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==Introduction==
Pet foods distributed in more than one state of the USA are subject to a host of labelling requirements covering aspects such as product names, ingredient lists, nutrient content guarantees, and nutritional adequacy statements<ref name="Dzanis 08">Dzanis DA. '''Understanding regulations affecting pet foods'''. Top Companion Anim. Med. 2008; 23 (3): 117-120.</ref>. In addition to meeting the federal labelling requirements, animal feed products are also subject to individual state laws. In the United States, the majority of states have adopted and enforce the AAFCO Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food. [http://www.aafco.org/ AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials)] is the official source of information on pet food labelling, ingredient definitions, official terms and standardized feed testing methodology.
Pet foods distributed in more than one state of the USA are subject to a host of labelling requirements covering aspects such as product names, ingredient lists, nutrient content guarantees, and nutritional adequacy statements<ref name="Dzanis 08">Dzanis DA. '''Understanding regulations affecting pet foods'''. Top Companion Anim. Med. 2008; 23 (3): 117-120.</ref>. In addition to meeting the federal labelling requirements, animal feed products are also subject to individual state laws. In the United States, the majority of states have adopted and enforce the AAFCO Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food<ref>AAFCO - Association of American Feed Control Officials. Official Publication 2015.</ref>. [http://www.aafco.org/ AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials)] is the official source of information on pet food labelling, ingredient definitions, official terms and standardized feed testing methodology.
The approach to labelling in Canada is similar to the USA. However, Canada does not regulate pet food labels, except under the broader Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act of the Competition Bureau which covers all retail packages, including requirements for dual language (English/French) declarations. There is a “Guide for the Labelling and Advertising of Pet Foods” which generally follows the AAFCO, although it has no legal force. Most manufacturers in Canada voluntarily choose to follow the AAFCO.
The approach to labelling in Canada is similar to the USA. However, Canada does not regulate pet food labels, except under the broader Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act of the Competition Bureau which covers all retail packages, including requirements for dual language (English/French) declarations. There is a “Guide for the Labelling and Advertising of Pet Foods” which generally follows the AAFCO, although it has no legal force. Most manufacturers in Canada voluntarily choose to follow the AAFCO.
== Label Design ==
[[EU Pet Food Labels|Similar to Europe]], a pet food label is divided into two main parts:
[[EU Pet Food Labels|Similar to Europe]], a pet food label is divided into two main parts:
#the principal display panel and
#the principal display panel and
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!colspan="3" bgcolor="#97C7F7"|Table 1. Elements legally required on pet food labels in the United States of America and Canada.
!colspan="3" bgcolor="#97C7F7"|Table 1. Elements legally required on pet food labels in the United States of America and Canada.