FDA FEED RULE CHANGES NOW EXPECTED BY "LATE JUNE"

Input will probably still be allowed

FDA said this week it hopes to publish its proposed changes to the ruminant material feeding rule by the end of June.

Key international trading partners, holding their own feeding restrictions in abeyance waiting for FDA's rulemaking, have pressured the Bush administration to publish the rule soon. Speculation on the delay centers on changes being made to various sections of the rule about which rumors have circulated for months. One USDA source familiar with FDA's efforts said this week it appears FDA may be revisiting sections of the draft proposal based on industry comments and input.

The rule will likely be a proposed rule that will signal the agency's intent, but allow it to take additional comments prior to finalizing the regs.