Hello fellow pet-lover and I hope this finds you and your furry friends well.

PET FOOD SAFETY AND LABELLING REVIEW OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT
If you weren’t aware that there was a Pet Food Safety Review in progress it’s not surprising – it has been kept below the general public’s radar, as was the human Food Labelling Review earlier this year.

The Pet Food Industry Association of Australia, together with the RSPCA, Quarantine Dept, DAFF and Australian Veterinary Association have developed a Draft Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food which, when finalised, will replace their current self-regulated Code of Practice and offer the consumer more peace of mind. While this is not government regulation, it will hold all domestic and imported pet food to a strict standard of manufacture, labelling and marketing. The draft is available for public comment prior to finalisation and can be accessed here as Draft # 5812 
http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/Details.aspx?ProductID=1431982


MEDIA INTEREST AND PET OWNERS’ CALLS FOR OVERHAUL
This is a response to pet owners’ demands for regulation of the industry following three separate pet food/treat recalls in 2008/2009 (Kramar chicken treats, Orijen kibble, Virbac dog chews) and considerable media coverage:
ABC 7.30 Report January 12 2009
http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2008/s2464272.htm  (Transcript & link to video)

Ch 7 Today Tonight July 13 2010
http://au.video.yahoo.com/watch/7872869/20861921 (Video of segment)


LACK OF PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC INFORMATION BY BIG BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT
The Draft has been made available for public comment with minimal, if any, publicity unless you were going looking for it. The RSPCA has information on its website with guidelines for response here:
http://www.rspca.org.au/what-we-do/science-and-policies/call-for-public-comment.html

Veterinarians have been alerted and comment invited via their Association. Pet food industrialists have been alerted and comment invited by the PFIAA  who have posted a link for consumers on their home page here – if consumers happen to access it:
http://www.pfiaa.com.au/Home/New-industry-standard.aspx

However there has been no publicity of which I am aware aimed at consumers, who are the primary stakeholders and the very people who finance this A$6 billion dollar industry, even though Australians are one of the largest pet owning populations in the world with over 60% of households having a dog or cat companion.
http://www.ava.com.au/newsarticle/pets-continue-power-economy

Yes, it’s “Big Business”, and we all know how Big Business often treats its customers. That’s why I’m sending you this today and I hope you accept this opportunity in the spirit it is offered and do not consider this to be an intrusion. I just felt you deserved to know and be given the chance to add your voice.

PIMC PET FOOD SAFETY WORKING GROUP STILL DELIBERATING
In June I made an unsolicited submission to the Primary Industries Ministerial Council Pet Food Safety Working Group. This is a separate body from the committee which produced the Draft Standard for pet food and they are still meeting/deliberating. They have failed to report their progress via communiqués as promised and I have this week alerted the new Minister of DAFF and the opposition Parliamentary Secretary to this fact. I have attached my June letter (without attachments but with references) for your interest. Perhaps some of the issues I raised in it are of concern to you too. These are my own views and in no way am I suggesting they should also be yours or that I ask you to agree with my viewpoint. It may, though, be useful in summarising for you some issues of concern and assist you in considering and forming your own viewpoint and response to the Draft Standard.

THE ORIJEN CATS
Some of us have had pets die, have pets who have been harmed, or have pets who have been permanently maimed by pet food. This is how my cat, Colette, is today after eating gamma irradiated food – in a wheelchair, rear legs paralysed and urinary incontinent.
 
                         

Let’s all make sure nothing like this or the issues covered in the above media videos can ever happen again, to our pets, to us, or to any other pet owner.

THE PROCESS TO FOLLOW IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE
The process for comment on the Draft is rather complex and I believe, exclusive – not in the Australian spirit of a Fair Go. The frail elderly, blind (Guide Dog owners!), computer illiterate – all are excluded from this process. Let’s be a voice for them too. And if you don’t have a pet, or like me, feed human food to your fur family, let’s consider the working animals that help make our lives secure – working farm dogs and cats, guide dogs, therapy dogs and cats, Customs dogs, Army dogs and Police dogs – who would stand in the line of fire and take a bullet to save their handler – let’s give them a voice. In fact, I believe this issue affects everyone.

Please do your best to not let the rather cumbersome method of commenting put you off – that’s what “they” probably want.

It’s a two step process as follows:
1) Get your pdf copy of the Draft Standard
Follow this link to the Standards Australia publications website. The below link should take you straight to the Draft #5812. You must register to download the Draft.
http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/Details.aspx?ProductID=1431982
Register for free, download the pdf, consider its contents, jot down the comments you wish to make. Note the Draft is licenced to you only and should not be passed on.

