$8 million for FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine in spending package passed by House

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On Wednesday, July 20, the House of Representatives voted 220 to 207 to pass HR 8294, a 2023 bundle of 6 spending bills that includes $8 million for the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine. The funding will be allocated to improving the FDA’s review and approval process for animal food ingredients and for developing regulations on ingredient claims related to animal production, wellbeing, food safety, and the environment.^1-2

The funding was included as an amendment, introduced by Rep. Jim Baird of Indiana and included bipartisan sponsors. The pet food and animal feed industry anticipates this funding will help expedite FDA approval for new food ingredients.

“We thank Rep. Baird and his cosponsors for their forward thinking,” said Pet Food Institute (PFI) president and CEO Dana Brooks in a press release.³ “It’s critical that the U.S. has a regulatory framework that allows for the timely approval of pet food ingredients that represent the latest in nutrition science. The goal of pet food manufacturers is to develop recipes that deliver the nutrients our pets need to live long, healthy lives. A timely approval path allows manufacturers to make the latest innovations available to consumers as quickly as possible.”

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) also released a statement from president and CEO Constance Cullman⁴:

“Rep. Baird said it best when he shared that it is important for the United States to have a regulatory framework that offers a timely and predictable path to the marketplace for feed ingredients and that can keep pace with the evolving science of animal nutrition. The additional FDA funding for feed ingredient reviews in the House-passed spending bill is a huge win for the US feed industry, putting us more on-par with other countries that continue to move forward with safe ingredients to enhance the safety, quality, environmental impact and nutrition of feed and pet food.”

The package includes $400 billion in spending overall, with 2023 funding bills for Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior and Environment, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.

References

1. House passes six-bill government funding package. News release. The House Committee on Appropriations. July 20, 2022. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://appropriations.house.gov/news/press-releases/house-passes-six-bill-government-funding-package
2. House Rules Committee. House Report 117-420. July 19, 2022. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://www.congress.gov/congressional-report/117th-congress/house-report/420
3. Pet Food Institute praises house amendment to increase FDA funding. News release [email]. The Pet Food Institute. July 25, 2022.
4. AFIA applauds house amendment to increase FDA funding for feed ingredient reviews. American Feed Industry Association. July 20, 2022. Accessed July 25, 2022. https://www.afia.org/news/news-release-items/afia-applauds-house-amendment-to-increase-fda-funding-for-feed-ingredient-reviews/