U.S. animal food exports saw a significant increase in 2023 from the previous year both in volume and value, according to the American Feed Industry Association’s annual report on the state of the sector.
The report, entitled “Our Industry, Our Promise,” recaps AFIA’s work across a number of issues including food safety, sustainability and trade. It also highlights the legislative advocacy the group has focused on in Congress and in state legislatures.
The total value of animal food exports increased by 79% from 2022 to 2023, as total export volume rose by 120% in the same period. Corn co-products are the highest export by value, followed by pet food, animal feed preparations, alfalfa/hay and enzymes.
In 2023, almost 5,650 domestic animal food manufacturers generated an estimated $267.1 billion in total sales, according to the report.
While there have been gains in the animal feed industry, there’s still work ahead to modernize the regulatory process for ingredients and improve resiliency in supply chains, according to the report.
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Last year, AFIA advocated for the introduction of the Innovative FEED Act, which would create a new slate of feed ingredients focused on the animal’s gut. The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine removed its policy guide that regulated these ingredients as animal drugs in February.
The organization is now pushing to get the Innovative FEED Act across the finish line to show animal food companies that the regulatory process is modernizing to support innovation in this industry. Additionally, AFIA is still pushing for CVM to expedite its ingredient review processes and is raising questions about requirements for the Generally Recognized as Safe notification program for animal food.
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