Lawmakers Plan Review of Pet Food Regulation

News Date April 09, 2007

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) announced April 5 that the Senate will hold an oversight hearing on the regulatory mechanisms that govern the pet food industry and the ongoing investigation on the widespread recall of contaminated pet food. In March, Menu Foods, Inc., and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall of 60 million cans and pouches of wet pet food. The recall involves 42 varieties of cat food and 53 varieties of dog food. The recall was recently expanded in late March to at least four more makers of pet food.
        
The hearing is expected to be held soon after the Senate returns to work from the Easter recess. Hearing witnesses will include FDA officials who will be questioned on the timeline of the investigation, the source of the contamination, and the agency's regulatory and inspection responsibilities. The hearing will also include outside experts who will discuss the current state of the pet food industry. Durbin is urging the FDA to take action in three specific areas. He wants to require the FDA to work with the states to establish a standardized set of regulations and inspection requirements. In addition, he wants to direct the FDA to create an information sharing system that would allow state veterinarians, pet owners, and others to alert the FDA of possible contaminations. Finally, Durbin wants companies that delay reporting to the FDA and endanger human and animal health to face penalties.
        
In the House, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) has started investigating the FDA's response to the massive pet food recall and may also conduct oversight hearings. Kucinich is chairman of the House Government Reform Subcommittee on Domestic Policy. He recently wrote a detailed and pointed letter to FDA asking as many as twenty specific questions about plant inspections and other topics. (Contact: Charlie Ingram and Blake Patton)