The Petfood Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act was reintroduced in US Congress to establish the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as the primary authority overseeing petfood ingredient and labelling regulations. The bill, introduced by Congressman Derek Schmidt (R-Kan.) alongside bipartisan co-sponsors, aims to create uniform national standards for dog and cat food, eliminating inconsistencies in state regulations that impact product safety and availability.
The PURR Act seeks to streamline the petfood regulatory process by centralising oversight under the FDA, addressing issues caused by the current patchwork system that spans multiple states. The proposed legislation would simplify ingredient review and approval timelines, making the approval process more predictable and efficient.
Schmidt, whose district includes a significant portion of the US petfood manufacturing industry, highlighted the economic importance of the petfood sector in Kansas and the challenges posed by outdated regulations. He noted that the new legislation would allow manufacturers to focus on innovation rather than navigating conflicting state guidelines.
The bill would mirror the regulatory framework for human food, giving state departments of agriculture responsibility for inspections and product registration while leaving label reviews to the FDA. This would modernise the system, which has not been updated in nearly a century.
Congressman Schmidt emphasized that the PURR Act would help ensure petfood quality and nutrition while benefiting businesses by removing inefficient regulatory burdens. The bill has gained support from various industry groups, including the Pet Food Institute (PFI), which advocates for national standards that encourage innovation in petfood products.
In addition to the PFI, other groups such as the Pet Food Association of Canada, Pet Industry Distributors Association, and the American Pet Products Association also support the legislation. However, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has stated that it will review the bill further due to its focus on dog and cat food rather than all animal food.
The PURR Act was initially introduced in 2024 and is backed by lawmakers from both parties, including Representatives Steve Womack (R-Ark.), Josh Harder (D-Calif.), and David Valadao (R-Calif.). If passed, the bill would represent a significant shift in how petfood is regulated in the United States.
