AAFCO raises concerns over PURR Act of 2025

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The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), an independent organization that guides state, federal, and international feed regulators with label standards, laboratory standards, and ingredient definitions, raised red flags regarding the newly reintroduced H.R. 597, also known as the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 or PURR Act 2025.

The bill was introduced by Congressmen Steve Womack (R-AR-3), Derek Schmidt (R-KS-2), and Josh Harder (D-CA-9) and aims to set uniform standards for canine and feline food and food labels across the United States. According to a release from the office of Womack, the proposed legislation would modernize the regulatory framework that governs pet food manufacturing, allowing pet food makers to invest in products that deliver nutritional benefits that are best for dogs and cats.¹

“Outdated, overbearing, and unnecessarily complicated regulations have stifled production and ingenuity across all American industries, including pet food. The archaic regulations currently in place have meant pet food producers in Kansas and across the country spend more time worrying about meeting mismatched guidelines and less time innovating new products; fortunately, the PURR Act provides a solution,” said Congressman Schmidt.

“By instituting uniform, streamlined pet food standards, we’ll be empowering businesses to succeed while ensuring that American pet owners have access to quality and nutritious food for their pets. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues and look forward to helping move it through Congress and voting for it on the House floor,” he continued.¹

The PURR Act of 2025 was originally introduced in Congress January 23, 2025, as a way to create a single federal regulatory process that would prohibit state governments from directly or indirectly establishing, maintaining, implementing, or enforcing authority or requirement relating to the labeling or marketing of pet food.²

While most state feed programs in the US support the FDA by reviewing pet food labels to ensure that permissible claims within the food's marketing are proven by data and do not mislead the consumer or are false, AAFCO believes that this bill, if passed, would eliminate the checks and balances currently in place to ensure transparency in products for the consumers purchasing them.

“The PURR Act would remove the ability for state-level regulators to provide the oversight that U.S. pets and pet owners deserve,” shared Austin Therrell, executive director of AAFCO, in an organizational release.² “Today, state feed programs are the first line of defense protecting consumers from misleading or mislabeled pet food products by inspecting products and labels to ensure that any marketing claims on the label or packaging are accurate and have the necessary scientific data to validate the statements.”

Currently, state governments and the FDA work together under a national integrated food safety system, which allows the FDA to use the expertise and resources of state feed programs to make pet food safety inspections stronger. The partnership also protects consumers from unsafe, misleading or fraudulent advertising and labeling practices.

“Many consumers purchase pet foods and treats based on the dietary needs or allergen requirements of their pets. Lack of transparency would leave pet owners unable to know for certain which ingredients their pets may or may not be consuming, leading to potential health risks,” said Therrell.

“We will continue to advocate for innovation within the pet food industry in a safe and responsible manner that does not compromise the wellbeing of those the industry serves,” concluded Therrell.²

References

1. Womack Leads Legislation to Set Uniform Standards for Pet Food. News release. January 21, 2025. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://womack.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=408913
2. PURR Act of 2025 Raises Red Flags with AAFCO. News release. February 25, 2025. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.aafco.org/news/purr-act-of-2025-raises-red-flags-with-aafco/