Food Safety & Consumer Services Division

Animal Feed Program

Kyra Junyr

Revised: 07/2017
Getting into the Pet Food Business
 You make treats for your dog and he loves them,
so why not sell your treats?!

 Getting into the pet food business means

complying with local state and federal
regulations. This guide will helpyou understand
the basics of what is required on your label so
you are in compliance in Washington state.

 Remember, before distributing your treats,you

are required to have your productregistered!

Ellie
What is a pet food?
 Pet food is defined as any commercial feed prepared
and distributed for consumption bypets.
 Pets are defined as only dogs or cats.

Buckwheat & Solo

Pet Food Includes:
 Dry, wet, freeze dried food, treats, biscuits, training
foods, sample sizes,or
 Vitamins, minerals and supplements
 Flavorings such as gravies to add to your pets food, or
 Raw food that is ground or mixed with other
ingredients.

Amazing Feline Team

Are chews, bones and toys a pet
food?
 The following are not a pet food as long as the product
labeling or advertising does not make any claim that
the product is intended for use as an animal food or
that the product provides anything of nutritional value
to theanimal.
 All chews, bones, toys and exercisers made of animal
skin, hide, wood or man madematerial
 Hooves
 Ears
 Animal Bones; or
 Ligaments
Sunset
Aren’t hamsters, reptiles, fish, or
parrots pets as well?
 Animals other than dogs or cats may require a
specialty pet food registration or a commercial feed
license. Below are examples of the different type of
animals.
Examples of animals that Examples of animals that
require Specialty Pet require a Commercial Feed
Registration License
Hamsters, gerbils, mice Horses
Aquarium fish Goat, sheep
Parrots, parakeets, finches Cows
Lizards, snakes, geckos Wild birds
Turtles Aquaculture
Pet Food Labeling
 Any commercial feed (including pet/specialty pet
food) distributed in Washington State, except
customer formula feed, must be accompanied by a
legible label.

Inky
What is required on the label?
 Your label must have the following information:
1. Product and brand name
2. The species of pet/specialty pet it is intended for.
3. Quantity statement
Rusty

4. Guaranteed analysis
5. Lot Identifier
6. An ingredient statement with the common/usual or
defined name of each ingredient used in the product.
7. Feeding directions (and any precautionary statements,
if required)
8. Name and address of the manufactureror person
responsible for distributing the feed.
 (The statement must include street address, city, state and zip code.
Street address may be omitted if company can be found in a
telephonedirectory.)
Defined Ingredients:
Itty Bitty
 The name of each ingredient must conform to one of
the following:
 Ingredients must have an official definition in the
AAFCO official publication;
 (b) If there is no official definition for an ingredient in
the AAFCO official publication, then an ingredient
with an AAFCO tentative definition may be used;
 (c) The ingredient is defined in WAC 16-252-015;or
 (d) The ingredient has a commonly accepted name that
requires no definition, for example; sugar.
 Examples of Labels
Front Label Buckley’s Bones
(Principal Display Panel)

Oven Baked Beef Flavored

Treats for Dogs

12, 4 .oz bones

Front Label
(Principal Display Panel)

Brand Name WAC 16-252-

025 (2)

Buckley’s Bones

Product Name WAC 16-252-

025 (2)

Beef Flavored Treats Species WAC 16-252-

for Dogs 025 (4)

Quantity Statement WAC 16-

252-025 (5) 12, 4 .oz bones
Back Label
Buckley’s Bones
Beef Flavored Treats for Dogs

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min.)…….7%
Crude Fat (min.)…………6%
Crude Fiber (max.)………2%
Moisture (max.)………...10%
Ingredients:
Wheat flour, corn gluten
Directions: Feed as a meal, natural beefflavor,
treat or reward. animal fat, salt

Lot ID No.: Sept-25-16_WA

Manufactured by:
Fern’s Food Inc.
1001 2nd Street,
Smithville WA 98800
Back Label
Buckley’s Bones
Beef Flavored Treats for Dogs
Guaranteed Analysis: the
following are required. WAC
16-252-061
Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min.)…….7%
Crude Fat (min.)…………6%
Crude Fiber (max.)………2%
Moisture (max.)………...10%
Ingredients:
Directions for use. Wheat flour, corn gluten
WAC 16-252-100 Directions: Feed as a meal, natural beefflavor,
treat. animal fat, salt List of ingredients in order by
their predominance by weight.
Review WAC 16-252-090 for
Lot ID No.: Sept-25-16_WA
information on ‘Ingredient
statement terms’.

