US state petfood registration

In the US, pet food is regulated primarily at the state level: most states require pet food manufacturers to register their products (and/or obtain a license) with the state before the food is sold, with enforcement by state feed control officials, while FDA regulates pet food as a 'food' under the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (APPA Pet Product Labeling Requirements). Per-state registration requirements, forms and fees vary and are catalogued in APPA's Pet Food Registration Requirements Chart. Many states follow the AAFCO Model Bills and Regulations in adopting their own feed laws — the AAFCO Official Publication is the annually published guidebook of recommended laws used by state regulators — but each state's law may vary from the AAFCO model. Snacks and treats are generally considered pet food, so if a state requires pet food registration these products must also be registered. AAFCO Policy Statement 27 exempts pet chews, bones and toys (flavor-coated or not) from certain registration and labeling requirements unless the manufacturer claims the product is intended for use as an animal food or provides nutritional value; FDA still considers such chews 'food' requiring at minimum product name, manufacturer name/location, and ingredient list. Earlier claims of an 'AAFCO Uniform Registry' shared by 38 states, USD 50-500 uniform fees, and state-specific aflatoxin/allergen/moisture mandates are not supported by project sources and were removed.