The growth of the pet food market in India has been strong in recent years, indicating increasing interest in the health and nutrition of pet animals among pet owners. To address issues with safety and quality in this growing market, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published IS 11968:2019 — "Pet Food for Dogs and Cats — Specification (First Revision)." This is the first comprehensive Indian Standard focusing specifically on pet foods, offering regulatory guidance on matters of ingredient safety, nutritional adequacy, hygiene controls, and the methods utilized in testing.
Compliance Testing for Pet Foods – What Manufacturers Need to Know from IS 11968:2019
The growth of the pet food market in India has been strong in recent years, indicating increasing interest in the health and nutrition of pet animals among pet owners. To address issues with safety and quality in this growing market, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published IS 11968:2019 — “Pet Food for Dogs and Cats — Specification (First Revision).” This is the first comprehensive Indian Standard focusing specifically on pet foods, offering regulatory guidance on matters of ingredient safety, nutritional adequacy, hygiene controls, and the methods utilized in testing.
For manufacturers involved in animal food product development, understanding and complying with IS 11968:2019 is of key importance in product quality, safety to animal health, and instilling consumer confidence. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of the compliance testing requirements of the standard with respect to key specifications, the methods of testing, sampling as well as practical guidance regarding compliance testing.
Scope and Applicability
IS 11968:2019 outlines the requirements for both complete and complementary pet foods for dogs and cats.
- Complete Pet Food is ready-made formulations that are nutritionally adequate to fulfil all dietary needs of pets without any additional supplementation.
- Complementary Pet Food is formulated to be fed in conjunction with other foods to complete a pet’s overall nutritional profile.
The standard also applies to all product forms including dry kibble, wet canned food, semi-moist products and treats. The standard does not apply to raw pet foods, or products that do not have a nutritional purpose in pet food. The standard should be followed by pet food producers located in India, and importers of pet food, supporting compliance with India’s food safety expectations for pets and reinforcing best practices in pet food formulation & development. [1]
Nutritional and Ingredient Specifications
The IS 11968:2019 establishes the minimum and maximum limits for key nutrition parameters in pet food. It also establishes the specifications for ingredient quality and safety.
Table 1: Important nutritional requirements are summarized
Nutrient | Minimum (%) | Maximum (%) | Notes |
Crude Protein | 18 | 35 | Required for growth & health |
Crude Fat | 8 | 20 | Used for energy and supports coat |
Crude Fiber | 2 | 8 | Aids digestion |
Moisture Content | 10 | 78 | Dependent on product type |
Ash (Minerals) | 6 | 12 | Must reflect safe mineral levels |
The safety of the ingredients must be demonstrated, plus, safe and hygienic supply chains must be identified. Specifically, food of animal origin (e.g., meat and dairy) must be screened to prevent contamination. Permissible additives can be utilized if approved by the standard and does not leave harmful residues. This aligns tightly with the field of pet food product innovation services, where product safety and innovation run concurrently. [2]
Safety, Hygiene, and Contaminant Controls
IS 11968:2019 stresses the importance of evaluating for safety to avoid microbiological contamination and exposure to harmful substances. Testing for compliance includes:
- Microbiological Testing: Pet food must be free of pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. Maximum limit standards for the total viable count of microorganisms are provided to ensure general hygienic safety.
- Chemical Contaminants: There must be evaluation for heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic) and pesticide residues, mycotoxins, and other chemical contaminants. These contaminants overall must not exceed the safety levels in the standard to maintain pet health.
- Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP): The standard mandates that manufacturers practise the GMP to lessen the chance of cross contamination and to ensure traceability of raw materials and finished products. [3]
Sampling and Testing Protocols
- Verifiable compliance relies heavily on obtaining an accurate and representative sampling for the purpose of a compliance check.
- Sample Size: Determined by the batch size and is based on normatively valid sample sizes depending on the sampling plan to ensure the sample obtained is representative.
- Frequency of Testing: Determined by product type, risk assessment, and previous quality; higher risks will require greater testing frequency.
- Analytical Techniques: The standard identifies “accepted” analytical techniques specifically mentioning:
- Kjeldahl for protein,
- Soxhlet for fat,
- Gravimetric for moisture and ash.
