The USDA plans to withdraw its organic petfood regulations to resolve “uncertainty and inconsistency” in their application. The changes will classify organic petfood as a processed product instead of livestock feed.
Under new USDA guidelines, petfood labels vary by ingredient composition. Products made entirely of organic ingredients can be labelled “100% organic,” while those with at least 95% organic content can be labelled “organic.” Foods containing at least 70% organic ingredients may say “made with organic…”
Additionally, the amendment will allow the inclusion of artificial taurine and other vitamins and minerals approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in organic petfood.
The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) is against the recent decision, saying that the original organic standards for pet food were an important achievement. These standards, created after 20 years of teamwork, made it easier for small businesses to access the organic market and clarified the rules for making organic petfood.
