Feed Laws & Labeling
AnSci 320
2-27-12
Lance Baumgard
baumgard@iastate.edu
Feed Regulations and Additives
• General Feed Industry information:
– 300 m tons manufactured each yr. in the U.S.
• Various forms
• Either in the feed mill, or on farms
– ~10,000 feed mills in the U.S.
– ~30,000 feed outlets
• ~20,000 sell feed
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Bag
Bulk
Feed products
• Must register w/ the FDA if they mix feed w/ drugs
Feed Regulations and Additives
• Feed Labeling
– Required for all commercial feed products
• Primary communication between manufacturer and
purchaser
• Critical information:
 Identify product
 Nature of the product & intended use
 Usage instructions
 Cautionary information
Feed Regulations and Additives
• General Feed Additive information
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–
–
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Doesn’t include any min/vit supplements
Some require approval for use by FDA
Withdrawal times may be necessary
Instructions must be followed carefully
>1000 drug products are approved for use
FEED LAWS AND LABELING
• Regulations & laws relating to feed manufacture
and distribution have been established to
safeguard the health of humans and animals.
– Also to ensure orderly commerce & protect consumers.
– And protect the feed industry from unfair competition
and deceptive practices.
• In the U.S. the first regulations related to feeds
were implemented in 1909.
– Normally administrated by state Agriculture Depts.
– In other countries, other agencies may administer
these laws.
FEED LAWS AND LABELING
• Manufacture & distribution of commercial feeds,
mineral & liquid supplements, feed supplements
or premixes are controlled by these agencies.
– All companies that commercially produce a feed are
regulated by these laws.
• Feed regulations need to be universally applied
so each regulated party follows the same rules.
– Regulations should also include a means by which
those in violation are made known to the public.
• In the U.S., most feed regulation agencies use the
Model Feed Bill as the basis for their regulations.
Model Feed Bill
• Developed by American Feed Control Officials
(AFCO)
– Organization composed of individuals representing the
regulatory agencies of North America
– Endorsed by:
• American Feed Industry Association
• Pet Food Institute
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Label disclosure can inform consumers about
product content.
– With information about competing products, informed
decisions relating to product purchases can be made.
• Regulations must specify minimum information
provided on the label, optional information that
can be included, and information prohibited from
being put on the label of a feed product.
– Unsubstantiated performance claims can be as
misleading as unsubstantiated nutrient claims.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Labeling must also direct proper use of the
product, and regulations should ensure the label
provides the minimum information necessary for
correct use.
– Directions may be as simple as naming the species
for which the feed is intended.
– Or could provide a lengthy explanation as to how
the feed should be fed.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Label information should…
– Identify the product.
– Inform the purchaser/user of the nature of the
product and its intended purpose.
– Provide instruction on how to use the product.
– Convey any cautions pertaining to product use.
• Labels are required to be attached to individual
bags of feed or to be available for inspection
when feed is sold in bulk lots.
– Except for custom formula feeds.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Minor differences exist from state to state, but
feed labels generally contain the following:
– Product name and brand name, if any.
– Purpose statement.
– Guaranteed analysis.
– List of ingredients.
– Directions for use.
– Warnings, if any.
– Name and address of manufacturer.
– Net weight.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Custom feeds (prepared for a specific customer)
are to be accompanied by a label, delivery slip,
or other shipping document containing :
– Name & address of the manufacturer.
– Name & address of the purchaser; Date of delivery.
– Product name & brand name, if any.
– Net weight of each ingredient used in the mixture.
– Adequate directions for use of feeds containing
drugs or other ingredients to ensure their safe use.
– Such precautionary statements as are necessary
for safe and effective use of the feed.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Labels on human food items require ingredients
to be listed in order of amount.
– Starting with the item in highest concentration, and
continuing with those found in smaller quantities.
– Followed by feed manufacturers, though not specified
in the Model Feed Bill & most states do not require it.
• Most manufacturers use collective feed names to
avoid re-registration &preparation of new labels
if one or more ingredients are discontinued.
– Also allows the maker to avoid listing every specific
ingredient.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Commonly used groups are:
– Animal protein products; Forage products;
– Grain products; Plant protein products; Processed
grain by-products.
– Roughage products; Molasses products.
• The "Guaranteed Analysis" found on the label
normally requires that specific information be
provided, which differs among species.
• When labeling liquid supplements, some states
require a maximum moisture and minimum total
sugar content be given.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• A partial listing of the information required by
the Model Feed Bill.
LABELING REGULATIONS
• When nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) is used, the
maximum percentage included must be listed.
– NPN compounds can be toxic when fed to monogastric
animals.
• Generally, if formulation exceeds 8.75% crude
protein as NPN, or one-third of total CP, the label
must give directions to ensure safe usage.
– Usually including a precautionary statement.
– Several states require that any feed formulation
containing urea have a statement reading:
"For Ruminant Use Only" or "Feed Only to Ruminants."
LABELING REGULATIONS
• Most species are subdivided by classes, and
these classifications need to be listed on labels.
– Details on differences from state to state may be
found in the Feed Additive Compendium.
• Label requirements
for nonmedicated &
medicated feeds
differ.
– This table gives
label requirements
for both types.
LABELING REGULATIONS
Figure 10.1 Example of nonmedicated feed label.
MEDICATED FEEDS
• A medicated feed is defined as any animal feed
that contains one or more drugs at any level:
– Medicated complete feed intended to be the sole
ration for an animal.
– Medicated supplements that are safe for direct
consumption by the intended animal and can be
offered in a free-choice feeding plan.
– Medicated concentrates to be mixed with other feed
materials to make either a supplement, or a complete
feed, before being offered to the intended animal.
• A high percentage of commercial feeds contain
some additive that can be classed as a drug.
MEDICATED FEEDS
• In addition to usual labeling requirements, adding
an additive classed as a drug requires that the
word "medicated" appear directly following and
below the product name, and the label must…
– State the purpose of medication
– List the names and amounts of the active ingredients.
– Include a warning statement (when required by the
FDA) listing minimum withdrawal period required
before slaughter for human food.
– State warnings against misuse.
– Provide appropriate directions for use of the feed.
MEDICATED FEEDS
• FDA requires that all medicated feed be labeled.
– If bagged, each bag must be labeled appropriately.
– Custom-mixed feeds are subject to the same basic
labeling requirements as registered feeds.
– Premixes must state intended mixing ratios, resultant
drug levels & purpose of the final mixed medication.
– Any instructions & warning statements must appear.
• For which requires FDA form 1900, the feed
manufacturer must file these forms & receive
FDA approval before selling the medicated feed.
MEDICATED FEEDS
Figure 10.2
Example of medicated feed label.
MEDICATED FEEDS
• Feed manufacturers producing medicated feeds
are expected to become familiar with the Good
Manufacturing Practice (GMP) regulations.
– Developed and published in the Federal Register
for different classes of feeds.
• The manufacturer is responsible for taking
periodic samples of feed to submit for analysis
to determine whether the drugs are present at
the specified levels.