Bureau of Agricultural Products Inspection Pet Food as a Did You Know? Business The Bureau of Agricultural Products The Bureau of Agricultural Products A Regulatory Guide for the Inspection is responsible for Inspection also performs Current Good Cottage Industry overseeing compliance with the Illinois Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) and Commercial Feed Act including the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) inspections of Illinois commercial licensing of manufacturers or feed manufacturers, oversees distributors of pet foods and regulations concerning storage, registration of their products before equipment and handling of anhydrous ammonia as a fertilizer and obtains distribution in the State. official samples of commercial feeds including pet food, fertilizer, agricultural Anyone who wishes to make seed, grass seed and vegetable seed A “pet food” means any homemade pet food for distribution which are then analyzed in relation to the commercial feed including guarantees specified on the label. must also comply with these snacks or treats prepared & requirements and follow rules on pet distributed for the consumption by dogs or cats. food labeling.

The Bureau of Marketing offers an Illinois All pet foods are regulated by the products logo program for Illinois Illinois Department of Agriculture manufacturers and their products including pet food. Information may be obtained by (217) 524-9130 visiting the Department's web site: FDA also has an Illinois consumer www.agr.state.il.us complaint line for pet food. (312) 353-7840 Or by phone: State Fairgrounds P.O. Box 19281 (217) 782-3817 Springfield, IL. 62794-9281 (217) 782-3817 TDD (217) 524-6858 TTY (866) 287-2999 Fax: (217) 524-7801 www.agr.state.il.us Printed by the authority of the state of Illinois #12-34/1,500 copies/2/12 State of Illinois What are the requirements if I want to What are the labeling requirements? Can I make pet food make and sell a pet food ? at home? You must obtain a license from the Illinois The principal display panel which is the Department of Agriculture. panel that faces the consumer must include: Yes, the Act does not prohibit the making of pet food in one’s home, however, if you intend Each product made and sold under a license 1. Product and brand name, if any. to distribute this pet food, you must be in must be registered with the Department. 2. A statement of species designation e.g. compliance with Illinois Commercial Feed Act “Dog” or “Cat”. including a license, product registration, Each product must be labeled in accordance 3. The word “snack” or “treat” if intended labeling and follow Current Good Manu- with the pet food rules mandated by the for such use. facturing Practices. Illinois Commercial Feed Act. 4. Net weight on the bottom one-third if packaged. How do I obtain product Are there any fees for a license and The remaining required information has the guarantee for the label? product registration? option of appearing on the front or a back You will need to contact a commercial Yes, the license fee is $30.00 and the panel: laboratory for a chemical analysis of the pet method of product sale will determine the 5. A Guaranteed Analysis declared for the food to determine the percentages of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and moisture registration fee. If you sell pet food in following and in the order of: Guaranteed Analysis which in turn will be used on the label. An containers of 10 lbs or less, the fee is $90.00/ informal list of laboratories may be obtained product. If you sell the pet food as bulk (loose Crude Protein (min.) % by contacting the Department. or non-packaged), allowing the consumer to Crude Fat (min.) % choose the quantity purchased, it is subject Crude Fiber (max.) % Where can I obtain to a tonnage inspection fee of 30 cents/ton. Moisture (max.) % additional information? The minimum tonnage inspection fee is 6. Ingredient statement listing each The Association of American $25.00 to be paid semiannually. If you sell a ingredient by AAFCO definition or if no Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) pet food in both a container and bulk, the fee definition is available; by common or Offers a publication that covers additional pet is $90.00 for any packaged product of 10 lbs usual name in order of predominance food labeling guidelines and ingredient by weight. or less and any amount sold in bulk or definitions as well as a web site dedicated to packages greater than 10 lbs will be subject 7. Name and address of company. the cottage industry in understanding to the tonnage inspection fee. If sold as bulk, the bulk container must requirements. display a label on the outside with all http://www.petfood.aafco.org/Home.aspx All licenses and product registrations expire information described above facing the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) December 31st of each year. consumer with the exception of net weight. Federal regulatory information on pet food such as labeling, claims, a searchable recall NOTE: Can I make a pet food and give it of pet food products, a web portal to report There are additional labeling requirements complaints and access to: away? for pet food under the Illinois Commercial Guidance for Industry #122—Manufacture and Feed Act including pet food intended for a labeling of raw meat foods for companion and No, the definition of distribution includes purpose other than a snack or treat or use captive non-companion carnivores and “give away” where a license, product of an ingredient or ingredients as part of the omnivores product or brand name. registration and proper labeling remain a http://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/Products /AnimalFoodFeeds/PetFood/default.htm requirement.