CHANGE - FCC Plan for Net Neutrality

The FCC is expected to vote on the 'net neutrality' rules on December 14th. 

These rules presently require ISPs (internet providers) to treat all web traffic the same. Among the concerns arising from an FCC vote to repeal the regulation are these:

• Higher consumer costs
• Reduced consumer access to content services
• A playing field no longer level for consumers or content providers
• Elimination of competitive services
• Censorship of some content

The situation is expected to unleash a wave of lobbying. Opponents of the plan are expected to be Consumer Associations, content services like Netflix and social media giants Twitter, Google, Instagram and Facebook (TGIF). Supporters are expected to include large network providers, especially those who also own content services like Comcast and AT&T.

“Under my proposal, the federal government will stop micromanaging the internet,” FCC Chairman, Ajit Pai said in a statement last week. “Instead, the FCC would simply require internet service providers to be transparent about their practices.”

 CBC News covered this story and its implications very well and includes several of the interviews carried on the national radio network.

If you want to be around for 140 years you must be willing to change!

Last year, GE CEO Jeff Immelt and Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft discussed why General Electric one of the world's largest industrial companies was becoming a digital company!

"When you realize the jet engines you produce have sensors that produce more than a terabyte of information on each flight, you begin to realize you already are a digital company with the need for an industrial strength cloud based system to process and deliver the information you have collected."

#CATmageddon - Quit Smoking and Save Cats Lives

It’s a well-known fact that smoking is bad for your health, but did you know that cats living with smokers are twice as likely to get cancer?

Truth, an American anti-smoking organization, is hoping their latest video will encourage more people to quit – if not for themselves, then for their feline friends.

Truth describes themselves as “an unstoppable force of smokers and non-smokers banding together to end smoking for good.”

Rather than criticize smokers, their aim is to provide tools for them to quit and find fun new ways to do what no generation has done before – end smoking.

Their video, with millions of YouTube hits, may help do just that.

A variety of studies have demonstrated the danger of second-hand smoke to animals, but third-hand smoke is also a huge concern.

Third-hand smoke is the gasses and particles clinging to a smoker’s clothes, hair, car, furniture and carpeting that sticks around long after the second-hand smoke has disappeared.

Cats lie on the furniture, carpet and your lap unable to escape from these toxic particles. Then ingest them when grooming.

If Truth is successful and eradicates smoking, cats and dogs will live longer, healthier lives along with their human companions.

AAFCO Changes Nutrient Profiles

In August, The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) held its annual meeting. It took eight years but the revised AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles were accepted. The new nutrient profiles will be published in 2016. Pet food companies will need to comply with the new nutrient profiles within two years.

During the meeting several key topics were discussed. One of them was the term “human-grade”. AAFCO offers very little guidance as to what the term can accurately include which leaves manufacturers and consumers confused. Documentation is required from the Food and Drug Administration to verify if a product is “human-grade”. The FDA announced that they will no longer assess “human-grade” qualifications. In the United States, it is now up to individual states to define “human-grade” and determine whether or not products may use that term. AAFCO is trying to create guidance information to clarify the term but expect it will take in excess of one year.

Inaccuracies on pet food labels were another topic of discussion. Mislabelling products is not an isolated occurrence. There is the lawsuit against Blue Buffalo and studies abroad reporting false labeling. Mislabeling can include food lacking ingredients on their ingredient list or including ingredients that are not on the ingredient list. Unfortunately, this discussion remained private so no conclusions and/or actions may be published.

Changes have also been made to pulse fractions. Lentils and peas may now be considered acceptable pulse fractions. The Ingredient Definitions Committee has agreed to remove the definition for feed-grade fat product. The original purpose of this definition was to categorize (and allow the usage of) fat ingredients that would only partially meet other existing definitions. The FDA found that the term was being misused to distribute fats that were not suitable or safe for consumption. It is thought that this deletion will have consequences as the industry will have to quickly find suitable fat products.

The updated “Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food Labelling Guide” is almost complete. This document explains several pet food regulations. A Pet Food Labeling Workshop is also being planned for 2017. This should provide valuable information for many in the pet food industry. Another information source is AAFCOs new website, AAFCO Talks Pet Food. This site is designed to answer consumer questions and concerns.

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Pet Valu Converts Jack’s Pets Locations

The Canadian company, Pet Valu purchased Jack’s Pets. 12 Jack’s locations in Cincinnati will be converted to Pet Valu stores. Pet Valu will continue to expand throughout the Midwestern United States.

