Schrier Rolls Out Innovative FEED Act

Last week, Central Washington Representative Kim Schrier introduced the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act, the Innovative FEED Act.  Schrier said this bipartisan legislation would update FDA processes to create a more efficient approval process for livestock feed additives.

“Our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen are essential to our nation’s economy and well-being, and they rely on innovative products like new feed additives to help keep their animals healthy and businesses productive,” Schrier said. “Some additives even reduce methane emissions from cows and can have an outsized impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  This legislation makes much-needed updates to the FDA’s regulatory process that will improve animal health, reduce emissions, support American farms, and give U.S. farmers parity with foreign/international producers.” 

Schrier added while innovation in feed additives has increased significantly in recent years, FDA regulatory processes have remained the same, leaving the door open for new products to be stuck in a prolonged approval process.  To resolve this issue, the Innovative FEED Act would:    

• Create a new regulatory pathway for  “zootechnical animal food substances” and define them as substances that only act within the gastrointestinal tract of animals to lower foodborne pathogens, reduce byproducts from animals, or affect their gut microbiome.
• Make clear that zootechnical animal food substances would be regulated within FDA’s existing Food Additive Petition (FAP) process for market approval rather than the New Animal Drug Application process, saving innovators significant time and money to market. FAP requires FDA to review the safety and efficacy of these substances before market authorization.
• Spur innovation in feed products that provide American farmers with tools to help nourish their animals and support farmers’ profitability.  

Schrier added the approach of the Innovative FEED Act is broadly consistent with the regulatory approaches of other countries, thereby creating a level playing field for American innovators and farmers.  Other lawmakers supporting the bill include New York’s Nick Langworthy, Maine’s Chellie Pingree, Indiana’s Jim Baird & Erin Houchin, and California’s Jim Costa. 

Many members of the industry reacted to last week's introduction:

“We commend Representatives Nick Langworthy, R-NY, and Kim Schrier, D-WA, for their bipartisan Innovative FEED Act to modernize the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory framework for approving animal feed ingredients,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation.

“U.S. dairy farmers benefit from access to safe and effective feed additives as they continue to innovate on multiple fronts. This bipartisan initiative will help them do just that, and we look forward to working with Reps. Langworthy and Schrier and their co-authors to enact this bill into law.”

“NASDA supports the Innovative FEED Act’s goals to promote voluntary adoption of innovative new tools producers can use increase the efficiency of their livestock operations,” said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. “Most state departments of agriculture inspect and regulate animal feed ingredients, which will include the new products covered under this legislation. This bipartisan legislation is important and timely to ensure that producers, regulators, and the feed industry can collaborate to increase innovation amidst a competitive market in a way that is safe for animals, producers, and consumers.”

"Supporting the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act is a critical step toward empowering American farmers with the tools they need to drive innovation in agriculture,” said Chuck Conner, President and CEO, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. “By modernizing the regulatory process, this legislation paves the way for the introduction of advanced feed technologies that can improve livestock production, reduce environmental impact, and enhance economic opportunities for farmers across the country."

“IFEED will create a regulatory pathway to modernize animal food policies, resulting in a more efficient and predictable process for animal food products with novel benefits, such as reducing human foodborne illness, while maintaining rigor in food safety standards and transparency,” said Berit Foss. PhD, Vice President of Feed and Sustainability, National Grain and Feed Association. “NGFA and its members appreciate the bipartisan support for this critical legislation and strongly encourage its implementation."

“The American Feed Industry Association thanks Reps. Nick Langworthy, Kim Schrier, Jim Baird, Chellie Pingree, Erin Houchin, Jim Costa and the many other bipartisan original sponsors for introducing the Innovative FEED Act,” said Constance Cullman, President and CEO, American Feed Industry Association. “This bill is necessary to fix a broken regulatory system that has forced animal food innovators to pursue foreign markets and not America first. By more appropriately regulating 21st century feed and pet food ingredients, this bill will help usher in the animal nutrition innovations U.S. farmers and ranchers need to enhance animal health and production and support on-farm conservation, while providing pet owners with more nutrition options to support their aging pets.”

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