Food Additives; Irradiation in the Production, Processing, and Handling of Animal Feed and Pet Food; Ionizing Radiation for Treatment of Poultry Feed or Poultry Feed Ingredients

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responding to objections and is denying the requests for a hearing on the final rule that amended the food additive regulations (animal use) to provide for the safe use of gamma radiation from cobalt-60 for rendering complete poultry feeds or poultry feed ingredients salmonella negative. Four parties filed objections to the final rule and submitted requests for a hearing requesting approval of additional energy sources for this use. After reviewing their submissions, FDA has concluded that the objections do not raise issues of material fact concerning the approval that justify granting a hearing. Therefore, FDA is denying the requests for a hearing.