Press Releases

Washington, DC—January 21, 2025…Congressmen Steve Womack (R-AR-3), Derek Schmidt (R-KS-2), and Josh Harder (D-CA-9) introduced the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025 in the U.S. House of Representatives. The PURR Act sets uniform standards for dog and cat pet food and pet food labels across the country. This would modernize the regulatory framework governing pet food manufacturing and allow pet food makers to invest in products that deliver the best nutritional benefits for our dogs and cats instead of being burdened with inconsistent and inefficient standards.

Congressman Womack said, “With nearly 66% of U.S. households owning a pet, it’s important that the owners receive the best quality food to keep their pet healthy. Unfortunately, pet food manufacturers are forced to deal with a nearly 100-year-old, costly and confusing dual regulatory system, making it difficult for them to invest in new and improved products. My legislation would cut red tape and streamline the system by granting sole authority to the FDA to regulate the labeling and marketing of pet food. By removing the current state-by-state regulatory patchwork and modernizing the system, pet food makers can provide nutritious food for our beloved pets.” 

Congressman Schmidt said, “Outdated, overbearing, and unnecessarily complicated regulations have stifled production and ingenuity across all American industries, including pet food. The archaic regulations currently in place have meant pet food producers in Kansas and across the country spend more time worrying about meeting mismatched guidelines and less time innovating new products; fortunately, the PURR Act provides a solution. By instituting uniform, streamlined pet food standards, we’ll be empowering businesses to succeed while ensuring that American pet owners have access to quality and nutritious food for their pets. I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleagues and look forward to helping move it through Congress and voting for it on the House floor.”

Congressman Harder said, “As someone who’s fostered multiple dogs with my wife Pam, I know how important it is to trust the food we’re putting in their bowls. This bill ensures that no matter where you’re buying pet food, it meets the same high standard for nutrition and quality. It’s good for our pets and good for businesses trying to navigate outdated red tape.”

Details:

The pet food industry is a growing sector of the U.S. economy, and pet food exports have increased by double digits over the last few years. U.S. pet food producers make more than 9.8 million tons of food per year to feed our nation’s dogs and cats, but the regulatory system governing the sale and marketing of pet food has not been updated for approximately 100 years and does not reflect the needs of today’s pet owners.

The PURR Act would eliminate the current confusing regulatory framework by setting up a federal preemption provision to establish the FDA as the primary authority in the regulation of pet food ingredients and labeling.

Stakeholder Support:

Simmons Pet Food President and Chairman of the Pet Food Institute Board of Directors Scott Salmon said, “On behalf of the U.S. pet food manufacturers who belong to the Pet Food Institute, the Board of Directors is excited to endorse the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform (PURR) Act of 2025. We commend Chairman Steve Womack for re-introducing this important bill in the 119th Congress. It's crucial that lawmakers pass the PURR Act this year to modernize the current regulatory system by setting nationwide uniform standards, replacing the outdated state-by-state approach so that manufacturers can bring more innovative products to market to feed the world's dogs and cats."

Pet Food Institute President and CEO Dana Brooks said, “Dog and cat owners not only want to ensure the same high quality and safe pet foods they trust to nourish their beloved dogs and cats but expect the products to reflect the latest in nutritional science and ingredient innovation. To continue delivering on that commitment, we are supporting federal legislation that would replace the current inefficient patchwork approach between states and the federal government with consistent national standards that are predictable, clearly defined, and encourage innovation and speed to market.”   

Pet Food Association of Canada Executive Director Chris Nash said, “As our largest trading partner, the United States is a critical market for Canadian pet food exporters. This proposed legislation will streamline the process and make things much more efficient and simplified for pet food trade.”

Pet Industry Distributors Association President Celeste Powers said, “The Pet Industry Distributors Association recognizes the need for a modernized, federal approach to reduce the state-by-state patchwork of pet food regulations. The PURR Act’s nationwide standards will eliminate interstate commerce disruptions and help distributors more efficiently move pet food products through the supply chain to pet owners.”

Pet Advocacy Network President and CEO Mike Bober said, “The Pet Advocacy Network is proud to continue to support the PURR Act. Uniform, national pet food standards are crucial for pets and pet owners, and this Act will strengthen the pet community’s access to the latest in science-based nutrition to care for our beloved companion animals.”

American Pet Products Association President and CEO Pete Scott said, “Pets enrich our lives in countless ways, and ensuring they have access to safe, high-quality nutrition is essential for their health and well-being. By modernizing regulations through the PURR Act, we can foster innovation and consistency in pet food standards, empowering pet food manufacturers to focus on delivering products informed by cutting-edge nutritional science. This legislation is a critical step forward for our members, the industry, and the millions of pets and owners who depend on them.

World Pet Association President Vic Mason said, “As the nation’s first pet industry trade association, the World Pet Association (WPA) proudly supports the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act (PURR) Act. Our membership includes consumer-facing businesses, and we understand that now is the time to modernize pet food regulations to bring new and innovative ingredients for pet foods and treats to store shelves in a timelier manner. A century old system no longer works for today’s pet owners and manufacturers. The PURR Act will provide more consistent, efficient, and transparent federal regulatory oversight for the safe and nutritious food that we feed our pets.” 

Human Animal Bond Research Institute President Steven Feldman said, “The Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) supports the PURR Act introduced in Congress today. We appreciate the sponsors for recognizing the importance of pets in our lives. As our love and care for pets has grown and companion animals have become more intertwined in our daily lives, the regulatory system for pet food needs to evolve to meet the challenges in today’s fast-paced, changing market environment. The PURR Act will meet the needs of today’s pet owners and strengthen the human-animal bond.”