Congresswoman Schrier Introduces Bill to Streamline Regulation, Support Farmers, Ranchers, and Dairy Producers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, CongresswomanKim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) introduced the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act (Innovative FEED Act). This bipartisan legislation would update FDA processes to create a more efficient approval process for livestock feed additives. Representative Schrier is joined in introducing this legislation by Representatives Nick Langworthy (NY-23), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Jim Baird (IN-04), Jim Costa (CA-21), and Erin Houchin (IN-09).

"Our farmers, ranchers, and dairymen are essential to our nation's economy and well-being, and they rely on innovative products like new feed additives to help keep their animals healthy and businesses productive," said Congresswoman Schrier. "Some additives even reduce methane emissions from cows and can have an outsized impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This legislation makes much-needed updates to the FDA's regulatory process that will improve animal health, reduce emissions, support American farms, and give U.S. farmers parity with foreign/international producers."

Feed additives are an important tool for American farmers, as they play a crucial role in ensuring livestock health, improving productivity, and reducing the presence of pathogens like salmonella and E. coli. While innovation in feed additives has increased significantly in recent years, FDA regulatory processes have remained the same. This discrepancy has left the door open for new products to be stuck in a prolonged approval process. The subsequent lack of access to innovative feed additives is detrimental to American farmers, especially as other countries have already made similar changes to their regulatory process.

To resolve this issue, the Innovative FEED Actwould:

• Create a new regulatory pathway for "zootechnical animal food substances" and define them as substances that only act within the gastrointestinal tract of animals to lower foodborne pathogens, reduce byproducts from animals, or affect their gut microbiome.
• Make clear that zootechnical animal food substances would be regulated within FDA's existing Food Additive Petition (FAP) process for market approval rather than the New Animal Drug Application process, saving innovators significant time and money to market. FAP requires FDA to review the safety and efficacy of these substances before market authorization.
• Spur innovation in feed products that provide American farmers with tools to help nourish their animals and support farmers' profitability.

The approach of this legislation is broadly consistent with the regulatory approaches of other countries, thereby creating a level playing field for American innovators and farmers.

"Farmers in NY-23 and across the country rely on innovative feed additives to improve animal health and productivity, but outdated FDA regulations have created costly and time-consuming approval barriers," said Congressman Langworthy. "The Innovative FEED Act would level the playing field for American innovators and farmers by staying consistent with the regulatory approaches of other countries. On National Agriculture Day, it is important to renew our commitment to thanking farmers by taking federal actions to make their lives and jobs easier, not harder."

"For years, FDA regulations on animal feed have failed to keep pace with innovations in the market. Some producers are waiting over 10 years for approval. That's simply unacceptable. Our bipartisan Innovative FEED Act would remove unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, making it easier for industry innovators to bring their feed to market," said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. "The benefits for Maine would be significant-not just for our livestock farmers, but for our growing aquaculture industry, leading to exciting new investments in things like microalgae and seaweed, which have shown great promise in reducing methane emissions in cattle. This is the kind of commonsense legislation that can help our farmers and our environment."

"Farmers deserve access to the best options to keep their livestock healthy and their operations strong," said Congresswoman Erin Houchin. "The FEED Act cuts unnecessary regulations and ensures that feed additives promoting animal health can be approved in a timely manner. Our farmers work hard every day to feed America, and they shouldn't be held back by outdated bureaucratic hurdles. This bill will help level the playing field and give American Ag producers access to the same advancements available in other countries."

"We commend Representatives Nick Langworthy, R-NY, and Kim Schrier, D-WA, for their bipartisan Innovative FEED Act to modernize the Food and Drug Administration's regulatory framework for approving animal feed ingredients," said Gregg Doud, President and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation.

"U.S. dairy farmers benefit from access to safe and effective feed additives as they continue to innovate on multiple fronts. This bipartisan initiative will help them do just that, and we look forward to working with Reps. Langworthy and Schrier and their co-authors to enact this bill into law."

"NASDA supports the Innovative FEED Act's goals to promote voluntary adoption of innovative new tools producers can use increase the efficiency of their livestock operations," said NASDA CEO Ted McKinney. "Most state departments of agriculture inspect and regulate animal feed ingredients, which will include the new products covered under this legislation. This bipartisan legislation is important and timely to ensure that producers, regulators, and the feed industry can collaborate to increase innovation amidst a competitive market in a way that is safe for animals, producers, and consumers."

"Supporting the Innovative Feed Enhancement and Economic Development Act is a critical step toward empowering American farmers with the tools they need to drive innovation in agriculture," said Chuck Conner, President and CEO, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. "By modernizing the regulatory process, this legislation paves the way for the introduction of advanced feed technologies that can improve livestock production, reduce environmental impact, and enhance economic opportunities for farmers across the country."

"IFEED will create a regulatory pathway to modernize animal food policies, resulting in a more efficient and predictable process for animal food products with novel benefits, such as reducing human foodborne illness, while maintaining rigor in food safety standards and transparency," said Berit Foss. PhD, Vice President of Feed and Sustainability, National Grain and Feed Association. "NGFA and its members appreciate the bipartisan support for this critical legislation and strongly encourage its implementation."

"The American Feed Industry Association thanks Reps. Nick Langworthy, Kim Schrier, Jim Baird, Chellie Pingree, Erin Houchin, Jim Costa and the many other bipartisan original sponsors for introducing the Innovative FEED Act," saidConstance Cullman, President and CEO, American Feed Industry Association. "This bill is necessary to fix a broken regulatory system that has forced animal food innovators to pursue foreign markets and not America first. By more appropriately regulating 21st century feed and pet food ingredients, this bill will help usher in the animal nutrition innovations U.S. farmers and ranchers need to enhance animal health and production and support on-farm conservation, while providing pet owners with more nutrition options to support their aging pets."