Pet food for India.
A fast-growing market where pet food is shaped by a voluntary BIS standard, import permits and Legal Metrology labelling — and by rising demand for science-led products.
Why India matters.
Published market data, with sources.
Indian pet food market in 2025, projected to reach USD 4.60B by 2034
IMARC Group ↗pet dogs in India in 2023
MoFPI sector profile ↗The rules that apply.
BIS specification, import permits and Legal Metrology labelling for the Indian market — plus export documentation for Indian-made products.
- IS 11968:2019 — BIS specification for dog and cat food (currently a voluntary standard)
- Import of animal-origin pet food: DAHD Sanitary Import Permit before shipment, then inspection and clearance by the Animal Quarantine and Certification Service (AQCS); additional conditions apply from 2026 to pet food containing probiotics
- Legal Metrology declarations on packs: MRP, net quantity, manufacturer or importer details
- Ingredient assessment, label and claims review
- Export documentation and destination-market requirements for Indian manufacturers
Our services for India.
Nutrition, testing and processing.
Last reviewed September 2026. Always confirm the current rules before launch.
| Nutrition reference | IS 11968:2019 (BIS), or AAFCO / FEDIAF profiles as agreed |
| Microbiology | Tested to the requirements of IS 11968:2019 (BIS, voluntary) |
| Contaminants | As specified in IS 11968:2019 |
| Labels & verification | Legal Metrology declarations; import clearance where relevant |
| Processing | Manufacturing to IS 11968:2019 (BIS) |
| Facilities & validation | Imports with animal-origin material need a veterinary health certificate (DAHD S.O. 3926(E)) |
Selling in more than one market?
Guires Pet Nutrition Lab provides regulatory support and review. Final responsibility for product compliance rests with the brand owner placing the product on the market.
Rules for India.
The official regulations, standards and guidelines our regulatory reviews are built on. Rules change; every review is checked against the current text.
Market insights from Guires PNL scientists
Stay ahead with regulation updates, the latest research, ingredient spotlights, recalls and market trends for this market — written by our formulation, testing and regulatory teams.
Guires PNL quality, compliance and safety
Every project at Guires Pet Nutrition Lab runs inside an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system and FSSAI-licensed operations, with documented methods, calibrated instruments, traceable raw materials and reviewed reports — so the results behind your product can be checked and defended.
Launching in India?
Tell us the product and your timeline — we will map the formulation, testing and label work for this market.
Every Guires PNL product is formulated to comply with the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines and the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. Neither body issues certificates to manufacturers, so compliance is verified independently against their published standards — and every product comes with a complete documentation package for regulatory submissions in the EU, US, Australia and Asian markets.
How we verify compliance →