Pet food for United States.
The world’s largest pet market, regulated through state-adopted AAFCO model rules and federal FDA law — with new label rules and ingredient pathways in motion.
Why United States matters.
Published market data, with sources.
total US pet industry spending in 2025
APPA, Mar 2026 ↗US households own a pet
APPA, Mar 2026 ↗The rules that apply.
State-enforced AAFCO model rules plus federal FDA requirements — including the new AAFCO label format and FDA’s ingredient consultation process.
- AAFCO nutrient profiles for Growth & Reproduction and Adult Maintenance; “all life stages” claims must state whether they include large-breed puppies (70 lb or more as adults)
- Nutritional adequacy substantiated by formulation to a profile or by AAFCO feeding-trial protocols
- Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM): adopted by AAFCO in 2023 — Pet Nutrition Facts box, intended-use statement on the front panel, standardised ingredient and storage/handling terms. States adopt it on their own schedules; AAFCO recommends a transition of about six years
- FDA Preventive Controls for Animal Food (21 CFR 507): hazard analysis and food safety plan; canned foods follow low-acid canned food rules (21 CFR 113)
- Since January 2025, FDA requires cat and dog food makers using uncooked poultry or cattle materials to address H5N1 in their food safety plans
- New ingredients: FDA’s Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC), which replaced the AAFCO–FDA ingredient-definition agreement that ended in October 2024; AAFCO’s SRIS review opened in October 2025; FDA proposed mandatory GRAS notification in August 2026
- Veterinary-diet and disease-related claims assessed against FDA Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 690.150
Our services for United States.
Nutrition, testing and processing.
Last reviewed September 2026. Always confirm the current rules before launch.
| Nutrition reference | AAFCO nutrient profiles (growth & reproduction, adult maintenance) |
| Microbiology | Pet food contaminated with Salmonella and not further heat-treated is adulterated (FDA CPG 690.800) |
| Contaminants | Aflatoxin action level for pet food: 20 ppb (FDA CPG 683.100) |
| Labels & verification | FSMA verification under 21 CFR 507.49: product testing and, where needed, environmental monitoring; H5N1 in food safety plans for uncooked poultry or cattle materials |
| Processing | Canned pet food must follow FDA low-acid canned food regulations (21 CFR 113) |
| Facilities & validation | Process preventive controls validated by or under a PCQI (21 CFR 507.47); facilities must register with FDA unless exempt |
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 United States.
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 United States?
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 →