Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS)

THE PURPOSE OF AFRPS

• Aim to enhance animal feed safety

• Provide the tools and resources to 

enable state feed regulatory programs 

to build strong infrastructures and 

systems that complement national 

uniformity and promote an integrated 

food safety system

• Promote quality regulatory programs 

through continuous self-improvement

• Improve communication among 

regulatory partners

WHAT PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING

“AFRPS provide much needed support for critical components of the animal feed program, including a legal foundation 

for action, enhanced inspection training, stronger laboratory services, effective emergency response, and improved 

community outreach.” – Erin Bubb, PA Department of Agriculture, Agronomic & Regional Services Division Chief

"AFRPS is the pinnacle of an integrated food safety system and domestic mutual reliance. Stakeholders come together 

with different perspectives to determine the core elements needed to ensure we're working cohesively in a very complex 

world. AFRPS supports proactivity, consistency, increased communication and continuous improvement. This not only 

advances interoperability for the state regulatory programs and the FDA, it also benefits the pets, animals and people 

we are serving." — Ashlee-Rose Ferguson, RS, Program Manager, WSDA and Secretary- Treasurer, AAFCO

“The U.S. animal food supply is safer because of the ongoing work and partnerships between State agencies and 

FDA. The AFRPS is a foundational piece to our partnerships. It provides state programs a consistent approach to coordinate and leverage work, data, and actions to meet our shared public health goal of a safe animal food supply.” 

—Tracey Forfa, J.D., M.Div., Director, FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE AFRPS

Visit www.fda.gov/AFRPS or contact OP-ORA@fda.gov

STATES ENROLLED IN AFRPS (2023)

25 states
FDA SUPPORT FOR STATE PROGRAMS

• Offers dedicated FDA staff to work with state program staff

• Provides information-sharing forums through the AFRPS 

Resource Center on the FoodSHIELD website

• Furnishes opportunities to regulatory programs enrolled in 

the AFRPS to apply for funding, when available, to assist in 

their implementation efforts 

AFRPS PROMOTE MUTUAL RELIANCE AND 

STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS

• Enhance capacity of animal feed safety regulatory programs 

and laboratories, serving as the foundation for mutual 

reliance 

• Promote internal program consistency, a highly trained 

workforce, and partnerships with other programs

• Provide tools to help your program build a quality 

management system to measure and improve performance 

and accountability

• Strengthen consumer awareness and confidence in animal 

feed safety programs

LEVERAGING RESOURCES

• Assess gaps and set priorities for program 

improvements through AFRPS’ self-assessment 

approach

• Use AFRPS tools to complete a resource 

assessment to help justify existing resources or 

to request increased resources

• Take advantage of opportunities for states to 

network, learn, and work with other state 

regulatory programs by facilitating 

information-sharing and improving 

OTHER REGULATORY PROGRAM STANDARDS

To learn more about other FDA Regulatory Program Standards, please visit www.fda.gov/regulatoryprogramstandards

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

• FDA Funding available for AFRPS: www.grants.gov and search “AFRPS”

• FoodSHIELD: www.foodshield.org 

• FSMA: www.fda.gov/FSMA

• FDA Office of Partnerships: www.fda.gov/regulatorypartners

• FDA FSMA Technical Assistance Network: www.fda.gov/fsma and click “How to Contact FDA About FSMA” 

• FDA Office of Operations Audit Staff: ORAOOAudits@fda.hhs.gov

• FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine: http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/default.htm

• Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO): www.aafco.org