FDA Amends Rule on Compounds of Carcinogenic Concern Used in Food-Producing Animals

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a final rule that amends
regulations about concentrations of compounds of carcinogenic concern in
the diet of food-producing animals and residues of carcinogenic concern in
specific edible tissues. The changes clarify certain definitions “to enable the
Center for Veterinary Medicine to consider allowing the use of alternative
procedures to satisfy the DES [Diethylstilbestrol] Proviso without requiring the
development of a second, alternative, set of terminology.” The changes take
effect September 21, 2012.

Among other matters, the amendment will change the existing emphasis in
21 CFR Part 500 on “no significant increase in the risk of cancer to the human
consumer” to an emphasis on “the specific 1 in 1 million risk of cancer to the
test animals approach.” See Federal Register, August 22, 2012.