US regulators anticipate growth in organic pet food after setting new definitions

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a final rule setting out definitions for organic pet food production, delineating pet food from other animal feeds within the National Organic Program (NOP).

The rule, published on 23 December 2024, includes allowances for synthetic additives and animal by-products. Slaughter by-products and synthetic taurine, which cannot be used in organic animal feed, will be allowed in organic pet food.

The ruling, which also clarifies how organic pet food can be labeled, will come into effect on 21 February 2025. Companies will have until February 2027 to comply with the new regulations.

The market today

Previously, organic pet food producers faced unclear definitions, which led to the uneven application of animal feed rules to organic pet foods.

It’s unclear how many pet food brands currently labeled “organic” have been following the stricter animal feed rules, but the USDA suggests that the rules’ ambiguity and strictness have stymied growth in organic pet food markets.

According to the regulator’s analysis, the current regulations are so strict that many products that meet the definition of “organic” are single-ingredient treats.

Soon, more foods will be able to use the organic label.

The USDA estimates that organic products currently make up around 0.32% of the US pet food market.

Growth incoming?

In its explanation of the final rule, the USDA says the organic market has a “reasonable expectation of growth if uncertainty and inconsistency are removed as barriers.”

The market trend of pet humanization means more people are looking for healthy pet food. Millions of Americans gravitate toward organic production methods for various reasons, including purported health benefits.

However, the market for organic pet food that the USDA predicts could already exist – outside the current definition of organic. While many brands currently market their pet foods as “healthy” or “human-grade,” they may be barred from using the term “organic” under the outgoing rules.

It is possible that any near-term growth in organic pet food is not due to new product launches or sales but rather to a reclassification of existing health foods.