- Standard microbial enumeration testing
Manufacturers should employ accredited laboratories for testing to guarantee result credibility, a key aspect in pet food development and quality assurance. [4]
Complementary Regulatory Landscape
Although IS 11968:2019 is voluntary, it is part of a set of requirements, examples include:
- FSSAI indirectly manages the food safety aspects of food ingredients from animal origin that may affect public health
- Laws of Legal Metrology govern the requirements for compliance for labeling and packaging
- Consumer Protection and e-commerce govern product disclosure in terms of sales and consumer rights
- Import regulations under the Ministry of Animal Husbandry maintains biosecurity of animal products [5]
Table 2: highlights how IS 11968:2019 fits within this broader landscape.
Regulation/Authority | Key Role | Relationship to IS 11968:2019 |
BIS (IS 11968:2019) | Specifying Quality, safety of Pet Food | A specific specification of animal food |
FSSAI | Food safety aspects Animal ingredients origin | Complementary oversight |
Legal Metrology Act | Packaging, labeling standards | Packaging requirement overlay |
Consumer Protection Law | Sales transparency, consumer rights | Ensures truthful claims |
Ministry of Animal Husbandry | Biosecurity and Imports | Removal of biosecurity – ingredient compliance |
Benefits of Adhering to IS 11968:2019
Compliance provides manufacturers with a range of strategic and operational benefits:
- Improved Pet Health: Adherence to safety and nutritional requirements assists with long-term wellness.
- Increased Consumer Confidence: Transparency enables trusts and loyalty to brands.
- Reduced Legal and Safety Risk: The reduced risks come from testing products to mitigate the likelihood of recalls and potential liabilities.
- Export Preparedness: Products may provide Export Preparedness when aligned with other international benchmark practices.
The standard serves as a foundation for pet food formulation & development, empowering manufacturers to innovate safely and responsibly.
Testing and Verification Protocols
- The regulation requires routine testing of finished pet food products for residues from additives and preservatives and compliance with the terms of the regulation.
- The testing must be conducted with validated analytical methods that detect unapproved or excess amounts of the additives and preservatives.
- These routines are relevant factors, especially for approval by regulatory participants for certification and marketability. [6]
Challenges and Best Practices
There are likely to be challenges to implementing IS 11968:2019:
- Access to Accredited Testing: Labs with accreditation and who specialize in pet food may also be limited.
- Ingredient Traceability: It is usually harder to verify ingredient supply chains and trace animal-derived ingredients with transparency.
- Cost of Implementation: There is a cost associated with either testing or adding QA/QC plans that raise price and lead time.
- Multiple Regulations: The ever-changing nature of laws means that ingredients or parts of an industry may fall under new regulations.
Manufacturers can overcome the above by:
- Establishing relationships with labs capable of IS 11968: 2019 accredited testing.
- Evaluating supply chain audits and supply chain traceability technologies.
- Consider training staff on IS 11968:2019 standards and GMP training.
- Continue to follow evolving regulations.
These best practices align with industry advances in pet food product innovation services and quality enhancement. [1]
Outlines The Management of Risk and Recalls:
- Implement a thorough quality control system that monitors microbiological, chemical, and physical danger.
- Use your testing data to proactively identify changes or trends, which can alert you to potential risk and facilitate early corrective action.
- Create documented recall procedures to isolate the affected batch, notify end-users, facilitate retraction of the product, and investigate corrective action.
- Ensure that traceability supplied in the raw ingredient to the finished product distribution process is maintained.
Effective risk management sustains consumer trust and safeguards pet health, critical to successful animal food product development. [6]
Conclusion
IS 11968:2019 sets a comprehensive benchmark for quality, safety, and compliance in the Indian pet food industry. For manufacturers engaged in pet food development, formulation & development, and pet food product innovation services, adoption of the standard ensures nutritional adequacy, safety, and hygiene aligned with regulatory expectations. Compliance builds consumer trust, mitigates risks, and enhances export potential in a rapidly growing market. Proactive adherence to IS 11968:2019 positions manufacturers for success amidst evolving industry demands, ultimately benefiting the health and wellbeing of companion animals. Food Research Lab offers specialized services in animal food product development, including formulation, testing, sensory trials, and regulatory guidance.
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