2) Go to the Standards hub website to comment.
The web address is on the first page of the pdf you downloaded and you will need to register here as well.
www.hub/standards.org.au/hub/public/listOpenCommentingPublication.action

Find Draft#5812 in the list and click on the “submit a comment line”.
This will take you to the registration page – click on the Register message on the right hand side. Fill in the registration form. They send you a confirmation email and direct you back to the log-in page so you can submit your comments.

Note you can return to re-read and edit your comment before you finally submit it.
Note that email, fax, or letter submissions will not be accepted or read.
 
The RSPCA have offered to help anyone with advice for this process – in their email to me they said:

“The process for comment is a bit complicated but members of the public can contact us directly at rspca@rspca.org.au if they have any questions or issues and we will assist them. Please do feel free to pass this on to any interested parties. We are hoping to garner as much support as we can for the RSPCA guidelines/position.”

You might not agree in full with the RSPCA position – read what they have to say and decide, it’s up to you. The same goes for my letter attached.

Please give yourself a couple of nights over the next two weeks to do all this.
Submissions close Tuesday 23 November.

Please take part. It’s what we’ve been asking for. It’s what we and our pets deserve.

Thank you.

Tania and “the Girls”.

You may already be aware of this:

 

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/review-food-labelling-law-&-policy

 

This food labelling review by the Australia and New Zealand Food Ministerial Council is taking place at present and initial public submissions are being accepted until November 20th. Apparently there will be further consultation with the public and an opportunity to make further submissions, presumably upon the recommendations that come out of the first review.

 

I thought you might be interested in reading about this and for Australians on the board, possibly writing your own submission. I have just finished mine and will be submitting it tomorrow.

 

Submissions may be emailed to:

FoodLabellingReview@health.gov.au

 

This is for human food but I did refer to my experience with gamma irradiated cat food in support of my submission for full disclosure and labelling. I’m expecting to hear any day now about the outcome of the Primary Industries Ministerial Council reviewing pet food safety and possible regulation of the industry. They were due to report in November.

Best wishes

Just had an email alert from Susan Thixton's Truth about Pet food website

http://www.truthaboutpetfood.com/articles/458/1/Premium-Edge-Cat-Food-Voluntary-Withdrawal/Page1.html

Interesting they've pinpointed the thiamine issue as occurring in a 12 minute timeframe in the production.

[It's official.Champion have closed their wallets and walked away]

It's official.

Champion have closed their wallets and walked away

One owner (just one) has had an answer to his many emails. Apparently this sanctimonious and condescending garbage is what is being sent to each of us affected owners. Note now "they" have determined who is a "needy case" in their charitable handout and they extend their sympathy.

I would like to collect up all Colette's stinking urine drenched pads and rub their collective noses in them.

The gloves are well and truly off now.





Here's the text of their miserable missive and I've done it in green because it makes me want to vomit.

September 23, 2009
Dear FIRST NAME ONLY,
On behalf of the entire staff at Champion Petfoods, I am writing to express our deepest
sympathies over the effect of irradiated ORIJEN cat foods.
The scientific community and the Australian government officially have agreed that high
levels of gamma irradiation applied to ORIJEN upon entering Australia was the cause of
the problem.
As Australia has recently banned its long-standing practice of irradiating imported cat
foods, Australian families and their cats will no longer be exposed to the dangers of
irradiated cat food.
Each family that applied to the ORIJEN Compassion Fund has received funds to help offset
veterinary treatment and related compassionate care costs.
Although the fund is now closed, we conducted a final review to determine those most in
need of additional financial support. Persons whose costs greatly exceeded the
Compassion Fund limit of $2,000 have received an additional support payment from
Champion Petfoods.
As a family-owned pet food maker, our true passion is making foods that enhance the
lives of pets worldwide. We are shocked and saddened by events in Australia and will
never again sell our foods where they are subjected to irradiation treatment.
Sincerely,
Peter A. Muhlenfeld Diana Mick
Marketing Manager Customer Service



And just to refresh your memories, dear readers,
DOCUMENTS OBTAINED UNDER THE AUSTRALIAN FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT STATE THAT CHAMPION WERE CONSULTED BY THEIR AUSTRALIAN IMPORTER AND GAVE THE GO AHEAD FOR IRRADIATION.

I've emailed them for the 5th time and copied seven local Alberta newspapers (for starters)

http://www.box.net/shared/faz9duzv55

I think it just proves what an illogical, disorganised, inconsistent bunch of tossers they are.

And if they are "punishing" people for being outspoken, vindictive as well. These people have been punished enough. And it's the vocal people that managed to get the fund varied and extended.

But I certainly don't think it hurts to curb public comment a little while the wallet  is still open and we wait for everyone to be considered and paid.

