Pet Food as a Business

You must obtain a license from the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Each product made and sold under a license must be registered with the Department.

Each product must be labeled in accordance with the pet food rules mandated by the Illinois Commercial Feed Act. 

Yes, the license fee is $30.00 and the method of product sale will determine the registration fee. If you sell pet food in containers of 10 lbs or less, the fee is $90.00/ product. If you sell the pet food as bulk (loose or non-packaged), allowing the consumer to choose the quantity purchased, it is subject to a tonnage inspection fee of 30 cents/ton. The minimum tonnage inspection fee is $25.00 to be paid semiannually. If you sell a pet food in both a container and bulk, the fee is $90.00 for any packaged product of 10 lbs or less and any amount sold in bulk or packages greater than 10 lbs will be subject to the tonnage inspection fee.

All licenses and product registrations expire December 31st of each year. 

No, the definition of distribution includes “give away” where a license, product registration and proper labeling remain a requirement. 

The principal display panel which is the panel that faces the consumer must include:

1. Product and brand name, if any.
2. A statement of species designation e.g. “Dog” or “Cat”.
3. The word “snack” or “treat” if intended for such use.
4. Net weight on the bottom one-third if packaged.

The remaining required information has the option of appearing on the front or a back panel:

1. A Guaranteed Analysis declared for the following and in the order of: 
   • Guaranteed Analysis 
   • Crude Protein (min.) % 
   • Crude Fat (min.) % 
   • Crude Fiber (max.) % 
   • Moisture (max.) %
2. Ingredient statement listing each ingredient by AAFCO definition or if no definition is available; by common or usual name in order of predominance by weight.
3. Name and address of company.

If sold as bulk, the bulk container must display a label on the outside with all information described above facing the consumer with the exception of net weight.

NOTE: There are additional labeling requirements for pet food under the Illinois Commercial Feed Act including pet food intended for a purpose other than a snack or treat or use of an ingredient or ingredients as part of the product or brand name. 

Yes, the Act does not prohibit the making of pet food in one’s home, however, if you intend to distribute this pet food, you must be in compliance with Illinois Commercial Feed Act including a license, product registration, labeling and follow Current Good Manufacturing Practices. 

You will need to contact a commercial laboratory for a chemical analysis of the pet food to determine the percentages of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber and moisture which in turn will be used on the label. An informal list of laboratories may be obtained by contacting the Department. 

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO)

Offers a publication that covers additional pet food labeling guidelines and ingredient definitions as well as a web site dedicated to the cottage industry in understanding requirements.

Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Federal regulatory information on pet food such as labeling, claims, a searchable recall of pet food products, a web portal to report complaints and access to: Guidance for Industry #122—Manufacture and labeling of raw meat foods for companion and captive non-companion carnivores and omnivores.