Pet food import clearance
Animal food is food. The same registration, Prior Notice and FSVP framework applies, with additional attention to ingredients of animal origin.
Licensed U.S. customs brokerage. Customs broker of record; movement coordinated through vetted partners.
Pet food import clearance covers customs entries for pet food, treats and animal feed. These products are regulated as animal food, meaning facility registration, Prior Notice and FSVP requirements apply much as they do for human food, with particular scrutiny of ingredients of animal origin and, in some cases, USDA involvement.
Key takeaways
- Animal food is subject to registration, Prior Notice and FSVP requirements.
- Ingredients of animal origin can bring USDA requirements alongside FDA.
- Country-of-origin restrictions may apply to certain animal-derived materials.
- Labelling requirements differ from human food and include state-level considerations.
- Treats and chews of animal origin attract particular attention.
Two agencies, sometimes
Most pet food sits with FDA. Products containing certain animal-derived ingredients can also involve USDA requirements, and some materials face country-of-origin restrictions tied to animal health. Which applies depends on the ingredients rather than the product category.
Establishing that before the first shipment avoids the situation where a container arrives subject to requirements nobody anticipated.
Labelling is not the same as human food
Pet food labelling has its own requirements, and states operate their own registration and labelling regimes for commercial feed. Federal clearance is therefore not the end of the compliance picture for a product being distributed nationally.
How it works
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01
Ingredients reviewed
Particularly any of animal origin, and their source countries.
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02
Agency pathway confirmed
Whether USDA requirements apply alongside FDA.
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03
Registration verified
Foreign facility registration confirmed current.
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04
Prior Notice and FSVP arranged
As for any food shipment.
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05
Entry filed
With product codes and affirmations matched to the formulation.
Common mistakes
- Assuming animal food is lightly regulated. It is food, with the same framework.
- Overlooking animal-origin ingredients. They can bring a second agency into it.
- Human-food labelling conventions. Pet food requirements differ.
- Ignoring state feed registration. Federal clearance is not the whole picture.
- No Prior Notice. It applies to animal food as it does to human food.
Questions
Does pet food need Prior Notice?
Yes. Animal food is subject to Prior Notice in the same way as human food, and the deadline depends on the mode of transport.
When does USDA get involved?
Where products contain certain ingredients of animal origin. Requirements can include country-of-origin restrictions tied to animal health. Which apply depends on the specific ingredients and their sources.
Are pet treats treated differently?
Treats and chews of animal origin attract particular attention, especially where the source material or processing raises animal health questions. Reviewing the specification before ordering is worthwhile.
Do I need state registrations?
Commercial feed, including pet food, is often subject to state registration and labelling requirements in addition to federal ones. Those are separate from the customs entry but affect where you can sell.
Related
Tell us what you're importing.
Commodity, origin, port and arrival date is enough to start.