FDA updates feed enforcement rules to limit BSE spread

ROCKVILLE, MD. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an updated compliance report concerning its Ruminant Feed Ban.

The ban, which bars the use of most mammalian protein in feeds for ruminant animals, became effective in August 1997 to help prevent the establishment and amplification of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) through U.S. feed.

Now the agency's Center for Veterinary Medicine reports enforcement data that shows the compliance status of U.S. producers, distributors and manufacturers that deal with animal proteins.

Of the 47,000 inspection reports FDA has received, information was gleaned from 30 percent of the nation's 5,476 firms handling prohibited materials. Official action was indicated for .01 percent of the operations. Voluntary action was indicated for 2.5 percent of the inspections. Operations inspected include feed mills, renderers, protein blenders, pet food manufacturers, animal feed salvagers, distributors, feed transporters and retailers, FDA reports.

Official action means regulatory sanctions are needed to address significant problems, while voluntary action signifies minor changes are required.