I'm so glad you recovered 100% of your outlay Katdogs and I hope Rocky is still going well. Did you get her her outdoor run? Best wishes

I have received a further reimbursement of my expenses incurred for the first five and a half months of my cat's illness and recuperation/rehabilitation. I have now been reimbursed to 84% of my expenses over that period. A further three months, nearly three and a half, have elapsed since the closure of the fund application date and of course the expenses have continued. Funds wired directly, no paperwork, no conditional letter to sign.

I requested a breakdown of the reimbursement and alluded to continuing expenses and having had no reply, sent a second request today.

I am aware of one other owner (not of this forum) who has received a further reimbursement bringing total refunded up to 75%.

I can also confirm that I have not, as yet, received a formal response to the letter I sent but after some prompting, received confirmation that my parcel had been received. The letter was in it along with a thank you gift for a long-suffering service person who had assured me they would go in to bat for us. Unacknowledged until I asked though.

For all those of you kind people with our interests at heart I can let you know that some of us over the cap on the Fund have been advised a further payment is to be made. We don't know if it's all or part or our total expenditures at this stage. At least one other person I am aware of is still waiting to hear something.

I think it's important to post the positives as well as the negatives.

I'm sure the knowledge that Champion were under public scrutiny has helped, and thank you all for being part of that. When I wrote to them and told them how much was known about their role in the irradiation and the total lack of any key role (as confirmed by AQIS) in the banning of cat food irradiation despite their claiming to have played a key role, I also told them what was expected of them and that a failure to step up to the plate would almost certainly result in further public scrutiny in their major market. Whether it helped or not we'll probably never know. The letter has not received a response nor any acknowledgement so far, however I do know it was received. Wouldn't be at all surprised to get a letter from their lawyers warning me off, as so many others have been warned either directly or indirectly.

We wait and watch...

[Canada gung-ho on food irradiation - fighting labeling]

Yes.
And it just so happens "another forum" not too far away, so close it makes me itchy, wait a mo while I have a scratch...

has a thread just started and it goes something like this:



   
   
Canada gung-ho on food irradiation - fighting labeling
« on: August 11, 2009, 12:15:21 AM »
   Reply with quoteQuote
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS172117+12-

Mar-2009+BW20090312
"2. Canada III-25 A.Market Analysis III-25 Canada Welcomes Extensive Food Irradiation
 III-25 Food for Irradiation III-25 Gauging the Market Potential
III-26 Strategic Corporate Developments III-26 Focus on Key Player III-26 MDS
Nordion III-26 B.Market Analytics III-27 "

http://www.asiapacific.ca/files/Analysis/2009/ChinaFoodTrade.pdf
"imported raw poultry and meat, which are not consistent with the Codex guidelines. For example, China has a zero tolerance limit for Salmonella bacteria, E. coli and Listeria pathogens. However, these pathogens can only be reduced through the process of irradiation, which some consumers are reluctant to accept."

"Labeling of Fumigated and Irradiated Food. For example, a mandatory labeling requirement for irradiated foods may reduce the sales of imported irradiated foods, since some consumers view food irradiation with uncertainty, or believe it to be unhealthy. Yet, chemical fumigation, which is a similar practice, is not facing the same requirement. The Consultative Group on Food Irradiation (CGFI) claims that “Given the unfair marketing position and additional expenses of mandatory labeling of irradiated foods when competitive chemical treatments do not require it, labeling of irradiated foods should be voluntary”




If you follow the links the report can be purchased for (wait for it...wait for it...) $3950

Here's what I replied (and if I could find enough people across both sites we might be able to manage it) :

Of course Canada is gung ho about it. Canada makes most of the Cobalt 60 rods used in gamma irradiation.

Looking at some of the content of that report makes me want to break into my piggy bank big time. There's some pretty contentious stuff there.

If enough of us were interested we could pool resources and then ....er...share it (ahem!)

Ten of us? $400 each
Fifteen of us? $257 each

Who wants to be banker?

Dr Georgina Child's paper about the effects of irradiated Orijen on the Australian cats has now been published in the Australian Veterinary Journal and can be accessed here:

http://www.box.net/shared/4295q799an

Ohooo yes

I have no idea Bonkers. I am just referring to the fact that there is a certificate of some sort included in the documents posted by Public Informer that were released under FOI. Evidently they are one of the suppliers. Have another read of it, some of it has been blacked out, but it's clear they supplied something. Be interesting to know what %age it formed of the final product but all that sort of thing is blacked out too.

And if they lied about this what else are they not being truthful about?

