Milling News
AFIA reiterates FSMA costs trump benefits
T
BOOK REVIEW
he American Feed Industry Association submitted comments late Monday to the US Food and Drug Administration on the Food Safety Modernisation Act’s supplemental proposed animal food rules, flagging the cost as the lead concern if the rules are implemented as-is. The comment submission echoed comments AFIA submitted in March of this year on the originally proposed “Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Food for Animals.” Nineteen regional and state feed associations also signed on to AFIA’s letter as a statement of their support. Additional comments were also filed for the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs supplementary proposed rules. “We recognise the inclusion of many of the industry’s suggested changes by FDA to the proposed rules as they continue to reduce the cost of the implementation of the final rule. However, it is not enough,” said Richard Sellers, AFIA senior
Rice Processing The comprehensive guide to global technology and innovative projects
R
ice is the single most important staple food on earth. This being so, it is amazing that until now there has not been a single standard reference text that everyone in the rice industry knows and can refer to. This book aims to fill that gap. It is for anyone and everyone involved in the processing and trade of rice worldwide. It draws on the experience of a substantial group of experts from across the globe. With each expert writing a chapter or section on their own specialist area, it brings together everything anyone will need for a day-to-day working knowledge of the industry. The first chapter gives an overview
vice president of legislative and regulatory affairs. “Our comments urge the agency to take additional steps to lower the rule’s cost while strengthening any overall benefits to the animal food industry.” Other comments submitted by AFIA revolved around the language of the rule. The organisation believes there is still language within the rule that could be confusing to industry despite its thorough attempt in its March comments to offer alternative wording and definitions. AFIA urged FDA to more closely align with the agency’s medicated feed CGMPs that have been in place for more than 40 years, as there is already an understanding and excellent compliance, according to FDA’s own data. “Compliance with the rules and the implementation period is still a large and looming issue with AFIA,” stated the comments. “We urge the agency to closely examine our request for changing FDA’s one, two and three year implementation period for regular, small and very small businesses, respectively, and consider the two, three and four year approach AFIA has advocated in previous comments.” The Foreign Supplier Verification Programs was re-proposed with the animal food rules September 29, with a 75-day comment period for both sets of rules. AFIA stated the
importance of FSVP aligning with the proposed domestic risk-based supplier program under the preventive controls supplemental rule and also addressed the ongoing language issues of the FSMA rules. “We urge FDA to recognise that one regulatory solution may not be appropriate for both human food and animal feed. FDA has separated the human and animal food preventive controls rules. Although there will be a single Foreign Supplier Verification Program rule for food for humans and animals, FDA should consider different approaches for animal feed where appropriate,” stated AFIA in the comments on FSVP. Of particular concern is that the domestic supplier verification rules agree with the foreign supplier rules, as the US treaty obligations and the World Trade Organisation require treating domestic firms similarly to foreign firms with respect to regulatory control. AFIA will continue to work with its membership and the industry as FDA moves forward in the comment review process. The final animal food rule is mandated by a court order to be published by August 30, 2015. The “Foreign Supplier Verification Programs for Importers of Food for Humans and Animals” is expected to be finalised by October 31, 2015.
of rice biology, genetics and the history of its domestication and usage, with a glimpse forward to its future in the light of climate change. Next, there is a concise but satisfying treatment of the history of the rice trade from colonial times, through the 2008 food crisis and on into the years to come. It considers each period in turn and the various political, social and environmental reasons for the changes that have taken place. Chapter three provides an excellent set of guidelines on all aspects of post-harvest processing: drying, cooling conservation, storage and parboiling. There are detailed explanations clearing up common misconceptions and excellent, readily understandable graphs and charts showing everything the user needs to know at a glance. There are chapters dealing with milling, quality assessment, food safety, regional highlights and value
added rice products and co-products. Each goes into superb but not excessive detail, with a distinct lack of jargon. Any industry-specific terms that are in the text are explained so even a layman can grasp them. Fullcolour photographs and diagrams clarify more difficult concepts for clarification. The layout of the book is extremely user-friendly. In addition to a detailed contents page, there is also a ‘map’ showing the overall structure of the work. If this were not enough, there is also a title on every even-numbered page announcing the chapter, and the title on every odd page shows the specific sub-topic it is dealing with. Finally, this is not just an important reference work. Written in an engaging manner, it’s actually an enjoyable read as well. Whatever your involvement in the industry - academic, scientist, miller, engineer or trader - this book deserves a place on your bookshelf. January 2015 | 17