Association of American Feed Control Officials
Encyclopedia
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a non-profit organization which sets standards for the quality and safety of animal feed (fodder
) and pet food
in the United States
. AAFCO is a voluntary organization consisting largely of state officials who have responsibility for enforcing their state’s laws and regulations concerning the safety of animal feeds. AAFCO also establishes standard ingredient definitions and nutritional requirements for animal feed/pet food. Most states have adopted the AAFCO models or use them in the regulation of animal feed/pet food. AAFCO meets twice yearly, typically in January and August, so that committees and the board of directors can conduct the organization’s business of assessing the need for changes to the Model Bill, model regulations, ingredient definitions, etc.. Once per year the latest version of all AAFCO-approved documents are printed in the organization’s Official Publication.
Its voting members are representatives from each state in the United States, and from Puerto Rico
, Costa Rica
, Canada
, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, there are non-voting advisors on each AAFCO committee who are mainly from industry, such as the National Grain and Feed Association, Pet Food Institute, and American Feed Industry Association. AAFCO meets twice per year, in January and August, to conduct its business..
Unlike the FDA, AAFCO has no regulatory authority. However, AAFCO members have enforcement authority in their respective state or federal agency. The AAFCO model regulations on feed ingredients have been adopted by many states; other states have adopted similar regulations. In 2007, the Center for Veterinary Medicine
at the FDA formalized its relationship with AAFCO in identifying feed ingredients.
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
) and pet food
Pet food
Pet food is plant or animal material intended for consumption by pets. Typically sold in pet stores and supermarkets, it is usually specific to the type of animal, such as dog food or cat food...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. AAFCO is a voluntary organization consisting largely of state officials who have responsibility for enforcing their state’s laws and regulations concerning the safety of animal feeds. AAFCO also establishes standard ingredient definitions and nutritional requirements for animal feed/pet food. Most states have adopted the AAFCO models or use them in the regulation of animal feed/pet food. AAFCO meets twice yearly, typically in January and August, so that committees and the board of directors can conduct the organization’s business of assessing the need for changes to the Model Bill, model regulations, ingredient definitions, etc.. Once per year the latest version of all AAFCO-approved documents are printed in the organization’s Official Publication.
Its voting members are representatives from each state in the United States, and from Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, there are non-voting advisors on each AAFCO committee who are mainly from industry, such as the National Grain and Feed Association, Pet Food Institute, and American Feed Industry Association. AAFCO meets twice per year, in January and August, to conduct its business..
Unlike the FDA, AAFCO has no regulatory authority. However, AAFCO members have enforcement authority in their respective state or federal agency. The AAFCO model regulations on feed ingredients have been adopted by many states; other states have adopted similar regulations. In 2007, the Center for Veterinary Medicine
Center for Veterinary Medicine
The Center for Veterinary Medicine is a branch of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that regulates the manufacture and distribution of food, food additives, and drugs that will be given to animals. These include animals from which human foods are derived, as well as food additives and drugs...
at the FDA formalized its relationship with AAFCO in identifying feed ingredients.