USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service Extends Comment Period For Mycotoxin Test Kit Criteria Changes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) extended its comment period for a proposed rule that makes several changes to its existing criteria for mycotoxin test kits.

The public comment period is extended from Jan. 19 to March 24, 2021.

Federal regulators have set maximum allowable concentration levels for specific mycotoxins in food and feed to ensure the safety of consumers, with AMS providing official mycotoxin testing services throughout the country for domestic and export grains, oilseeds, and processed-grain commodities.

Only test kits that conform to all of the AMS requirements are approved for the official testing of grains and related commodities.

In its proposed rule published on Dec. 18, 2020, AMS has proposed to tighten the acceptance tolerance for performance verification for all mycotoxins that can be performance verified (i.e. approved by the Federal Grain Inspection Service) including: aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, ochratoxin A, and zearalenone.

Since publication of the proposed rule, NGFA, the North American Millers Association and test kit manufacturers have engaged with FGIS on the intent and scope of the proposal.

The agency will meet with NGFA and other industry representatives on March 8.

- Jess McCluer, NGFA Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs

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