ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, US — The Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development (FEED) Act was introduced in the US Senate on May 22.

The bipartisan bill, a companion to HR 2203 introduced in the US House of Representatives on March 18, would create a proper regulatory review process at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for new animal food solutions that would improve animal health and production, food safety and on-farm conservation, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) said.

Currently, animal food ingredients with non-nutritive purposes — such as those that reduce pathogens or emissions — must undergo the same approval process as animal drugs, a lengthy and ill-fitting approach that can delay innovation by up to a decade.

Constance Cullman, president and chief executive officer of the AFIA, said passage of this legislation would help bring these new innovations to the American marketplace in a timely manner and help the animal food industry remain competitive with other countries that already have updated their regulatory review systems.

“The animal food industry envisions a healthier world for both people and animals through advanced animal food solutions, but the FDA’s outdated review system has not kept up with the pace of innovation,” Cullman said, crediting Senator Roger Marshall of Kansas, for his leadership in getting the bill introduced.

“Congress now has the ability to pursue a legislative fix that would give the FDA the tools it needs to more appropriately review new animal food ingredients with non-nutritive benefits,” she said.

The Innovative FEED Act is supported by many organizations across the food and agriculture value chain, including the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA).