PURR Act | Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform  

The PURR ACT is a legislative campaign to modernize pet food regulation.  It sets uniform standards for dog and cat pet food and pet food labels across the country. The PURR Act would modernize the regulatory framework governing pet food manufacturing. 

Latest Update: PURR ACT reintroduced to Congress

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Ingredient Approval 

The memorandum of understanding (MOU) that established a working partnership for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to use the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) Ingredient Definition Request Process as a means for vetting and approving ingredients has not been renewed before it expired on October1st, 2024.  

What is next for the ingredient approval process? 

• AAFCO / Kansas State Ingredient Approval Process: On January 2025, AAFCO membership approved a proposal from Kansas State University’s Olathe Innovation Campus (K-State Olathe) to provide the scientific review for a new animal food ingredient submission pathway to replace AAFCO’s former Ingredient Definition Request process. Learn More   
• Answers to common questions about the transition period post-AAFCO MOU can be found in the “Questions & Answers” section of Evaluation of FDA Pre-market Animal Food Programs and Plan for Consultations.
• AFIC is an interim process providing an additional way for firms to consult with the FDA regarding animal food ingredients and for the FDA to identify potential safety concerns associated with such ingredients, to help support firms developing animal food ingredients for which they may have otherwise utilized the AAFCO ingredient definition process. Learn more
• FDA Enforcement Policy for AAFCO-Defined Animal Feed Ingredients
•  Animal Food Ingredient Consultation (AFIC) 
• The Innovative FEED Act was introduced in the US. Senate in June 2024 and U.S. House of representatives in December 2024. The Act would codify a regulatory review pathway that demonstrates safety and effectiveness for animal food ingredients impacting the microbiome of animals, food safety or the environment.  The Innovative FEED Act would allow for these additives to be reviewed for safety and effectiveness as food additives, not drugs, and thus avoid lengthy drug review procedures, so that they could come more quickly to market.