BACKGROUND:

The Association of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. (AAFCO), is an organization composed of officers of state and Federal governments responsible for the execution of laws and regulations pertaining to the production and labeling of animal feed. A number of FDA employees are members of AAFCO which exists to promote uniformity and clarity in feed law enforcement. AAFCO *has no legal mandate.*

AAFCO annually publishes its Official Publication, a handbook which contains, among other things, Official Feed Terms, which define many of the terms commonly used in the feed manufacturing industry. It also contains Official and Tentative Definitions of Feed Ingredients, a codified set of definitions for ingredients commonly used in animal feed.

POLICY:

The definitions, as they appear in the Official Publication of the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Inc. (AAFCO), are generally regarded as constituting the common or usual name for animal feed ingredients, including pet food, as contemplated by 403(i)(1) and (2). *Whenever ingredient definition changes are contemplated by AAFCO, the Center for Veterinary Medicine must concur in their suitability.* Questions concerning specific ingredient nomenclature or definitions should be submitted to the *Center for* Veterinary Medicine (HFV-236) for resolution.

*Material between asterisks is new or revised*

Issued: 10/1/80
Revised: 3/95

Questions?