TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE

Part 3. TEXAS FEED AND FERTILIZER CONTROL SERVICE/OFFICE OF THE TEXAS STATE CHEMIST

Chapter 61. COMMERCIAL FEED RULES

Subchapter H. ADULTERANTS

4 TAC §61.61

The Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service/Office of the Texas State Chemist proposes amendments to Texas Administrative Code, Title 4, Part 3, Commercial Feed Rules, §61.61, concerning Poisonous or Deleterious Substances in subsection (a)(6) and (7). The amendment aligns the Office of the Texas State Chemist's policy guidelines with those published by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Dr. Tim Herrman, State Chemist and Director, Office of the Texas State Chemist, concludes that for the first five-year period there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amended rule.

Dr. Herrman has also concluded that the public benefit as a result of enforcing this amended rule will be to align Office of the Texas State Chemist policy with FDA action levels and guidance documents, clarify blending authority, and provide guidance to grain handlers, processors, farmers and risk management institutions pertaining to the disposing of the disposal of rain containing >500 parts per billion (ppb) and oilseed, processed grain, and oilseed meal containing >300 contaminated feed ingredients that exceed 500 parts per billion (ppb) aflatoxin. There is an anticipated cost to small businesses of $15.90 per acre to dispose of grain using chopping and disking. The Office identified that 1.3% of the 2005 crop (based on a state-wide survey) would incur this cost.

Comments to the proposal may be submitted to Dr. Herrman by mail at Office of the Texas State Chemist, P.O. Box 3160, College Station, Texas 77841-3160; by fax at (979) 845-1389 or by e-mail at tjh@otsc.tamu.edu.

The amendments are proposed under Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 141, §141.004 which provides Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service/Office of the Texas State Chemist with the authority to promulgate rules relating to the distribution of commercial feeds.

The Texas Agriculture Code Chapter 141 of the Texas Commercial Feed Control Act, Subchapter A, §141.002 is affected by the proposed amendments.

§61.61.Poisonous or Deleterious Substances.

(a) Poisonous or deleterious substances include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) - (5) (No change.)

(6) grain, oilseeds, processed grain and oilseed meals containing aflatoxin B1, B2, G1, G2 above 20 parts per billion (ppb) individually or total except that with proper labeling as approved by the Office of the Texas State Chemist as follows: ≤50 ppb [ Service less than 50ppb ] may be distributed when destined for wildlife; ≤100 ppb [ less than 100ppb ] may be distributed when destined for breeding cattle and breeding goats not used in production of milk for human consumption, breeding swine, mature poultry, and sheep; ≤200 ppb [ less than 200ppb ] may be distributed when destined for finishing swine (more than 100 lbs. body weight); ≤300 ppb [ less than 300ppb ] may be distributed when destined for finishing feed lot [ feedlot ] cattle in confinement; grain containing >300 to ≤500 ppb requires a blending permit issued by the Office of the Texas State Chemist; aflatoxin >500 ppb in grain and >300 ppb in oilseed, processed grain, and oilseed meal may not enter commerce and a record of disposition shall a disposal plan must be submitted to the Office of the Texas State Chemist;

(7) grain, oilseeds, processed grain, and oilseed meal containing fumonisin above 5 parts per million (ppm) except that with proper labeling as approved by the Office of the Texas State Chemist and targeted for animal species as follows: ≤20 ppm for swine and catfish not to exceed 50% of diet; ≤30 ppm for breeding ruminants, breeding poultry and breeding mink not to exceed 50% of diet; ≤60 ppm for ruminants >3 months old being raised for slaughter, and mink being raised for pelt production not to exceed 50% of diet; ≤100 ppm for poultry being raised for slaughter not to exceed 50% of diet; all other species or classes of livestock and pet animals ≤10 ppm not to exceed 50% of diet except equids and rabbits which should not exceed 5 ppm and 20% of diet; >100 ppm requires a blending permit issued by the Office of the Texas State Chemist [ Service less than 15ppm may be distributed when destined for finishing swine (more than 100 lbs. body weight); less than 50ppm may be distributed when destined for feedlot cattle ].

(b) - (d) (No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on June 20, 2006.

TRD-200603374

Dr. Tim Herrman

State Chemist and Director

Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service/Office of the Texas State Chemist

Earliest possible date of adoption: August 6, 2006

For further information, please call: (979) 845-1121