Iowa regulators back off pet food industry; FDAsteps in

Des Moines-Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials eased an Iowa crackdown on pet foods containing glucosamine and chondroitin last month with its resolution to review animal supplements, stripping the issue from the state's jurisdiction.

On paper, the Dec. 1 ban issued by the Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship remains in effect and poised to eradicate animal diets containing nutritional supplements from store shelves. National top sellers such as Hill's Science Diet and Iams Large Breed formula might have been actively prohibited, but FDA's move to review the products gives manufacturers temporary reprieve, says John Whipple, the agriculture department's bureau chief.

"The FDA is putting these supplements on low regulatory priority," Whipple says. "From our standpoint, that's where the issue sits."

FDA spokesman Jon Scheid confirms the agency's interest in researching the supplements but would not give specifics. State officials argue there's been no scientific proof concerning the efficacy or safety of supplements that purportedly ease digestive problems or promote joint health. If FDA fails to take a stand on animal supplements, products containing them must be considered animal feed and regulated by the state's agriculture department, Whipple says.

Although Iowa officials aren't changing supplements' status, pet food manufacturers can relax, says Nancy Cook, the Pet Food Institute's (PFI) vice president of technology and regulatory affairs. As a trade organization, PFI represents at least 30 pet food manufacturers in the United States.

Discretionary enforcement

"It's not going to be an issue for pet foods and supplements," she says. "I think the state will continue to enforce their ban on a company-by-company basis, but the issue has been de-emphasized. We're not jumping up and down, but the manufacturers are calm and happy now."

A move by FDA either way could halt efforts in at least a handful of states to ban supplements. While the federal agency takes a hands-off approach concerning human supplements, there has been no definitive position concerning those meant for animals. This leaves state regulators to determine the safety and efficacy of products on their own, Cook says.

Halting the spread

"It's never good to gloat about things when dealing with regulatory issues, but I sure am relieved FDA is thinking of a solution to all this," she says.