Selling pet food in India, the US, EU, UK and Australia: a comparison

Five markets, five regulatory models — from state-enforced model rules in the US to voluntary standards in India and Australia. A side-by-side guide to what applies where.

PNL

Guires PNL InsightsWritten by the nutrition science and regulatory teams

Reviewed byGuires PNL scientific team

Published3 Sep 2026

Last checked3 Sep 2026

Reading time8 minutes

Key takeaways

The US combines state-adopted AAFCO model rules with federal FDA requirements.
The EU regulates pet food as feed, with FEDIAF guidelines as the nutritional reference.
In Great Britain, the FSA leads on feed law (Food Standards Scotland in Scotland).
India and Australia rely on voluntary product standards, with separate import controls.

EvidenceRegulatoryRated by the Guires Pet Nutrition Lab scientific team

MarketsIndia · US · EU · UK · Australia

ComparesFramework, nutrition, labels, imports

Last reviewedSeptember 2026

01At a glance

Market	Framework	Nutrition reference	Labelling	Imports and safety
India	IS 11968:2019 BIS specification for dog and cat food (voluntary) ¹	IS 11968 or AAFCO / FEDIAF as agreed	Legal Metrology declarations	DAHD sanitary import permit for animal-origin pet food
United States	AAFCO model rules adopted by states; FDA federal law ^2,3	AAFCO nutrient profiles	Pet Food Label Modernization in transition ³	Preventive controls (21 CFR 507) ²; H5N1 requirement for raw poultry and cattle materials ⁴
European Union	Feed law, incl. Reg. (EC) 767/2009 ⁵	FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025 ⁶	Reg. 767/2009 and FEDIAF labelling code	Feed hygiene and animal by-product rules
United Kingdom	Assimilated EU feed law; FSA in England, Wales and NI; FSS in Scotland ⁷	FEDIAF guidelines	As EU, under UK law	APHA controls for animal by-products
Australia	AS 5812:2023 (voluntary) ⁸	AAFCO or FEDIAF	AS 5812	Biosecurity import conditions; mandatory regulation judged not warranted in April 2026 ⁹

02United States

AAFCO writes model regulations and ingredient definitions; states adopt them into law. FDA enforces federal requirements, including the Preventive Controls for Animal Food rule ². The new AAFCO label format is being adopted state by state ³, and since January 2025 cat and dog food makers using uncooked poultry or cattle materials must address H5N1 in their food safety plans ⁴.

03European Union and United Kingdom

In the EU, pet food is regulated as feed. Regulation (EC) 767/2009 governs placing on the market and labelling ⁵, and the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines — updated in 2025 — are the recognised nutritional reference ⁶. Great Britain retains this framework as assimilated law, with the Food Standards Agency leading in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Food Standards Scotland in Scotland ⁷.

04India and Australia

Both markets rely on voluntary product standards. India’s IS 11968:2019 specifies requirements for dog and cat food ¹, while imports of animal-origin pet food need a sanitary import permit (see our India market guide). Australia’s AS 5812:2023 is voluntary but strongly endorsed by industry and veterinary bodies ⁸; in April 2026, agriculture ministers agreed a regulatory approach was not warranted at this time ⁹.

05Planning a multi-market product

Multi-market checklist

Pick a primary nutrition reference and check the recipe against the others.
Confirm each ingredient’s status in every target market.
Plan separate label artwork for each market.
Check import permits and certificates early — they set lead times.
Keep a single evidence file for claims, adapted per market.

This guide is general information, not legal advice.

Guires Pet Nutrition Lab verdict

Pick one nutrition reference, check the recipe against the others, and plan separate labels for each market from the start.

06Questions brands ask

Can one recipe be sold in all five markets?

Often, yes — if it meets the strictest profile and additive limits. Labels, however, usually need to differ.

Are India’s and Australia’s standards mandatory?

IS 11968:2019 and AS 5812:2023 are voluntary, but import rules and other laws still apply.

Sources

IS 11968:2019 — Pet food for dogs and cats — Specification (text). Source ↗
eCFR. 21 CFR Part 507. Source ↗
AAFCO (2023). Membership approves new model pet food regulations. Source ↗
FDA CVM (2025). Cat and dog food manufacturers required to consider H5N1 in food safety plans. Source ↗
Regulation (EC) No 767/2009. Source ↗
FEDIAF (2025). Nutritional Guidelines. Source ↗
GOV.UK / FSA. Animal feed legislation. Source ↗
BSI. AS 5812:2023 Manufacturing and marketing of pet food. Source ↗
Australian Government DAFF. Pet food safety. Source ↗

Evidence reviewed by the Guires Pet Nutrition Lab scientific team. This article is general information for product developers and is not legal or veterinary advice.

How to cite this article

Choose your referencing style, then copy. Check your university’s, journal’s or regulator’s guide for local variations.

Guires Pet Nutrition Lab. (2026, September 3). Selling pet food in India, the US, EU, UK and Australia: a comparison. Guires Pet Nutrition Lab Insights. https://www.petnutritionlab.com/insights/pet-food-market-comparison

This article summarises published evidence for product developers. Cite the original sources above for specific findings, and do not reproduce this article as your own work.

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