The fact that their all-Alberta/Canadian-fresh-food pet food contains dead diseased and disabled animals from an all American rendering plant, Griffin Industries

Yep looks like the links are working here is Clark Stride's Post 225 since some of you you can't access it
QUOTE (CLARK STRIDE CHAMPION PETFOODS) POST #225 DATED 3O NOV 2008
Hello Cato:

Champion did not know our food would be irradiated when it arrived in Australia, we found out after it was done.
We had no control of the levels of irradiation applied to our product.
When we did find out we made the assumption that the company(s) hired by the Australian government would know the affects (if any) of the irradiation process on the products that it was being applied too. We were not consulted prior too or told the level of irradiation that had been applied.
UNQUOTE

also:
QUOTE CLARK STRIDE CHAMPION PETFOODS POST #479 DATED 22 DECEMBER 2008
Hello Raggierule:

Our hearts go out to everyone who has been affected by this most unfortunate occurrence in Australia. At Champion we are pet owners and lovers also. I can only imagine how difficult it is for multiple pet owners like yourself to have to watch all but one go through this affliction. Our hearts go out to you and your loved ones wishing them a full and speedy recovery.

Hopefully I can answer all of your questions to your satisfaction.

1.   Champion was not aware our food had been irradiated until after it was on the market. The importer of ORIJEN looked after all of the Australian registration, documentation and regulations. It was not until they complained to us about the high cost of importation that we became aware of the process. Champion no longer exports to any country which requires irradiation. We  have also changed our policy regarding export procedures, Champion now requires our importers to inform us every step and regulation for importation. If we could have a decision back, it would be to allow our products to be irradiated. We didn’t know this would happen and after we found out, we assumed the process was safe, we are not the experts in irradiation. We had no idea of the actual levels of irradiation.

2.   As I stated above we were not aware until after the product was already on retail shelves.

3.   It is our understanding that all food as been removed from all retail shelves and is also no longer available on-line. If this is not correct please let us know where it is still available and I will personally contact the store.

4.   In the study at MSU done on our foods, there were a few compounds discovered. The summary from the veterinary toxicologist at MSU was that they did not find any chemical compounds that are known to cause neurotoxicity. That said, the compounds appear to be preservative in nature. The relevance of these compounds is not known, other than they are not known to cause neurotoxicity. The preservative compounds found were BHA and BHT (a common food antioxidant). The MSU test does not quantify the amount of these compounds present, so we have done further tests to determine the quantity of BHA and BHT in the food. We have determined there are some trace amounts of each of these two compounds in the food. Champion Petfoods does not add BHA and BHT to the food, but we have traced the presence of these antioxidants to one of our ingredients. We are addressing the presence of this antioxidant in our ingredient and ensuring that our ingredient channels are free of synthetic antioxidant. Although BHA and BHT are approved for use in pet food, we do not use them as antioxidants in our foods. The levels found in the food from Australia were minimal and are far less than the approved maximum level for pet food. We are continuing to investigate the compounds found in the food and serum samples sent to MSU; however, both the Veterinary Toxicologist at MSU and our consulting Veterinary Toxicologist have not identified any of these compounds as having a known toxicity.
UNQUOTE


Trust this helps
The Cats Mother

[QUOTE: (PUBLIC INFORMER)]

For those of you unable to access the Itchmo forum  

I am copy/pasting Public Informer's post. They said cross-posting was fine so I'll take them at their word...


QUOTE: (PUBLIC INFORMER)

Hullo
I have been following this issue closely for several months

Perhaps you remember this see Page 3
http://www.championpetfoods.com/Australia_Consumer_Release_Mar10.pdf

And this post:
Post # 225 on the link below
http://itchmoforums.com/news-recall-related/problems-with-orijen-in-australia-t6985.225.html

and this one:
post # 479 Point 1 on the link below
http://itchmoforums.com/news-recall-related/problems-with-orijen-in-australia-t6985.465.html


Now you might like to read these documents to compare:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ahh0aa0/n/2_Orijen_irradiation_Docs_released_under_FOI_pdf

And these supplementary documents:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ahhh99a/n/3_Formal_review_responses_to_questions_pdf

And if you are interested in the procedures and many communications involved over several months to obtain this information:
http://www.filefactory.com/file/ahhh99c/n/1_FOI_Application_procedural_docs_pdf


How to use filefactory:
You will need to have pop-up blocker disabled (or disable it when prompted)
Either click on link or paste the link into your browser bar
Scroll down a quarter page to the two buttons Free Download and Premium Download
Click on Free Download button on the left
Message appears “your download link will appear in 30 seconds”
After the 30 second countdown -
Click on message “Click here to begin your download”






Hope all the links still work

These documents have now been placed in the public domain, in the public interest.
Cross link, cross post, cross-question the responsible parties, use as you will, they belong to all of you.
UNQUOTE