The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) has expressed concerns regarding the newly reintroduced H.R. 597, the “Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025” (PURR Act). The organisation, which provides guidance on feed regulations, warned that the bill could harm consumer protection, reduce transparency in petfood labelling, and compromise product safety.
The PURR Act, introduced in the US Congress on 23 January, 2025, proposes a single federal regulatory process for petfood labelling and marketing. If passed, it would prevent state governments from regulating these areas, which AAFCO argues could undermine consumer safeguards. State feed programs currently work alongside the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure petfood labels are accurate and scientifically supported.
“State feed programs are essential for protecting consumers from misleading or inaccurate petfood labels,” said Austin Therrell, AAFCO’s executive director. He emphasized that eliminating state-level oversight would diminish protections for US pets and pet owners.
Additionally, AAFCO criticised a provision in the bill that allows manufacturers to use vague language, such as “and/or” or “contains one or more of the following,” on packaging. This could lead to changes in ingredients without proper disclosure to consumers, making it difficult for pet owners to make informed decisions based on dietary needs or allergens.
The PURR Act would also eliminate the collaboration between state and federal authorities in regulating petfood safety. AAFCO believes this could lead to weakened safety inspections and a rise in fraudulent or misleading marketing practices.