Jack’s locations are being remodeled and will be offering new products. Jack’s President and Vice President of Midwest Operations for Pet Valu, Scott Brenner said, “The Jack’s team is very excited to join the Pet Valu family. We are pleased to be part of a group committed to our customers.”

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AFIA’s Response to the Food Safety Modernization Act

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law in the United States in 2011. The FSMA is the largest reform to America's food safety laws in over 70 years. The goal of the FSMA is to “ensure the U.S. food supply is safe by shifting the focus from responding to contamination to preventing it.”

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has released a response to the "Current Good Manufacturing Practices and Hazard Analysis and Preventive Controls for Food for Animals" (under the FSMA).

    "AFIA is pleased with how transparent FDA has remained throughout this entire rulemaking process. This has been no easy endeavor for the agency and they should be commended. The rule's finalization will now allow AFIA to move forward with preparing our members and the industry for implementation of the largest change to animal food regulation since the 1950s.

Upon brief review, AFIA is pleased FDA followed through with our request for a phase-in approach to implementation, giving all animal food manufacturing facilities additional time to execute CGMPs (Current Good Manufacturing Practices) first, followed by the hazard analysis and preventive controls. The phase-in process, as we have said all along, benefits everyone. It allows firms more time for adjustment to basic program requirements such as CGMPs before adhering to more complicated aspects of the final rule.

AFIA is also pleased FDA recognized animal food is different from human food in revising the CGMPs to be more applicable to animal food facilities and addressing the hazards in our industry.

Due to the adaptation of the phase-in approach and the revisions to the CGMPs, the animal food rule cost-to-benefit ratio is more realistic. Although AFIA maintains FSMA will always be a costly regulation, we acknowledge FDA's attempt to equalize the gap between the cost and the limited benefits in the final rule.

With the release of the rule, the clock starts ticking for the industry as we inch closer to the first implementation deadline in September 2016. AFIA will proactively be reading, studying and helping industry implement the rule at their facilities. We also plan to continue the conversation with FDA as this process moves forward to better understand FDA's intentions and ensure transparency."

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Recommended Changes to Minneapolis Animal-Related Ordinances

Council Member Andrew Johnson of Minneapolis believes that changes in the city’s animal-related ordinances will be beneficial and a “huge step for those who care about animal issues.” Johnson worked on recommendations with Minneapolis Animal Care and Control officials and Citizens for Minneapolis Animal Care. The recommendations help define the responsibilities of pet owners and the city shelter.

                               

Minneapolis does not allow residents to own reptiles but these recommendations may allow reptiles as licensed pets. Rabbits are currently licensed pets but that may no longer be necessary. Ferrets will still require licenses due to their requirement for up-to-date rabies vaccinations.

Some of the recommendations support practices that are currently being developed. The city shelter has been fostering relationships with other rescue organizations in order to reduce the number of animals being euthanized. Minneapolis Animal Control Deputy Director, Caroline Hairfield said, “Our goal is to be able to adopt or transfer to other facilities all animals who are healthy and placeable in the sense of being mentally and physically treatable.”

Johnson also wants the city to change the way wild animals are euthanized. Currently injured wild animals are euthanized in a gas chamber (article did not state which gas is used). Johnson would like wild animals to be euthanized in the same way domestic animals are, by lethal injection.

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Protein For Pets Changing the Way Customers Shop

The dog food company, Protein For Pets (P4P) is changing the way customers shop for pet food. P4P was formed in 2014 and is designed to meet the needs of customers while providing natural pet food to all income brackets.

Starting this month, P4P will offer a raw dog food called ‘Naked’. Naked will be manufactured and sold within California, United States. The company has secured funding from CircleUp and plans to expand business in California and across the West Coast of the United States.

Raw dog food is only one of the changes the company is implementing. P4P is also offering 'Naked' kibble that is sold in gravity dispensers and packaged in recyclable bags. Customers will be able to choose the exact amount of food they want to purchase. P4P is also selling reusable food bags.

P4P Founder and CEO, Marco Giannini said, “As Protein For Pets continues to grow, we are taking significant strides to further enhance our easy, one-of-a-kind customer-friendly experience as well as help the environment. We are thrilled to introduce P4P Naked to consumers who are looking for a top-quality raw dog food option that is both unique and cost-effective. Just as with humans, there are many benefits dogs reap from eating a healthy diet. Shinier coats, healthier skin, higher energy levels, cleaner teeth and smaller stools are just some of the advantages dogs will experience as a result of eating raw food such as P4P Naked. In addition, and equally important, eating raw foods supports a healthy planet. The earth benefits from utilizing simpler food sources while great amounts of natural resources are spared.”

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