July 1, 2014             
 

FDA issues draft guidance on the use of feed nanomaterials
 

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a draft guidance on the use of nanotechnology in animal feed.

It is intended to help industry and other stakeholders identify potential issues related to the safety or regulatory status of animal feed containing nanomaterials or involving the application of nanotechnology.

This comes in a time when there has been increasing research in the nanoscale range (approximately one nanometre to 100 nanometres) worldwide but commercialised applications in animal feed are few.

According to the draft guidance, feed additive manufacturers are encouraged to consult with the FDA early on in their product development process so that a determination can be made as to whether their product involves the application of nanotechnology and so that any questions related to safety and regulatory status can be appropriately addressed.

FDA is taking a prudent scientific approach to assess each product on its own merits and are not making broad, general assumptions about the safety of nanotechnology products, according to FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg.

Materials manipulated on the nanoscale level through the use of nanotechnology may affect the biodistribution, biocompatibility, or toxicity of the material. For example, two animal feed additives of the same chemical composition, but of different particle size, shape, or other morphological feature, may exhibit different physicochemical properties.

Public comments on the draft guidance are requested by September 10, 2014.