Legislators revive bid to streamline pet food regulation in the US

Legislators revive bid to streamline pet food regulation in the US

A bill with bipartisan support dubbed the PURR Act, could redefine pet food regulation and place it under the FDA’s purview.

Representatives in the US Congress have reintroduced a bill allowing federal oversight and regulation of pet food labels – regulations currently left to the states.

The Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025 would create national standards for labeling pet food. It was introduced by Representative Steve Womack, Republican of Arkansas, alongside Kansas Republican Derek Schmidt and California Democrat Josh Harder.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) already regulates pet food ingredients. It ensures safety standards are met, but the body’s enabling legislation does not place pet food label requirements under its domain. Instead, each state has the power to set its own label requirements, making developing new pet products cumbersome. The PURR Act hopes to change this.

It’s unclear how likely the bill is to move through a Congress grappling with a wide range of issues as the Trump administration takes over. A similar bill introduced in the previous session of Congress died in committee in February.

Details in the text

The bill proposes specific definitions, like restrictions on the use of terms like “natural,” which, when used to describe a whole product, would not apply to anything that has been created using “chemically synthetic” processes or having “synthetic” additives, unless there is a prominent disclaimer.

The bill would only apply to dogs and cats – those producing food for rabbits, fish and other small animals will have to continue following the old rules. The proposals would apply to treats, supplements, ingredients and traditional dog and cat foods.

If passed, the bill would bar states from setting their own requirements for labeling or advertising pet food, placing regulations squarely within the FDA’s scope. State officials could continue to test for quality standards.

What supporters are saying

“My legislation would cut red tape and streamline the system by granting sole authority to the FDA to regulate the labeling and marketing of pet food, Rep. Womack says in a statement on the bill. “By removing the current state-by-state regulatory patchwork and modernizing the system, pet food makers can provide nutritious food for our beloved pets.”

Schmidt says, “Outdated, overbearing and unnecessarily complicated regulations have stifled production and ingenuity across all American industries, including pet food.”

Industry support

The Pet Food Institute (PFI) stated its support for reintroducing the bill shortly after it was announced by Rep. Womack.

“Dog and cat owners not only want to ensure the same high-quality pet foods they trust to nourish their beloved dogs and cats but expect the products to reflect the latest in nutritional science and ingredient innovation,” states PFI President and CEO Dana Brooks.

“To continue delivering on that commitment, we are supporting federal legislation that would replace the current inefficient patchwork approach between states and the federal government with consistent national standards that are predictable, clearly defined and encourage innovation and speed to market.”