Is your pet food label ready to comply with AAFCO’s latest recommendations? PFLM is on the horizon, and if you aren’t prepared your products are at risk!

As a trusted partner in the pet food space, Pet Food Compliance can design your modern AAFCO-approved label and support your complete compliance.

What is AAFCO’s Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM)?

AAFCO has recommended sweeping changes to how pet food products can be advertised and the information that appears on the product label. These changes are part of a long-time project called Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM).

PFLM affects manufacturers of pet food, treats, dietary supplements, food mixers, and more. There are four main recommendations to be aware of, all of which spell a major redesign for every pet food label currently on the market.

Source: Kicks Digital Marketing

Nutrition Facts Box

The biggest change — and the one that requires the most heavy lifting — is the new format for pet food nutrition facts.

Under PFLM, AAFCO will implement a nutrition label design that looks a lot like the labels you’ll find on human food packaging. The intent is to make it easier for consumers to understand the nutritional value your product provides for their pet.

The new label format includes information like calorie distribution, nutrients per cup, and some tweaks to carbohydrate and dietary fiber guarantees, among other changes.

Intended Use Statement

Your product packaging already contains information that helps consumers make the right choice for their pet’s needs. PFLM’s Intended Use Statements implement universal wording and formatting so there are no misunderstandings about the food’s intended use.

Intended Use Statements must include:

• The species the product is intended for — E.g. dogs, cats, gerbils, etc.
• The life stage the product is intended for — E.g. juvenile hamsters, puppies (<70 pounds as an adult), adult cats, etc.
• The purpose of the food — E.g. daily food, treat, food mixer, etc.

Ingredient Statement

As the name suggests, PFLM’s Ingredient Statements help consumers understand the ingredients that are present in your pet food product. This largely boils down to formatting guidelines so your ingredients are clearly presented.

The new Ingredient Statement rules clarify naming conventions for meat, fish and poultry, as well as allowing manufacturers to list the common name of vitamins in parenthetical format. It also gives you two options for identifying your organic ingredients.

Handling and Storage Instructions

Handling and storage instructions have always been optional for pet food packaging. That’s still true under PFLM, but if you choose to include those instructions they must follow AAFCO’s new template.

The biggest change here is around graphics. If you want to include iconography around your handling and storage instructions — say, an image of a fridge if your food needs to be refrigerated — you must choose from AAFCO-created icons rather than make your own.

Get Your Modern Label with Pet Food Compliance

The changes described above are just the tip of the iceberg. There are a handful of other minor changes pet food manufacturers will need to make in order for their labels to comply with AAFCO’s PFLM.

The long story short is that if you don’t redesign your label from the ground up, your products might get pulled from shelves across the U.S.

It’s a lot to handle on your own, especially if you don’t have a dedicated employee who’s familiar with the ins and outs of labeling compliance. Partner with Pet Food Compliance and we’ll take PFLM off your plate.

Our team can take your existing label and reformat it to be compliant with PFLM, or we can design a new one from scratch. Either way, the end result is a modernized label that will keep your products in good standing with regulatory agencies across the country once they begin enforcing AAFCO’s new standards.

More Support from the Top Dog in Compliance

Labels are just one piece of compliance for pet food and treat companies. Pet Food Compliance offers comprehensive support for your business, including:

• Registration
• License Renewals
• Packaging and Label Audits
• Tonnage Reporting
• Retail Compliance
• Consulting — Branding, Analytics, Strategic Planning

Renewal & Tonnage Reporting Dates, Q4 2024

PFLM aside, the end of the year is always a busy time for compliance in the pet food industry. More than 30 renewals and tonnage reports are due between now and the end of the year. It’s a lot for anyone to handle on their own.

Want to skip the headache? Partner with Pet Food Compliance and we’ll handle renewals and reporting for you. Our team can facilitate all the necessary paperwork and work with regulatory officials on your behalf, so you have much less to sweat as we look toward the holiday season.

Source: Kicks Digital Marketing

Stop Jumping Through Compliance Hoops

Get your modern label and take compliance off your plate by partnering with Pet Food Compliance. Get your free consultation www.petfoodcompliance.com