Retail Sale of Pet Foods

The Feeding Stuffs Regulations 2000 control how pet food is sold.

This leaflet deals with the labelling of any type of compound or manufactured pet food that is on sale either:

• loose from bins, hoppers or other retail bulk displays; or
• in small prepacks you make up yourself by breaking down larger packs.

If you manufacture or mix your own pet foods for sale please contact your local Trading Standards Service for further advice.

If you buy prepacked pet food, and sell it on without opening or altering it in any way, the manufacturer or supplier should have ensured that the product is correctly labelled.

Labelling requirements

The pet food must be labelled with a "Statutory Statement" containing the following information:

• The name and address of the person who guarantees the statement is accurate. Normally the manufacturer.
• The name and description of the product. The descriptions "Complete Pet Food" or "Complementary Pet Food" may be used instead of "Complete Feeding Stuff" or "Complementary Feeding Stuff".
• It must also state the species of animal it is intended for, together with directions for its correct use. (However, this information is not required if the pet food consists of no more than 3 ingredients and is described by reference to those ingredients e.g. corn mixes etc.)
• All pet foods, except whole grain mixes, must be labelled with the percentage of moisture if it exceeds 14%.
• Dog and Cat foods must also be labelled with the following (for all other pet foods it is optional):
  • Percentage of protein, oil, fibre, ash;
  • List of ingredients.
• Added substances - If any of the following have been added to the pet food then their presence must be stated:
  • Antioxidants, colours, preservatives;
  • Certain minerals;
  • Vitamins A, D or E together with the amounts present and the date up to which they will remain present in the pet food.
• Date mark - For pet foods that have a short life and are highly perishable this must be a 'Use Before' date (day, month and year), for all other foods it must be a 'Best Before' date (month and year). Where a vitamin expiry date is given the same date will be shown for Best Before/Use Before.
• Batch number or the date of manufacture
• If particular attention is drawn to the presence or low content of one or more ingredients, the minimum or maximum percentage of those ingredients must be shown.

The above is the minimum information which must be given, certain other information is optional, please contact your local Consumer Protection or Trading Standards Service for further advice.

How to label pet foods with the statutory statements

• If you buy prepacked pet food, and sell it on without opening or altering it in any way, the manufacturer or supplier should have ensured that the product is correctly labelled.
• If you sell pet food loose from bins or other retail displays the 'statutory statement' must be displayed in a conspicuous place either attached to the bin or with the food in such a way that it is clear to which product it relates. You must ensure any Use By/Best Before date and any batch number are updated when new stock is added.
• If you make up prepacked containers of less than 10kg for sale to the consumer, a similar display notice can be used.
• If you make up prepacked containers greater than 10kg you must label each pack with the statutory statement.

Quantity Marking

• Prepacked pet foods must be labelled on each pack with the net weight and this must be in metric units. A statement in imperial units is optional and may be given.
• Pet foods in biscuit or cake form in packs of no more than 16 may be sold by number.

If you mix ingredients to make pet foods for sale you will probably need to register with your local authority, please contact your local Consumer Protection or Trading Standards Service for further advice.

Please Note

This leaflet is not an authoritative interpretation of the law and is intended only for guidance. For further information please contact your local Consumer Protection or Trading Standards office.

Trading Standards Division, 3rd Floor, Wallasey Town Hall, Brighton Street, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 8ED
Telephone: (0151) 691 8020    Fax: (0151) 691 8098
Internet World Wide Web http://www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/wirral/
Electronic Mail: tradingstandards@wirral.gov.uk