New feed rule effective Monday

Rockville, Md.

-- The implementation date for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's so-called BSE rule which identifies substances prohibited for use in animal food or feed has been set and will become effective April 27, 2009.

Despite the effective date, however, renderers will have additional time to comply with the new requirements, with the FDA establishing a compliance date of Oct. 26, 2009. The time extension for compliance will allow those affected by the rule to "identify appropriate methods for disposing of material prohibited from use in animal feed."

The FDA postponed the rules effective date April 9 to provide for a public comment period. It received more than 400 comments, most based on the time it would take to comply with the new rule.

"In consideration of all the comments received, FDA believes the most appropriate action is to confirm the April 27, 2009 effective date, and establish a compliance date of Oct. 26, 2009, for those who need additional time to address compliance and implementation concerns," the FDA states in its announcement of the effective date, released April 22.

Questions may be directed to Burt Pritchett, Center for Veterinary Medicine (HFV-22), FDA, 7519 Standish Place, Rockville, MD 20855, 240-453-6860, burt.pritchett@fda.hhs.gov.

For more information, visit the Federal Register's or the FDA's Web sites.