Packaging and Labelling requirements relating to the

production of dog food and edible chew products for dogs

Pet food is regulated in a minimalistic way with no active role played by the regulators.
There is no structure in place in India for the domestic production and processing of dog food
and edible chew products, and no norms have been explicitly implemented. Currently, more
than half of the pet food demand in the Indian market is imported, and it is manufactured to
fulfil the safety criteria of the nation of origin, as well as the US and European Standards.
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has established the laws and
standards that producers must adhere to while producing and selling pet food products in the
American Markets.
For imported food products, the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy, and Fisheries
issued the Pet Food Products of Animal Origin (Import into India) Order, 2008, in addition to
other regulatory requirements for the import of Livestock products under the Livestock
Importation Act for the control of sanitary requirements of the food products. To avoid the
spread of foreign infectious viruses that may dwell in meat products, the Central Government
has established an initiative known as “Animal Quarantine & Certification Services” (AQCS)
for animals and livestock goods imported into the mainland. Under this scheme Animal
Quarantine stations are set across the country in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai,
Hyderabad and Bangalore to provide facility of Animal Quarantine and Certification services.
The importer will be required to provide Provisional Clearance as well as a Veterinary
Certificate for the import of such foods when seeking for approval from the Quarantine
officer.
Point 4 of the Pet Food Products of Animal Origin (Import into India) Order, 2008 states that:
a) The labelling of the products should be done in local/or regional language.
b) The label should clearly indicate that at no point of time, the imported product
shall find way to animal food chain other than the dogs and cats.
The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairy, and Fisheries has established the Animal
Husbandry Infrastructure Expansion Fund, AHIDF, with a sanctioned capital of Rs. 15000
Cr. to stimulate the establishment and development of domestic production facilities for
animal feeds.
Statutory Clearances required for setting up a production facility: [Implementation guidelines
of Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund, AHIDF]
1) Local Authority Clearances
2) NOC from the Land Authority on the leasehold/ ownership of the land
3) Consent to establish [COE] & Consent to Operate [CO] from the State Pollution
Control Board
4) Trade Licenses
5) Food Safety & Standard Authority of India (FSSAI)
6) Water & Air Acts
7) State Electricity Board
8) MSME Registration/ Company Registration/ LLP Formation (as applicable)
9) Registration under Labor Laws, EPF Act
 10) Any other statutory clearances required from the state to establish dairy, meat,
processing and animal feed plant.
BIS (IS 11968:2019) (PDHCCI and FSSAI) has suggested a required standard defined by
IS 191968:2019 for pet food manufacturing to ensure compliance with FSSAI licensing
regulations. However, as of now, the same is anticipated.), WHO Good Manufacturing
Practices, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) utilized in the
manufacturing of human food.
Labelling requirements as per Point 6.2.1 of IS 11968: 2019: -
i. Name and type of pet food (as defined in IS 11968: 2019) ‘complete pet food’ or
‘complementary pet food’, as appropriate, together with the species or category of
animal for which the pet food is intended;
ii. Name of the manufacturer and address;
iii. Net quantity or volume when packed, in g, kg or ml, litre;
iv. Batch or code number;
v. Feed materials/ingredients;
vi. Metabolizable energy (calculated), in kcal/kg;
vii. Date of manufacture;
viii. Best before from date of manufacture; and
ix. Directions for use of the pet food, if appropriate, indicating the purpose for which it is
intended.
As per Point 6.2.2.1 of IS 11968: 2019, certification and conformity with Bureau of Indian
Standards Act, 2016 and the Rules and Regulations framed thereunder, and the products may
be marked with the standard mark.
Being aware of these Regulations, as well as the reality of pet food production, is a crucial
first step. You'll be able to make more educated judgments about what you buy and feed your
pets.