WASHINGTON — The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 (PURR Act) proposes to modernize and streamline how food and pet food are regulated. The bipartisan legislation, HR 7380, introduced on Feb. 15, proposes to give the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory authority over the labeling and ingredient testing process for food and dog and cat food. The current system allows individual states to regulate ingredient approval and labeling.
Representatives Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Steve Womack (R-Ark.) are co -sponsored the bill.
“Pet food manufacturers produce nearly 10 million tons of food annually and are vital to American agriculture. Expensive and outdated regulations have made it difficult for pet food manufacturers across the country to invest in research and development for new and improved products,” LaTurner said. “I am proud to introduce the bipartisan PURR Act to remove red tape and allow pet food manufacturers to deliver the best nutritional outcomes for our dogs and cats.”
Womack added, “Pet food manufacturers face a confusing, costly and conflicting dual regulatory system that has not been updated in nearly 100 years. The PURR Act will streamline the outdated system by providing single authority in the FDA to regulate the labeling and marketing of pet food while eliminating state-by-state regulatory patchwork.”
The bill proposes centralized federal oversight of the FDA’s regulation to replace current, inconsistent state-by-state interpretations of ingredient and pet food label approvals. The law calls for new ingredient review and approval timelines for the FDA, which will be overseen by the US Congress.
“The PURR Act includes necessary reforms to streamline and update pet food regulations in the United States,” Cuellar said. “I am pleased to cosponsor this bipartisan bill that will encourage innovation among pet food manufacturers while protecting the health and welfare of our pets.”
As an advocate for the pet food industry, the Pet Food Institute (PFI) has long lobbied for a more modernized approach to pet food regulation. PFI has given its support for the proposed legislation.
“Dog and cat owners not only want to be assured of the same high quality and safe pet foods they trust to care for their beloved dogs and cats but expect the products to reflect the latest in nutritional science and ingredient innovation,” said Dana Brooks, president and chief executive officer of PFI. “To continue to implement that promise, we support federal legislation that would replace the current inefficient patchwork approach between the states and the federal government with consistent national standards that are predictable, clear defined, and encourages innovation and speed to market.”
Under the new system, label and ingredient approvals will be delegated to the FDA, while state departments of agriculture and other state agencies will still oversee quality inspections and product registration. The result is a system for pet food regulation that more closely mirrors human food.
“Pet owners agree on the need for an uninterrupted supply of safe, quality and innovative pet products, and now is the time to streamline pet food regulations to better meet the needs of pets and pet owners at 21St century and beyond,” Brooks said.
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