- AAFCO’s Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) represents the largest change to pet food labeling in more than 40 years.
- A new Pet Nutrition Facts panel will replace traditional nutritional disclosures, creating a dramatically different package appearance for consumers.
- Manufacturers will need additional testing and documentation to support nutritional and marketing claims.
- The regulations affect complete diets, treats, supplements, mixers, veterinary diets, and private-label products.
- Industry experts warn that companies delaying compliance could face supply chain disruptions and retail challenges as implementation deadlines approach.
Pet food manufacturers across North America are preparing for the most sweeping labeling changes in decades as the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) implements its Pet Food Label Modernization (PFLM) initiative.
At the center of the overhaul is a redesigned Pet Nutrition Facts panel, replacing long-standing label formats with a more standardized presentation intended to improve transparency and help consumers better understand pet food nutrition. The new panel represents the most visible packaging change the industry has seen in more than 40 years and will require virtually every affected product label to be redesigned.
Industry-wide impact extends beyond packaging
While consumers will notice the new label design, manufacturers face a much broader compliance effort behind the scenes.
The updated regulations require companies to generate additional nutritional data and, in many cases, conduct new laboratory testing to substantiate nutrient values and certain product claims before labels can be updated.
The requirements extend beyond traditional pet foods to include treats, veterinary therapeutic diets, supplements, toppers, mixers, and private-label products, making the transition one of the industry’s largest regulatory undertakings in recent years.
Retailers also face transition challenges
Although compliance responsibility falls primarily on manufacturers, retailers may also feel the effects if suppliers are not prepared.
According to RL Labs, vendors that delay testing and label development could create inventory disruptions, delayed product launches, and category management challenges as implementation timelines advance.
The company has introduced compliance support services that include guaranteed analysis, nutritional panel generation, and finished-product testing to help manufacturers prepare for the transition.
Preparing for a new era of pet food labeling
AAFCO published the model regulations for Pet Food Label Modernization in January 2024, and adoption will occur through individual states over time.
As implementation progresses, nutrition companies will need to coordinate regulatory, scientific, packaging, marketing, and manufacturing teams to update product portfolios while maintaining uninterrupted supply to veterinary clinics, distributors, and retail channels.
The transition is expected to reshape how pet nutrition information is presented on shelves for years to come.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
