Agribusiness  September 19, 2014

FDA revises proposal on how craft brewers handle spent grain

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced revisions to a proposed rule that should help alleviate the concerns of many in the craft-brewing industry that their handling of spent grain would be subject to more onerous and costly processes.

The FDA in March closed the comment period on several rules proposed to implement the 2011 Food Safety and Modernization Act aimed at strengthening food safety by preventing problems rather than just responding after the fact.

One of those rules in particular regarding animal feed had brewers worried that their common practice of giving wet spent grain to farmers for livestock feed would be constrained by new guidelines to ensure the grain hadn’t come into contact with any harmful substances. Brewers argued that the costly new processes – which could have included drying and packaging the spent grain – could have led to them charging the farmers more for the grain or having to send it to landfills.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Ways to thank a caregiver

If you have a caregiver or know someone who has been serving as a primary caregiver, March 3rd is the day to reach out and show them how much they are valued!

On Friday, the FDA issued a proposed revision to that rule clarifying that “human food processors that create by-products used as animal food and are already complying with the FDA human food safety requirements – such as producers of wet spent grains – would not need to comply with the full animal food rule if they are already complying with the human food rule.”

Outcry over the proposed rules earlier this year had come from many corners of the brewing industry as well as lawmakers in Colorado, which has a vibrant brewing industry that includes international players like Coors and Anheuser-Busch in addition to more than 200 craft breweries. Sen. Mark Udall had written a letter to the FDA in March urging a second look.

“Colorado’s innovative craft brewers create jobs, drive tourism and support our agricultural economy,” Udall said in a statement Friday. “Brewers’ spent grains are a cost-effective and safe livestock feed, and I’m am proud the FDA has acknowledged that and changed course.”

The FDA will now accept revisions on the proposed rules revisions for 75 days and consider those along with comments already received. Final rules will be issued sometime next year.

Trade organizations representing the brewing industry like the Boulder-based Brewers Association and the Washington-based Beer Institute had also lobbied the FDA on the proposed rules as they related to spent grain.

“We are gratified that the Food and Drug Administration listened to our concerns about their proposed rule,” Beer Institute president and chief executive Jim McGreevy said in a statement. “Brewers have enjoyed a centuries-long partnership with farmers who use our spent grains as animal feed, because of the standards that brewers start with, including the high quality of the grains we use to brew our beer.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced revisions to a proposed rule that should help alleviate the concerns of many in the craft-brewing industry that their handling of spent grain would be subject to more onerous and costly processes.

The FDA in March closed the comment period on several rules proposed to implement the 2011 Food Safety and Modernization Act aimed at strengthening food safety by preventing problems rather than just responding after the fact.

One of those rules in particular regarding animal feed had brewers worried that their common practice of giving wet spent grain to farmers for livestock…

Sign up for BizWest Daily Alerts