BSE Inspections

NMDA works in cooperation with the US Food and Drug Administration to inspect renderers, feed manufacturers, distributors and animal production facilities for compliance with regulations that prohibit specific animal proteins in ruminant feeds. These federal regulations are designed to prevent BSE from spreading within the United States and are often referred to as the “Ruminant Feed Ban”.

1. All feeds containing prohibited material (prohibited mammalian protein) must be prominently labeled with the BSE Cautionary Statement “Do Not Feed To Cattle Or Other Ruminants”.  Pet food products and feed for nonruminant laboratory animals often contain prohibited material but are exempt from this label requirement as long as they are intended for retail sale.  However, if they are sold or are intended for sale as distressed or salvage items, then the BSE Cautionary Statement is required.
2. Whenever prohibited material is handled by equipment that also handles ruminant feed cleanout procedures that have been tested and found to be effective must be written down and followed.  Each cleanout must be recorded and these records must be kept for one year.
3. Ruminant feeders are responsible for making sure that ruminants under their care do not have access to feeds, such as pet food, hog feed and poultry feed that may legally contain prohibited materials.