AFIA hosts importing, exporting seminar

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) will hold its first-ever Import & Export Seminar in Arlington, Virginia, USA, Sept. 27-28.
The event is aimed at feed, ingredient and petfood professionals responsible for the imports or exports of agricultural products.
Registration for this event begins May 15 on AFIA’s website.

International Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program now available

The American Feed Industry Association, the creator and sponsor of the Safe Feed/Safe Food program that has operated in the US since 2004, is now administering the international version of the program in cooperation with its counterpart in Europe, the Feed Additives and Premixtures Association.

AFIA pushes for CFTC proposal

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) recently urged the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to implement a proposal that would uniformly enforce speculative position limits, enhance transparency and improve the regulation of all individuals who trade certain energy commodities.
AFIA, representing the makers of livestock feed, petfood and related ingredients, expressed its members’ views on the matter in formal comments submitted to the agency, characterizing the CFTC proposal as a “very positive step forward for the specified energy contracts.”

CFTC closes loophole in agricultural trade

On August 19, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) decided to close a loophole that permitted certain types of trades in agricultural commodities to occur. The loophole was a factor in price increases in corn, soybeans and wheat in early 2008, according to the American Feed Industry Association, which found the loophole concerning and worked with the CFTC to resolve it.
The CFTC announced it would close the loophole by withdrawing two “no-action” letters that had resulted in Deutsche Bank and another investment firm exceeding speculative position limits on corn, soybeans and wheat.
“AFIA provided the CFTC and US Congress with a broad set of recommendations for reform more than a year ago, and today we applaud the agency for beginning to move in that direction,” said Joel G. Newman, AFIA president and CEO.
AFIA will continue to work with the CFTC to recommend appropriate changes that will ensure commodity markets are effective for both agriculture and speculators, Newman said.

AFIA launches Web site for safe feed program

The American Feed Industry Association launched a new Web site that provides details about the Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program.
An explanation of the program and testimonials from feed-industry experts are among the materials available on the new site, which can be found at www.safefeedsafefood.org.
The Safe Feed/Safe Food Certification Program is a voluntary, third-party-certified program for mills and other facilities that produce livestock feed, petfood and related ingredients. About 330 US and Canadian facilities are certified by the program. An international version of the program will launch later this year.

AFIA announces petfood regulations course

The American Feed Industry Association released details of a two-day event this fall that will focus on the latest regulations affecting the feed and petfood industry.
The Regulatory Training Short-Course: What's What in Feed, Ingredient & Pet Food Regulations, scheduled to occur at the Westin Arlington Gateway in Arlington,Virginia, Sept. 28-29, is designed for professionals in the livestock feed and petfood industry who wish to learn more about how the industry’s products are regulated by states and the federal government.
For more information or to register, click here. Early-bird registration ends Sept. 1; regular registration ends Sept. 23.