Nutrition for pet food is essential for optimizing the health and welfare of the pet. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) established IS 11968:2019 as the Indian Standard to define the quality, safety and nutritional adequacy of pet food. Adherence to the nutritional standards is important for supporting pet health, pet food product development, and compliance to Indian regulation. This article outlines the key guidelines manufacturers, importers, and retailers must follow to meet IS 11968:2019 requirements while addressing consumer expectations.
Nutritional Standards for Pet Foods – Key Guidelines You Must Follow by IS 11968:2019
Nutrition for pet food is essential for optimizing the health and welfare of the pet. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) established IS 11968:2019 as the Indian Standard to define the quality, safety and nutritional adequacy of pet food. Adherence to the nutritional standards is important for supporting pet health, pet food product development, and compliance to Indian regulation. This article outlines the key guidelines manufacturers, importers, and retailers must follow to meet IS 11968:2019 requirements while addressing consumer expectations.
Nutritional Adequacy and Life Stage Formulation
The standard indicates pet food is categorized based on its stated nutritional strategy and emphasizes balanced diets to reflect nutrition needs for the animal at each life stage.
- Complete Diets / Pet Food: Intended to meet the daily nutritional needs of dogs and cats of a specific life stage (puppy/kitten, adult, gestation/lactation) without the need for other substances other than water. For a diet to be considered nutritionally complete, all macro- and micro-nutrient levels—including protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and essential amino acids—must comply with the minimum levels set out in the standard.
- Supplementary / Complementary Diets: Indicated as a supplement to other foods and not nutritionally complete on its own; these products must have the statement on the label and be added to complementary feeding source to provide an adequate level of nutrition for the animal.
- Life Stage Specific: The standard discusses formulations and nutrient composition tables specifically indicated as to the formulation of complete diets for life stages for growth, maintenance, and reproductive support.
- Guideline: Always declare whether your product is complete or supplementary, and ensure formulations meet the nutrient thresholds for the intended life stage in pet nutrition product development. [1]
Pet Food Categories
The standard distinguishes among pet foods by their physical form and intended function:
- Dry Pet Food: Moisture content ≤10–12% (Many dry diets state it has dental benefits).
- Wet Pet Food: Moisture content is 70–78% (Very palatable, great for picky eaters).
- Semi-Moist Pet Food: Moisture content is 25–35% (Great for feeding and traveling).
- Treats and Snacks: For training or rewards; not meant to be a full diet.
- Specialty Diets: Types of diets made for specific health conditions; must have nutritional adequacy statements in addition to some scientific evidence to support any health claims.
Guideline: Clearly categorize your product (dry, wet, semi-moist, treats, or specialty) and provide supporting evidence for any health-related claims during Dog & Cat nutrition product development. [2]
Key Nutrients Specified in IS 11968:2019
The guidance specifies acceptable nutrient levels for dogs and cats; again, the standard specifies amounts as well as bioavailability. Major nutrient requirements include:
- Protein: Important for growth, tissue repair, and maintenance. IS 11968:2019 identifies minimum protein requirements for each life stage.
- Fat: Provides concentrated energy, supports cellular functioning, and improves skin and coat health.
- Carbohydrates: Primarily serve as an energy source but also assist normal gut health.
- Vitamins and minerals: Vitamins and minerals are usually required to support metabolic processes, immune functions, as well as bone and enzymatic functions; this component of the diet may be the least regulated aspect of the diet. Probably the most common are vitamins A and D3, the B vitamins, calcium and phosphorus.
- Taurine (for cats): An amino acid which is required for heart and eye health.
- Fibre: Important to gut function and stool quality.
Guideline: Test for nutrient digestibility, not just presence. Ensure guaranteed nutrient levels match the nutrition standards of dog & cat food. [1]
Table 1: Key Nutrients Specified in IS 11968:2019 (Example for Dogs)
Nutrient | Purpose / Benefit | Typical Range in Pet Food (Dogs) | Real-World Example |
Protein | Growth, tissue repair, maintenance | 18–28% (DM) | Royal Canin Puppy Maxi: ~30% protein |
Fat | Concentrated energy, skin & coat health | 8–18% (DM) | Hill’s Science Diet Adult Dog: ~12% fat |
Carbohydrates | Energy source, aids digestion | Varies | Most dry kibble formulas include rice, corn, or potato for energy |
Vitamins & Minerals | Metabolism, immunity, bone health | Specified per nutrient (Ca, P, Vitamin A, D3, B-complex) | Hill’s Science Diet: Balanced vitamin & mineral premix |
Taurine (Cats) | Supports cardiac & ocular health | Essential | Royal Canin Feline diets include taurine supplementation |
Fiber | Gastrointestinal health, stool quality | 2–5% (DM) | Fiber from beet pulp or cellulose in dry foods |
Product Reference: Royal Canin Maxi Puppy
- Brand Name: Royal Canin
- Product Name: Maxi Puppy
- Product Type: Complete Dry Dog Food
- Intended Species: Dogs (Large Breeds)
- Life Stage: Puppy (2 to 15 months)
- Adult Weight Range: 26–44 kg
- Product Link: Royal Canin
Life-Stage and Physiological Considerations
The standard points out that pets possess distinctive nutritional needs that vary by age, size, and physiological state:
- Growth: Puppies and kittens must have higher protein, fat, and calorie levels to meet their growth requirements.
