Bill > HR597

This bill establishes a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for pet food, aimed at creating national uniformity in the labeling, advertising, and production of food for companion animals like dogs and cats. The bill preempts state-level regulations, allowing only the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee pet food standards, and introduces several key provisions including: a streamlined process for approving pet food ingredients, clear guidelines for ingredient listing and marketing claims, and specific definitions for terms like "human grade" and "natural" when used on pet food labels. The legislation mandates that the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine will be responsible for reviewing pet food ingredient submissions within 90 days, conducting scientific reviews, educating consumers and industry professionals, and submitting annual performance reports to Congress. The bill also recognizes the growing pet food industry's economic importance, noting that pet food manufacturers purchase billions of dollars of agricultural products annually and that pet ownership has been consistently increasing. By creating a more predictable and uniform regulatory environment, the bill aims to facilitate innovation in pet nutrition, improve marketplace certainty, and ensure the availability of safe and nutritious pet food across the United States.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/597/all-info