Name and address of the

manufacturer or distributor.
Lot Identifier
•Name of business, street address,
WAC 16-252-025(11)
city, state and zip code. Manufactured by:
WAC 16-252-025 (10) Fern’s FoodInc.
1001 2nd Street,
Smithville WA 98800
Front Label
(Principal Display Panel)

Boo & Boots

Salmon & Tuna

Premium Adult Cat
Food

Net Wt. 5 lbs (2.26 kg)

Front Label
(Principal Display Panel)

Brand Name WAC 16-252-

Boo & Boots 025 (2)

Product Name WAC 16-252-

025 (2) Salmon & Tuna
Premium Adult Cat Species WAC 16-252-
Food 025 (4)

Quantity Statement WAC 16-

252-025 (5)

Net Wt. 5 lbs (2.26 kg)

Back Label
Boo & Boots
Salmon & Tuna
Premium Adult Cat Food

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min.)…….24%
Crude Fat (min.)…………15%
Crude Fiber (max.)….……5%
Moisture (max.)…..…….....10%
Taurine (min.)………..…..0.1%
Ingredients:
Salmon, tuna, corn gluten
Nutritional Adequacy meal, poultry by-product
Statement meal, animal fat, salt,
Boo & Boots mixed tocopherols
Salmon & Tuna (preservative)
Premium Adult
Cat Food is Feeding Directions:
formulated to Feed your 6-10 pound cat
meet the ¾ - 1 cup of food per day.
nutritional levels May split into two feedings.
established by
the AAFCO Manufactured by:
Nutrient Profiles Fern’s Food Inc.
for maintenance. 1001 2nd Street,
Smithville WA 98800
Lot ID No.: Sept-25-16_WA
Back Label
Boo & Boots Guaranteed Analysis: the
Salmon & Tuna following are required. WAC
16-252-061
Premium Adult Cat Food

Guaranteed Analysis
Crude Protein (min.)…….24%
Additional guarantees based
Crude Fat (min.)…………15%
on product type, labeling
Crude Fiber (max.)….……5%
claims or other voluntary
Moisture (max.)……….....10%
guarantees.
Taurine (min.)….……….0.1%

Nutritional Adequacy Statement Ingredients:

is required on complete & Salmon, tuna, corngluten
balanced pet foods. WAC 16-252- Nutritional Adequacy meal, poultry by-product meal, List of ingredients in order by
025(12) Statement animal fat, salt, mixed their predominance by weight.
Boo & Boots tocopherols (preservative) Review WAC 16-252-090 for
Salmon & Tuna information on ‘Ingredient
Premium Adult Feeding Directions: statement terms’.
Cat Food is Feed your 6-10 pound cat
formulated to ¾ - 1 cup of food perday.
Name and address of the meet the
manufacturer or distributor. nutritional levels May split into two feedings.
•Name of business, street address, establishedby
city, state and zip code. Directions for use.
the AAFCO Manufactured by:
WAC 16-252-025 (10) WAC 16-252-100
Nutrient Profiles Fern’s FoodInc.
for maintenance. 1001 2nd Street,
Smithville WA 98800
Lot ID No.: Sept-25-16_WA
Lot Identifier
WAC 16-252-025(11)
Other Label Requirements
 The following types of pet foods have specific
requirements in WAC16-252:
 Enzymatic Activity (WAC 16-252-025(6), WAC 16-252-076)
 Drugs (WAC 16-252-095)
 Vitamins & Supplements (WAC 16-252-061)
Roger

 If your product makes claims to any of the above;

review WAC 16-252 to ensure your label is in
compliance.
Materials to Review:
 Revised Code of Washington Chapter 15.53 (RCW)
 Washington Administrative Code Chapter16.252
(WAC)
 AAFCO Official Publication
 FDA 21 CFR 500-599

Buster
What’s next?
 Now that you understand labeling requirements andyour
label is ready for review, what do you do next?
 Complete the following forms:
 Application for Registration of Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food,
Form 4307
 New Pet Food Product Addendum, Form 4301
 Send the completed forms with label(s) and fees to:

Washington State Department

of Agriculture
Animal Feed Program
PO Box 42591
Olympia WA98504-2591 Chewbacca
I’ve sent in my application, now
what?
 Yourapplication and label(s) will be reviewed to make
sure they meet WSDA’s laws and rules.
 Once your product(s) is registered you will receive
your ‘Pet Food Registration Certificate’ by email or
mail listing the approvedproducts.
 Once registered, your product(s) can be distributed in
the State of Washington.

Canu
Questions?
 Contact the Animal Feed Program
at:(360) 902-1844
 Or email [email protected]

Thank you!!

Kitty