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Simplify Your FDA Pet Food Compliance and Enter the U.S. Market with Clarity

Entering the U.S. pet food market brings several FDA requirements that may feel complex at first. From ingredient rules to labeling expectations and safety obligations, there’s a lot to interpret. We walk you through each step so you know exactly what applies to your product and how to meet FDA expectations. 

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Your Guide to Pet Food Regulatory Compliance in the U.S.

Pet food in the United States is regulated by the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, and many states also look to Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) model regulations for labeling and ingredient standards.  

Before a product can be marketed, it must meet requirements for formulation, permitted ingredients, guaranteed analysis, nutritional adequacy, labeling statements, and safety systems. 

Quality Smart Solutions helps make this process more manageable by reviewing pet food documentation, assessing compliance gaps, and preparing the materials needed for regulatory expectations. Our team supports you through each step so you can navigate the rules with a clearer understanding of what is required. 

Our Pet Food Compliance Solutions

We verify whether your ingredients meet FDA pet food compliance standards, including GRAS substances, approved food additives, or ingredients listed in the AAFCO Official Publication. This helps ensure your formulation is suitable for U.S. distribution.

We review pet food labels for FDA and AAFCO alignment, including guaranteed analysis, nutritional statements, required label elements, formatting, and allowable claims. This supports labeling that meets U.S. pet food regulatory expectations.

If required, we assist with FDA facility registration under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This includes confirming whether your operation needs to register and reviewing your documentation for U.S. pet food compliance.

For companies located outside the United States, we assist with Prior Notice submissions and act as your U.S. Agent. This ensures your pet food products meet FDA import requirements and supports smoother entry into the U.S. market.

Types of Pet Food Products We Support

Pet food products come in many formats, and each category has specific regulatory considerations under FDA and AAFCO guidelines. We assist with compliance for a wide range of products, whether they are complete diets, treats, toppers, or functional formulations.

Complete & Balanced Diets

We support regulatory reviews for products such as dry kibble, canned food, and raw or freeze-dried meals, focusing on formulation, nutritional adequacy, and labeling requirements. 

Snacks & Treats

We assist with compliance for biscuits, chews, soft bites, jerky strips, and similar treat formats by reviewing ingredient suitability, claims, and required label elements. 

Meal Toppers & Mixers

We help classify and review products like powdered nutrient blends, broths, gravies, and stews to determine the correct regulatory category and labeling expectations. 

Functional Pet Foods

We assess functional products that include added omegas, probiotics, antioxidants, and other active ingredients, ensuring ingredient acceptability and compliant claim wording. 

Our Process & Average Timelines

Step 1: Intake & Document Review

We collect your formulation, ingredient list, product use, existing labels, and facility details to identify what applies under FDA pet food compliance and AAFCO guidelines.

3–5 business days

Step 2: Classification & Assessment

We assess the regulatory status of each ingredient, verify label requirements, evaluate claims, and flag gaps that may affect U.S. pet food compliance. 

5-7 business days

Step 3: Label & Submission Preparation

We update your pet food label layout, verify FDA and AAFCO labeling elements, and prepare documents needed for facility registration, import, or U.S. Agent requirements.

7-10 business days

Why Work With Us

Nearly two decades supporting companies with FDA and pet food regulatory requirements
Clear, structured guidance based on current FDA and AAFCO expectations
Transparent communication and practical recommendations
Deep experience across multiple regulatory markets, including the U.S. and global regions
Support tailored to both emerging brands and established manufacturers

Frequently Asked Questions

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) provides model regulations, ingredient definitions, and nutrient profiles used by many U.S. states. While AAFCO does not enforce laws, its guidelines are widely used to assess pet food labeling and formulation compliance. 

Most label reviews take 7 to 10 business days, depending on complexity. This includes ensuring compliance with FDA and AAFCO requirements.

No. Pet treats are regulated as pet food under FDA rules. They must meet the same ingredient, labeling, and AAFCO guidance expectations as complete diets.

Using non-approved, non-GRAS, or non-AAFCO-listed ingredients may result in enforcement actions, detentions, or product holds. Ingredient verification is a crucial step in FDA pet food compliance.

Yes, but you must designate a U.S. Agent and file Prior Notice for each shipment. These steps are required for FDA pet food import compliance.

Not always. Ingredients acceptable in one region may not meet FDA or AAFCO requirements. We help review formulations for U.S. pet food compliance before launch.

We determine whether your product is regulated as pet food, a veterinary product, or another category. Proper classification supports smoother compliance and avoids delays.

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