FDA FEED RULE CHANGES UNPUBLISHED

Agency May Go To Proposed Rule

FDA, having missed its "two-week" deadline announced a month ago for publishing changes in its ruminant feeding rule, appears no closer to publication. An industry insider said FDA will likely publish only a rule "status update" within the next two weeks.

Another unconfirmed report, but heard from several sources, indicates the agency is considering abandoning its intent to publish an interim final rule effective on date of publication and will instead, publish only a proposed rule. This strategy will allow FDA to continue to collect comments and data on the various options open to it to refine and enhance federal restrictions on the feeding of mammalian materials to ruminants.

The delay by FDA complicates actions in Canada and Mexico, which have strived to work with the U.S. to harmonize BSE prevention and mitigation programs. Several governments around the world have put their respective BSE program changes on hold until FDA publishes its feed rule changes.