Pets, as human friends and companions, have garnered increasing attention to the quality and safety of their food as more people choose to raise them. China has formulated a series of laws, regulations, industrial policies, and relevant national standards, covering supervision throughout the entire process of production, sales, and promotion. Today, let's take a detailed look at this system.
What is Pet Food?
Pet food, also known as pet feed, refers to industrially processed and manufactured products directly consumed by pets.
Classification of Pet Food
1. Pet Complete Feed (Pet Staple Food)
A feed formulated by mixing multiple feed ingredients and feed additives in specific proportions to meet the nutritional needs of pets at different life stages or under specific physiological or pathological conditions. It can independently provide comprehensive nutritional requirements for pets when used alone.
2. Pet Additive Premix Feed (Pet Nutritional Supplements)
A feed formulated by mixing nutritional feed additives with carriers or diluents in specific proportions to meet pets' needs for amino acids, vitamins, mineral trace elements, enzymes, and other nutritional feed additives.
3. Other Pet Feeds (Pet Snacks)
A feed formulated by mixing several feed ingredients and feed additives in specific proportions for purposes such as rewarding pets, interacting with pets, or stimulating pets to chew and bite.
How is Pet Food Regulated?
Regulatory Authorities
The supervision of the pet food industry is led by administrative authorities, with auxiliary support from institutions affiliated to these authorities and industry associations. The main administrative authorities include the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA), the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), the General Administration of Customs, and their corresponding local-level competent departments.
The NDRC is responsible for researching and formulating industrial policies and industry plans.
MARA is responsible for formulating industry guidelines, overall plans, and drafting laws and administrative regulations.
The Bureau of Animal Husbandry under MARA is responsible for proposing suggestions on relevant laws, regulations, and policies, undertaking specific national animal husbandry management work upon entrustment, and putting forward recommendations for major technological advancements in the industry.
SAMR is responsible for market supervision and comprehensive law enforcement related to the industry.
Industry associations such as the China Feed Industry Association and the Pet Industry Working Committee of the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association assist administrative authorities in completing industry planning, providing information consulting, and promoting scientific and technological achievements and management experience.
Legal and Regulatory System
For the pet food industry, China has formulated a series of laws, regulations, industrial policies, and relevant national standards, covering supervision in various links such as import and export control, production, labeling, packaging, sales, and promotion. In April 2018, MARA issued Announcement No. 20, Measures for the Administration of Pet Feed, which is supported by regulations such as Licensing Conditions for Pet Feed Production Enterprises, Regulations on Pet Feed Labeling, Regulations on Pet Feed Hygiene, Requirements for Application Materials for Production Licensing of Pet Complete Feed, and Requirements for Application Materials for Production Licensing of Pet Additive Premix Feed.
In addition, China implements a strict access system for pet food. For example:
Overseas pet feed production enterprises exporting feed or feed additives to China for the first time must apply for import registration.
Feed ingredients and feed additives are managed through catalogs; pet food must use ingredients and additives that comply with the Catalogue of Feed Ingredients and the Catalogue of Feed Additive Varieties, and adhere to the provisions of the Catalogue of Feed Additive Varieties and the Standards for the Safe Use of Feed Additives.
New feed ingredients and additives must undergo an approval process and be announced by MARA for inclusion in the catalogs before they can be used in production.
Producers must obtain a production license in accordance with the law before producing feed or feed additives.
Furthermore, China has clear requirements for the advertising and promotion of pet food. Although advertisements do not require approval from competent authorities, they must not contain the following content:
(a) Descriptions or promotions claiming that the feed or feed additive has the effect of preventing or treating animal diseases;
(b) Assertions or guarantees regarding efficacy or safety;
(c) Recommendations or testimonials using the name or image of research institutions, academic organizations, technology promotion agencies, industry associations, professionals, or users;
(d) Statements about effectiveness rates;
(e) Text, language, or images that violate safe usage regulations;
(f) Other content prohibited by laws or administrative regulations.
If advertising content violates the above requirements, penalties will be imposed in accordance with the Regulations on the Administration of Feed and Feed Additives.
Source: Antion
Note: This article is compiled by Antion. Please indicate the source for reprint.