The closing panel discussion at Petfood Forum 2025 is focusing on the state of the U.S. pet food ingredient approval. Representatives from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Pet Food Institute (PFI) will discuss the current state of approvals and other regulatory and legal matters, as well as answer your questions.
On October 1, 2024, a decades-old memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining the ingredient review process between AAFCO and the FDA expired. This regulatory change removed one of the pet food industry’s three primary regulatory pathways — and the one most used by ingredient innovators — for bringing safe ingredients to market.
Currently, there are four ingredient approval pathways: FDA’s GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe), FAP (Food Additives & Petition), AFIC (Animal Food Ingredient Consultation), and the AAFCO-KSU regulatory pathway. The AFIC and AAFCO-KSU pathways were introduced and approved in January.
“With all the changes to ingredient approvals — ending the MOU between FDA and AAFCO, FDA developing its own new process, and AAFCO establishing a separate pathway with Kansas State University — there are bound to be lingering questions,” said Debbie Phillips-Donaldson, editor-in-chief of Petfood Industry. “That’s why Petfood Forum 2025 is bringing together top regulatory experts to discuss these changes and what they mean for the industry. During this panel the audience can also gain insights into issues like HPAI, staffing shifts at FDA/CVM, and evolving international trade policies, including potential tariff changes, which will add even more complexity for pet food professionals to navigate.”
The closing panel discussion –The state of U.S. pet food ingredient approvals — will take place on Wednesday, April 30, at 1 p.m. during Petfood Forum 2025.Paul Ward PhotographyFDA’s new Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) program
The FDA’s new Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) program was approved in January. Announced through Guidance for Industry (GFI) 294, the AFIC program is designed to minimize delays in ingredient approvals, reduce inconsistencies in reviews, and ensure the safety of animal food ingredients.
The program provides a structured pathway for ingredient innovators to consult with the FDA and submit required safety data before bringing products to market. GFI 294 specifies the type of data needed for evaluation and outlines the FDA’s role in assessing submissions, addressing longstanding industry concerns about efficiency and clarity in the approval process.
Through the AFIC program, animal food innovators will have the opportunity to engage with the FDA to provide data demonstrating ingredient safety. This guidance also clearly specifies submission requirements, including the type of data needed for FDA evaluation, and details the FDA’s role in assessing this information.
New AAFCO-KSU regulatory pathway
Also in January, AAFCO’s membership approved a proposal from Kansas State University’s Olathe Innovation Campus (K-State Olathe) to provide a scientific review for a new animal food ingredient submission pathway.
The AAFCO-KSU ingredient approval pathway, which mirrors FDA’s GRAS requirements, will be led by Dr. Haley Larson, Ph.D. and include a scientific review panel comprised of subject matter experts from universities across the U.S. and independent consultants to provide diversity and representation of all animal species.
Together, the panel will evaluate potential ingredient submissions from industry and provide recommendations back to AAFCO membership for final approval. Approved ingredients will then be included in AAFCO’s Official Publication.
Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO, said the AAAFCO-KSU program is designed to be more efficient than other pathways, cutting the review time in half from 60 to 90 days. “This program is designed to bring new, innovative ingredients to market in nine months versus 18 months,” said Therrell. “We feel it has more flexibility than the old regulatory pathways.”
Therrell also noted there is a fee structure, ranging from $10,000 for the basic tier to $25,000 for two species and $35,000 for three or more species.
With the proposal recently approved by AAFCO, Therrell said there will be a process of finalizing the contract and hiring staff before the program will be up and running. The expected start date for the program is third quarter of 2025.
The Closing panel discussion: The state of U.S. pet food ingredient approvals will take place on Wednesday, April 30, at 1 p.m. during Petfood Forum 2025. To stay informed on the latest event developments, go to PetfoodForumEvents.com.