- Maintenance: Adult dogs and cats must have sufficiently balanced nutrition to maintain body weight and good health.
- Reproduction and lactation: Pregnant or nursing females must have sufficient calories, protein, and calcium to support fetal growth in utero and the production of milk postpartum.
Guideline: Formulate and label diets specifically for growth, maintenance, or reproduction to avoid nutritional imbalances in pet meals product development.
Nutrient Sources, Ingredient Quality, Additives, and Preservatives
Nutrient Sources and Ingredient Quality
IS 11968:2019 relates to ingredient quality and source of ingredients:
- Protein: Must be derived from a digestible source, whether that is either animal or plant.
- Fats: Must be stable and safe and free of rancidity.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Must meet safety and purity criteria.
- Contaminant Avoidance: e.g. avoid heavy metals, mycotoxins or microbial pathogens that would threaten nutritional integrity and safety.
Additives and Preservatives
Additives and preservatives are tightly controlled:
- Allowed Additives: These can only be safe and advantageous.
- Preserved: These must be kept within certain limits to avoid spoilage.
- Health Claims: Any representations about health can only be made where proven science exists. [3]
Guideline: Audit and test ingredient sources regularly and never make health claims without scientific proof in the process of pet nutrition product development.
Safety and Quality Assurance
To ensure pet safety, the IS 11968:2019 is very strict:
- Sampling and Testing: The standard outlines general methods of sampling and testing pet foods to ensure nutritional and safety compliance.
- Mycotoxin Limits: Limitations are established on specific toxin levels in feed to prevent contamination.
- Hygiene Practices: Hygiene practices are required for maintaining clean practices during pet food production.
- Traceability: This means that all pet food products must be traceable through the supply chain. [4]
Guideline: Establish routine batch testing, maintain hygienic production, and implement traceability systems in all stages of pet food product development.
Nutritional and General Labelling Requirements
IS 11968:2019 emphasizes transparent and informative labeling to ensure consumer trust and help pet owners make informed choices. Labels must include nutrient content and other critical product information:
- Minimum and Maximum Nutrient Levels: Protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
- Energy Content: Calories per unit weight to guide feeding practices.
- Diet Type: Indicate whether the food is complete or supplementary (Complete Pet Food or Complementary Pet Food).
- Species and Life-Stage Applicability: Specify the intended species (dogs, cats) and category (puppy/kitten, adult).
- Manufacturer Information: Name, address, and license number.
- Batch Number and Date of Manufacture: Ensures traceability and quality control.
- Net Weight: Clearly stated on the package.
- Ingredient List: All feed materials listed in descending order by weight.
- Guaranteed Nutrient Analysis: Include protein, fat, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and caloric content.
- Feeding Directions: Guidelines based on weight, life stage, and activity level.
- Storage Instructions and Best Before Date: Maintain product integrity and quality.
Guideline: Use transparent labeling with full nutrient analysis and feeding directions to build consumer trust in Dog & Cat nutrition product development. [5]
Feeding Guidelines and Caloric Intake
Alongside nutrient content, IS 11968:2019 recommends including feeding instructions on the packaging:
- Daily portion sizes based on the pet’s weight, activity level, and life stage.
- Special considerations for weight management or medical conditions.
Guideline: Always provide a feeding chart to prevent overfeeding or nutrient deficiencies in pet meals product development.
Regular Testing and Nutrient Verification
To facilitate compliance, companies that manufacture pet food must have processes in place for Quality Control and nutrient testing as follows:
- The nutrient composition must be assessed on a routine basis to ensure it is within allowable levels of the declared values.
- Digestibility trials are necessary when a new formulation is developed.
- The stability of nutrients must be checked to ensure that nutrients remain stable during the production and storage of the pet food product.
Guideline: Maintain ongoing testing to confirm labeled values are accurate and nutrients remain stable in pet food product development.
Compliance and Implementation
Although compliance with IS 11968:2019 is voluntary, compliance is beneficial:
- For Manufacturers: Assurance of product quality, nutritional adequacy, and consumer trust.
- For Suppliers and Distributors: Assurance that products will comply with the required standards facilitating trade and distributions.
- For Retailers: Assurance for consumers that the product will be safe and of high quality. [7] [8]
Guideline: Adopt IS 11968:2019 not just for compliance but also as a competitive advantage in India’s growing pet nutrition product development sector.
Conclusion
Nutritional standards under IS 11968:2019 provide the support for safe, effective, and responsible pet nutrition product development in India. By adhering to these guidelines, manufacturers can provide pets with a complete, balanced, and safe diet. Monitoring nutrients, ingredient quality, labelling, and testing provide compliance as well as high consumer confidence in a growing market.
Maintaining compliance with these nutrition standards of dog & cat food is an important step for any business in pet food product development or pet meals product development, striving for longevity and credibility in India’s growing pet food market.
Food Research Lab supports manufacturers, importers, and retailers in developing compliant formulations for pet food product development, ensuring that products meet both nutritional adequacy and regulatory standards while addressing consumer needs.
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