dry produce packing facilities with a focus on the onion industry. The focus will be on cleaning and sanitizing practices to minimize cross-contamination and support compliance with the Produce Safety Rule. This session will explore the latest outbreaks (2020 and 2024), provide hands-on activities like cross-contamination simulations, and the efficacy of different dry alcohol-based sanitizers. Visit this link to register.
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Feb. 12, 2025
In-Person Training
Tukwila, WA
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WSU - Internal Auditing Training
This workshop is designed to provide a brief introduction to various third-party audits. After taking the workshop, participants will be able to understand the differences between GMP and Global Food Safety Initiative accredited audit programs. The workshop will also provide an overview of some of the major programs and resources required to implement and maintain a third-party audit program successfully.
Visit WSU's website for more information.
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Feed For Thought
the monthly installment of tidbits and did you knows
Study casts doubt on efficacy of ingredient holding times for African Swine Fever
University of Minnesota researchers see “no appreciable decline” of virus in feed after 120-day holding period.
Holding feed and feed ingredients, including soybean meal, at high temperatures for extended periods of time may not be as effective in combating African swine fever (ASF) as suggested by previous studies, according to new research from the University of Minnesota.
The Minnesota researchers measured “no appreciable decline in viral concentration” in ingredients and feed stored up to 120 days at 34 degrees Celsius (93.2 degrees Fahrenheit), according to Gerald “Jerry” Shurson, a professor of animal science at the University of Minnesota.
To read the full article at FeedStrategy.com, click the button below.
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Animal Feed Program Mission: We regulate the production and distribution of animal food to ensure its safety and integrity, in order to protect animal and public health and to ensure market fairness. |
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