BISMARCK -- The North Dakota Department of Agriculture has scheduled a series of public meetings in January to collect comments and suggestions regarding state regulation of animal feed.
"We want to hear from the stakeholders -- the feed manufacturers, commodity processors, livestock and pet food dealers and commercial feed customers -- about changes they want in the feed law," said Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring. "The department is now reviewing the feed regulatory program to determine if it meets the needs of today's industry and consumers."
The meetings will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. local time. Dates and locations include:
Jan. 9 - Brynhild Haugland Room, State Capitol, Bismarck
Jan. 10 - Chautauqua Gallery, Main Building, Lake Region State College, Devils Lake, N.D.
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Jan. 11 - North Central Research Extension Center, 5400 Highway 83 South, Minot, N.D.
Jan. 12 - North Dakota State University Research Center, 1089 State Ave., Dickinson, N.D.
Jan. 17 - Eagles Club, 345 12th Ave. NE, Valley City, N.D.
"The department is exploring regulatory changes that ensure the health and safety of livestock, pets and animal-derived foods for people," Goehring said. "Specifically, we are looking at the equitability of licensing requirements, the adequacy of the sampling programs and the effect of labeling standards on interstate shipment. Most importantly, we must ensure that our program is in alignment with the new Food Safety Modernization Act."
State law (North Dakota Century Code ยง19-13.1) authorizes the agriculture commissioner to enforce state laws regarding the registration, content and labeling of commercial feeds, including pet foods, and the licensing of feed manufacturers and dealers.
