TSCRA Daily News Update, April 25, 2008

FDA releases enhanced feed rule

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued its final enhanced cattle feed rule which bars certain materials from all animal feed, including pet food. The rule is scheduled for publication in Friday's Federal Register and is due to be fully implemented on April 25, 2009.

The final rule amends FDA's existing regulations to prohibit the use of certain materials in the food or feed for all animals. These prohibited materials include the following:

The entire carcass of BSE-positive cattle
The brains and spinal cords from cattle 30 months of age and older
The entire carcass of cattle not inspected nor passed for human consumption that are 30 months of age or older from which brains and spinal cords were not removed
Tallow that is derived from BSE positive cattle
Tallow that is derived from other materials prohibited by this rule that contain more than 0.15 percent insoluble impurities
Mechanically separated beef that is derived from the materials prohibited by this rule

NCBA is still reviewing the rule in order to better understand the implications of this rule for cattle producers, including the potential economic impact. A more detailed analysis of this rule will be reflected in NCBA's comments.