— ETA NEWS —

The ETA General Counsel and Secretary, Ann Begley, provided comments to FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) regarding feeds with certain types of claims, along with other stakeholders during the CVM listening session held on October 18, 2022. The ETA is supportive of modernization of the CVM Policy and Procedures Manual 1240.3605 to expand the available claims for animal foods for production, environmental benefit, and effect on the animal microbiome. Some comments provided by the ETA and others are highlighted in the Feed Strategy article at the link below. Learn more here.

ETA applauds FDA for the recent release of new “Feed Your Mind” educational materials to provide science-based information on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Check out the new materials: FDA Releases New “Feed Your Mind” Education Materials on GMOs for Consumers, Health Educators, and Health Care Providers | FDA https://www.fda.gov/food/cfsan-constituent-updates/fda-releases-new-feed-your-mind-education-materials-gmos-consumers-health-educators-and-health-care

The Enzyme Technical Association (ETA) has recently launched a webpage highlighting technical enzymes used in consumer and industrial applications. The website provides examples such as detergents, textile processing, pulp and paper processing, and biofuel production…although there are many other applications where enzymes are used.  Enzymes represent one of the leading “Green Chemistry” technologies that drive sustainable chemical solutions in consumer products and industrial processes. Enzymes offer bio-based solutions as an alternative to conventional chemicals used in consumer and industrial applications. For more information see: http://www.enzymetechnicalassociation.org/enzymes/technical-applications/

In the US, June was declared as National Safety Month by the National Safety Council (NSC) in 1996. The NSC observes the annual safety month to help us keep each other safe, especially in the workplace. In honor of the Safety Month, the ETA would like to highlight the Enzyme Safety eLearning module titled “Working Safely with Enzymes” available on the website. This enzyme safety training could be used by enzyme manufacturers, distributors, and customers to help train their workers in the safe handling of enzymes. This eLearning module incorporates various key aspects of enzyme safety including properties of enzymes, health effects, methods to minimize potential exposure through control measures, workplace and [...]

Congratulations to the AISE, ACI, HCPA, and AMFEP for publishing a factsheet on the important role of enzymes in detergent products. The factsheet explains how enzymes work, their environmental benefits and specific applications in a user-friendly way so that it is easy to understand for both technical and non-technical audiences. To learn more about the benefits of enzyme in determent products see https://www.aise.eu/newsroom/aise-news/new-factsheet-the-role-of-enzymes-in-detergent-products-the-industrys-commitment-to-safe-and-sustainable-use.aspx?back=8

The ETA supports the recent commentary on the use of 60 ng/m3 for the enzyme exposure limit as outlined in the March 2021 issue of the Journal of Pulmonary & Respiratory Sciences. This evidence-informed occupational airborne exposure limit has been successfully used by the enzyme manufacturing and detergent industry to protect workers . The authors (David Basketter1*, Nuria Moreno2 and Merete Simonsen) outline that risk management practices used in the enzyme manufacturing and detergent industry should be used in other industries and down stream enzyme users to successfully protect workers. For access to the paper please go to: https://juniperpublishers.com/ijoprs/pdf/IJOPRS.MS.ID.555651.pdf

The Enzyme Technical Association (ETA) has recently launched a webpage highlighting the sustainability benefits of enzyme technology. Enzymes represent one of the leading “Green Chemistry” technologies that drive sustainable solutions in consumer products and industrial processes. Member companies of ETA produce innovative enzyme products used in a variety of industries and consumer products that provide sustainable solutions. The website covers specific examples on how the enzyme industry is applying enzyme technology to solve sustainability challenges such as: sustainable solutions in cleaning, reducing food waste, improving animal nutrition, reducing chemicals in textile processing, and in biofuels generation. For more information go to the sustainability page.

The Enzyme Technical Association (ETA) recently contributed an article titled “The Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) Process for Industrial Microbial Enzymes” to Industrial Biotechnology, a peer-reviewed journal that provides news on bio-based industries. The article discusses the process for how the GRAS designation is determined for industrial microbial enzymes. GRAS is a regulatory designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that exempts a food substance from FDA premarket review if it is commonly known throughout the scientific community as safe under the conditions of its intended use. The article also discusses how the GRAS designation is particularly well suited for industrial microbial enzymes, which have a long history of safe [...]

ETA recently submitted a Letter to the Editor of Food and Chemical Toxicology to address an article in its July publication, “GRAS from the ground up: Review of the Interim Pilot Program for GRAS notification” by Hanlon et al., 2017. The ETA letter clarifies and expands upon points highlighted by Hanlon et al. regarding the common knowledge element of the safety of food enzymes used to support the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) designation. The letter outlines a peer-reviewed, generally recognized safety evaluation methodology for microbial enzymes, which provides the US FDA with a review framework for enzyme GRAS Notices. This approach may serve as a model to other food ingredient categories [...]