Feed Laws and Labeling
Feed regulations and laws control manufacture and distribution of commercial
feeds, mineral supplements, liquid supplements, premixes, and other feed
supplements. Feed regulations and laws were established to ensure orderly
commerce and the health of animals and humans. In general, the Department
of Agriculture of each state administers regulations and laws. Companies
in the commercial production of feeds are regulated. For a commercial
feed company to produce and market a feed requires the product to be registered
with the regulatory agency of the state. The state agency is responsible
for sampling and analyzing the composition of the product in a state laboratory
to ensure the product is consistent with the information on the label.
The results of the analysis are published and available to the consumer.
In the United States, most agencies use the Model Feed Bill as the basis
for regulations. The Model Feed Bill was developed by the Association
of American Feed Control Officials (AFCO). AFCO is an organization of
individuals representing various commercial feed regulatory agencies of
North America. AFCO facilitates the development and implementation of
"uniform and equitable laws, regulations, standards, and definitions
and enforcement policies for regulating the manufacture, labeling, distribution,
and sale of animal feeds, resulting in safe, effective, and useful feeds."
The Model Feed Bill states various regulations regarding the manufacture,
labeling, distribution, and sale of animal feeds. Click on the following
link for information regarding AFCO and publications available through
AFCO:http://www.aafco.org/.
Labels provide the consumer information regarding product content. Labeling
regulations encompass the required, optional, and prohibited information
to be stated on the label. In addition, the label must state instructions
for the appropriate use of the product. The requirements of the label
are to: 1) identify the product; 2) inform of the nature of and intended
purpose of the product; 3) provided instructions on proper use of the
product; and 4) state specific cautions regarding use of the product,
if applicable. Regarding nonmedicated feeds, labels are required to be
attached to each bag or product or available for product sold in bulk,
with the exception of labels for custom feeds. All medicated feeds must
be labeled.
In general, labels of nonmedicated feeds are required to state: 1) product
name and brand name, if applicable; 2) guaranteed analysis; 3) list of
ingredients; 4) purpose statement; 5) directions for use; 6) warnings,
if applicable; 7) name and address of manufacturer; and 8) net weight.
Figure 10-1 on page 196 of the text illustrates a typical label for a
nonmedicated feed.
A medicated feed is defined as an animal feed containing one or more drugs
at any level. Food and Drug Administration is responsible for classification
of a compound as a drug. Medicated feeds include medicated complete feeds
intended to be the sole feedstuff in the ration, medicated supplements
safe for direct consumption and can be offered ad-libitum, and medicated
concentrates to be mixed with other feedstuffs prior to being fed. In
addition to the information stated on a nonmedicated feed label, additional
information required on the label of a medicated feed includes: 1) the
term "medicated"; 2) purpose statement of the medication; 3)
names and amounts of active ingredients; and 4) warning statement regarding
minimum withdrawal period, if applicable. Figure 10-2 on page 197 of the
text illustrates a typical label for a medicated feed.
Prior to the sale of medicated feeds, manufacturers are required to file
and receive approval from the FDA. In addition, manufacturers must be
familiar with the Good Manufacturing Practice Regulations in the Federal
Register and submit periodic samples of medicated feeds for analysis.
Common issues with medicated feeds are feeding to animal species, in concentrations,
and/or in combinations not approved by the FDA. Manufacture or feeding
of medicated feeds in methods not approved by the FDA is illegal.
Custom feeds are feeds prepared for an individual customer. Custom feeds
are required to have a label and a shipping document. The documents must
provide: 1) product name and brand name, if applicable; 2) net weight
of each ingredient; 3) adequate instructions on product use; 4) any applicable
precautionary statements; 5) name and address of feed manufacturer; 6)
name and address of purchaser; and 7) date of delivery.
In general, a guaranteed analysis provides information on minimum and/or
maximum levels of specific components. In general, a guaranteed analysis
will provide information on dry-matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude
fiber, ash, nitrogen-free extract, calcium, phosphorus, and salt, and
various additional components. Specific information provided in the guaranteed
analysis of labels varies by species. Table 10-1 on page 195 of the text
provides a partial list of information required for each specie by the
Model Feed Bill. Additional data required also varies by state. States
may require a statement of percentage of roughage ingredients in the product.
States may require maximum moisture and minimum total sugar content for
liquid supplements. Regulations regarding NPN compounds require a statement
of maximum amount of NPN included in the product. In addition, dependent
on the NPN and total crude protein content, the label may be required
to provide information on safe use of the product. In general, states
require products containing specific NPN compounds to state the product
only be fed to ruminants.
In general, ingredients are listed according to relative concentration
in the product; listed in descending order. In general, feed manufacturers
use collective feed names on the product labels. Use of collective feed
names means manufacturers are not required to state each ingredient and
reregister a product for formulation changes within a collective feed
class. The collective terms and various feedstuffs in each category approved
by AFCO are listed on pages 41-43 of the text. Commercial feed formulas
that do not state the amount of each ingredient are often referred to
as closed formulas.
Product labels also state the classification systems for various animal
species. The classification system for each specie is provided on the
label to clarify the intended use of the product and to facilitate the
appropriate use of the product. The classification system states the criteria
for each class within a specie. Each specie has a separate classification
system.
Name and address of feed manufacturer must be clearly stated on the label.
Feed manufacturers are responsible for the feed produced and are legally
responsible in the event the product does not meet quality guarantees.
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