The final rule, which becomes effective in August, is an additional safety measure taken by U.S. regulators since mad cow disease broke out in Britain in 1986.
Scientists believe that the disease was rapidly spread there by the practice of feeding animal byproducts to cows.
No case of the deadly nervous system disease, known to scientists as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, has been found in the United States. "But if a case (of mad cow disease) were ever found here, these measures would prevent the spread of (it) through feeds," the FDA said in a statement.
The new regulation forbids manufacturers from grinding up carcasses, spinal cords or other leftover parts of most mammals to make feed for cows, sheep and goats. It also requires new control systems to ensure that farm animal feed is kept free of the material.
The meat rendering industry had opposed the stricter rule, claiming that an end to recycyling animal waste into feed for other animals could cost as much as $1.6 billion annually in disposing of the unused remains.
But consumer and farm groups supported the tougher rule as a necessary step to protect the U.S. food supply.
Manufacturers will be allowed to continue using blood, milk products and proteins derived from pigs and horses for animal feed because scientists believe those animals are not susceptible to mad cow disease, the FDA said.
And likewise manufacturers can continue using any body parts or fluids left on the slaughterhouse floor from cows to make animal feed for chickens and pigs, an FDA spokesman said.
The U.S. government banned British beef exports in 1989, and restricted imports of animal feed from other countries where the disease has been found. Some 17 human deaths in Britain and France have been blamed on the disease.
U.S. Agriculture Department began a program in 1990 to monitor and prevent the outbreak of mad cow disease in the United States.
Last week, Britain's farming and food industry created an advisory committee to help prevent another beef crisis.
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