Key pet food regulations (UK & EU)
The laws that govern the safe production and use of animal feed, including pet food
Feed law sets the standards to ensure that all animal feed, including pet food, is safe, traceable and properly regulated from production to use.
In the UK, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is responsible for feed legislation, including oversight of feed manufactured for non-food-producing animals such as pets. Overall, feed law plays a critical role in safeguarding food safety, animal welfare, and consumer confidence. https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/pet-food
Feed law governs the production, marketing, and use of feed for all animals, including livestock and pets. Its primary aim is to ensure that feed is safe, appropriately labelled, and does not pose a risk to animal or human health. This legal framework covers everything from raw material sourcing and manufacturing standards to traceability, hygiene, and labelling requirements.
In the case of farm animals, feed law is especially rigorous, as these animals are part of the human food chain. Pet food is also tightly regulated, often under similar standards to those applied to human food, due to the shared methods of production, packaging, and distribution.
Overall, feed law plays a critical role in safeguarding food safety, animal welfare, and consumer confidence.
Key pet food regulations:
Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 (General food & feed law)
Establishes the overarching legal framework for food and feed safety. It ensures full traceability, protects consumers, and promotes safe sourcing of ingredients.
This regulation remains in force in the UK as part of retained EU law post-Brexit.
Regulation (EC) No 183/2005 (Feed hygiene)
Requires feed businesses, including pet food manufacturers, to be registered or approved. It mandates good hygiene practices and full traceability throughout all stages of production, storage, and transport.
Regulation (EC) No 767/2009 (Marketing & use of feed)
Governs the labelling, presentation, and use of pet food products. It prohibits misleading claims and ensures that consumers receive clear, accurate, and non-deceptive information.
It also outlines the responsibilities of feed business operators.
Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 (Official controls)
Outlines how UK authorities, such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA), carry out official controls to enforce feed laws. It covers import checks, inspections, audits, sampling, and traceability, supporting consistent regulation throughout the supply chain.
Feed materials & additives:
Regulation (EU) No 68/2013 (Catalogue of feed materials) & No 2017/1017 (Amendments to the Catalogue)
Pet food ingredients must comply with the standards set out in the EU Catalogue of Feed Materials, which, although voluntary, remain a widely accepted reference in the UK.
This catalogue provides:
- Standardised names and definitions for feed ingredients
- Guidelines for labelling, naming, and traceability
- Expectations for composition (e.g., moisture and fat content)
Pet food businesses are required to:
- Use legally recognised and non-misleading ingredient names
- List feed materials in descending order by weight
- Ensure that no prohibited materials are included
When using novel or borderline ingredients, businesses may need to submit safety data or obtain specific authorisation before use.
Commission Regulation (EU) No 2017/1017
Amendments to the Catalogue of Feed Materials
(Updates to Regulation (EU) No 68/2013, including new entries and revisions)
Commission Regulation (EU) No 68/2013
Catalogue of Feed Materials
(Establishes standardised names, definitions, and labelling guidance for animal feed ingredients)
View document
GB & EU Feed Materials Registers
Voluntary, industry-led registers that support transparency and traceability of feed materials placed on the market post-Brexit. They provide businesses with access to reliable data on feed ingredients and promote responsible sourcing.
Regulation (EC) No 1831/2003 (Feed additives) and GB & EU Registers of Feed Additives
Specifies that only authorised additives (e.g. vitamins, preservatives, flavours) may be used in feed, including pet food. It requires clear labelling and safety assessments for all additives used.
Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 (Genetically modified food and feed)
Controls the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in feed materials. It requires specific authorisation, comprehensive safety data, traceability, and appropriate labelling for GM ingredients in pet food.
Animal by-products:
Animal By-Products (Enforcement) (England) Regulations, 2013
Implements and enforces EU Regulations 1069/2009 and 142/2011 in England. It sets out responsibilities for handling, transporting, and disposing of animal by-products, with enforcement powers for local authorities and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 (Animal By-Products [ABP] Regulation)
Sets out rules for the safe collection, transport, processing, use, and disposal of animal by-products not intended for human consumption. It categorises ABPs into risk levels and defines which can be used in pet food. Ensures animal and public health protection.
Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 (Implementing Rules for ABPs)
Provides detailed implementing measures for Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009, including technical standards, treatment methods, and hygiene requirements for handling and processing animal by-products used in pet food and other applications.
For the latest information please contact the UK Pet Food team.