The Pet Food Institute – the trade organization representing the largest US pet food manufacturers – is behind a newly proposed bill in Congress. In other words, the pet food industry itself is pushing for these proposed pet food changes. When reading the bill, it is clear who will benefit from the bill and who will not benefit from the bill.
History behind the bill…
Pet foods are currently regulated by state laws and federal laws. Specifically with state laws regulating pet foods, most US states implement AAFCO regulations – but not all. Some of the states that adopt the AAFCO regulations update their laws annually with each new update to the AAFCO regulations, but other states do not update theirs. state law when AAFCO pet food regulations change leaving an inconsistent state system of regulating pet foods.
Also, pet food manufacturers are required to register in each state (individually) where they sell products and register each product label in each US state (again, individually). In many states, pet food manufacturers are charged a ‘tonnage fee’ based on pounds of pet food sold in the state. As you can imagine, companies that sell hundreds of different products – like those represented by the Pet Food Institute – find it time-consuming and expensive to register each product in every US state.
Recognizing these weaknesses of US pet food regulation, there is a need for improvement.
However, the PURR Act is not the fix. The Pet Food Institute’s PURR Act is a bill that only benefits the industry, not a word of it benefits pet owners (even if they claim it does).
In other words, the PURR Act would eliminate regulation of pet food at the state level, the bill suggests that the FDA has sole responsibility for regulating pet food. “No State or a political subdivision of a State may directly or indirectly establish, maintain, enforce, or enforce any authority or requirement relating to the marketing or labeling of pet food.”
At first glance, the bill could encourage uniform enforcement of the law, saving manufacturers time and money in registering all products in all US states. But…the bill falls into the ‘give an inch, and they’ll go a mile’ category.
Line after line within the industry of the benefits bill, gives the ‘want’ of the industry.
“Creating an improved Federal regulatory process for new pet food ingredient…”
“…allows for more consistent and predictable ingredient analysis and market introductions…”
“A a pet food manufacturer is not required to notify the Food and Drug Administration of GRAS ingredients used in pet food…”
“Not later than 90 days after receiving a pet food ingredient submissionThe Secretary will review such submission and issue an action letter…”
“Pet food should not be considered a misbrand by stating in the pet food ingredient list on the product label that an ingredient of a type described in paragraph (2) sometimes, but not always, present in pet food.”
“Pet food should not be considered a misbrand due to the following claims on the label and promotional material for pet food…” “Claims about hairball control.” “Claims about tartar control, plaque removal, and bad breath odor.” “Claims about pet food’s ability to support overall urinary tract health.” “‘Natural’ claims”
“The responsibilities of the Director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine shall include— conducting and coordinating science-based evaluations of pet food ingredient submissions.”
And what do pet owners get with the PURR Act?
“The Secretary shall assign to the Director of the Center for Veterinary Medicine the responsibility for…educating pet owners, veterinarians, and the associated animal industry regarding pet nutrition;”
“communicating and educating consumers on pet food safety…”
That’s it. The bill promises us FDA education. (How do you think it will happen?)
The Pet Food Institute markets the bill as if it only benefits pet owners who provide misleading information about the bill. From the Pet Food Institute website:
No, nothing in the bill gives pet owners “access to the latest scienced-based nutrition”.
And…
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in the bill requires pet food to be regulated like human food. Pet food will remain a primary feed grade product without disclosure of feed grade to pet food consumers.
Are you PURRturbed? Tell your House of Representatives to silence the PURR Act.
Example email:
I am asking you to NOT support HR 7380, the “Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2024”. This bill was clearly written to solely support the pet food industry without thought or concern of pet food’s largest stakeholder – pet food consumers.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7380/text
The Pet Food Institute – the trade association that represents some of the pet food industry is behind this bill and is fraudulently promoting it to benefit pet food consumers. This is completely untrue.
HR 7380 does not require pet food to be regulated the same way as human food, in fact the bill does nothing to prevent the use of waste ingredients allowed in pet food by the FDA. The same feed grade ingredients will be used in pet food after the bill with NO disclosure to pet food consumers.
HR 7380 allows industry to make potentially misleading claims on labels without the worry of mislabeling, allowing industry a fast track to introduce new ingredients without certainty on safety, allows industry the opportunity to list ingredients on a label that may or may not. included in pet food – definitely misleading to consumers.
Please do not support this bill. HR 7380 does absolutely nothing to ensure pet food safety or provide transparency in pet food labeling/marketing, and the bill does not benefit pet food consumers.
The bill is currently in the House of Representatives, you can find your Representatives in Congress here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative.
Please do your part to STOP the PURR Act, send an email to your representatives.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Buyer Beware of Author, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
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