World agriculture stands at the threshold of new scientific and technical developments in animal science, biology, chemistry, genetics, agricultural engineering, information technology and many other fields. Emerging technologies, industry economics and public policy will play critical roles in shaping U.S. animal agriculture in the decade of the 1990s. Legislative and regulatory activities have a greater effect on animal agriculture each year. In this fast-moving technological environment, it will be necessary to regularly review the appropriateness of the scientific basis of existing regulation and to make any required adjustments in either the technology or the statutory framework.