Commissioner Farmer applauds FDA decision to delay implementing feed ban rule.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 19, 2009
For more information contact:
Bill Clary
(502) 564-1137

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer today praised the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for delaying implementation of an enhanced feed ban rule that would have made it far more difficult and expensive for livestock producers to dispose of dead animal carcasses.

“I’m grateful that the FDA listened to the people whose livelihoods will be affected by this rule,” Commissioner Farmer said. “This delay will provide additional time for producers, renderers and haulers to determine how we can comply with the rule and still make sure farmers have an affordable and accessible means of disposing of dead animals.”

The FDA extended the effective date of the enhanced feed ban rule 60 days from the original effective date of April 27. Publication of the notice in the Federal Register will open a 30-day comment period during which comments will be taken on whether the rule should be delayed more than 60 days.

In a meeting of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture last month in Washington, Commissioner Farmer met with his counterparts from other states, congressional leaders and officials in the Obama administration to seek a delay in implementation of the rule.

The new rule requires removal of the brains and spinal cords of cattle more than 30 months old for any material from those animals to be used in animal feed. The FDA estimates it will cost the rendering industry between $64 million and $80.5 million per year to comply with the new rule. The agency estimates U.S. cattle producers will lose between $28 million and $39 million per year due to lower cattle prices to offset segregation and disposal costs at slaughter, loss for cattle no longer rendered, and increased dead stock collection fees.

Officials and livestock industry leaders fear the new rule could make it difficult, if not impossible, for many producers to dispose of carcasses properly, which could have unintended environmental and public health consequences. Means of disposal other than rendering, such as composting, incineration and digesting, are expensive and impractical. The state no longer is able to provide grants to counties for dead animal removal because of lack of funding.