Thanks to Rhon, Winston’s furmom, for barking in this news about the Senate hearing.

I would love to hear this!

SENATE HEARING ON PET FOOD CONTAMINATION TO BE HELD THURSDAY, APRIL 12th

[CHICAGO, IL] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today confirmed that the U.S. Senate will hold an oversight hearing on the ongoing investigation and the regulatory mechanisms that govern the pet food industry as the widespread recall of contaminated pet food continues. Durbin, a member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, has worked with Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), the Chairman of the Subcommittee, to schedule the hearing which will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2007 in Room 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Witnesses (see below for full list) will include FDA officials who will be questioned on the timeline of the investigation, the source of the contamination, and the agency’s regulatory and inspection responsibilities. The hearing will also include outside experts who will discuss the current state of the pet food industry, as well as regulatory or resource shortfalls that led to the widespread recall of tainted pet food.

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United States Senate
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
NOTICE OF SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
The Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will meet in open session at 2:00 p.m. on

Thursday, April 12, 2007 in Room 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
The program includes: Hearing to examine the current pet food recall.
Witnesses:
Panel 1:
Dr. Stephen F. Sundlof, D.V.M, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration
Panel 2:
Mr. Duane Ekedahl
Executive Director, Pet Food Institute
Mr. Eric Nelson
President, American Association of Feed Control Officers
Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins
Veterinarian
Dr. Claudia A. Kirk
Associate Professor of Medicine and Nutrition, University of Tennessee
College of Veterinary Medicine