The Bureau of Indian Standards has developed a quality standard called IS 11968:2019 to establish consistency around standardized and voluntary specifications associated with the manufacture, labelling and testing of pet food for dogs and cats in India. This standard includes the raw materials, additives, nutritional requirements for dogs and cats, hygiene, storage and packaging used for animal pet food development, and labelling requirements that ensure legal compliance and product consistency and safety. Compliance is not mandatory; however, compliance helps to improve consumer confidence and quality of products.
Steps to Register and Approve Pet Food Products in India from IS 11968:2019
The pet food companies must obtain the obligatory FSSAI pet food licensing in India by getting their businesses registered with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The quality standard for the manufacture of dog and cat food, labelling and testing requirements have been laid down in IS 11968:2019 pet food standard India which is a voluntary quality standard prepared by the Bureau of Indian Standards. These standard lays down various criteria for animal pet food development in terms of raw materials, additives, nutritional requirements, storage and packaging, sanitation requirements, and labelling required by the Indian laws and safe usage of the product.
While the adherence to the IS 11968:2019 is voluntary, it assures the quality of the pet food, thus increasing customer satisfaction. The pet food approval process India involves custom pet food formulation to meet the nutritional standards and requirements; accredited laboratory testing according to the BIS protocols; adherence to pet food labelling regulations India; and scrutiny by the FSSAI. Foreign animal-based pet foods need to accompany by veterinary health certificate according to the Pet Food Products of Animal Origin (Import into India) Order 2008 and the regulations demonstrate the keen interest of India in the booming pet food sector in India and safe nutrition for pets. [1]
Overview of IS 11968:2019 for Pet Food
The IS 11968:2019 pet food standard India sets voluntary guidelines for the production, inspection, packing and labeling of cat and dog food products. This standard covers aspects of raw materials, nutritional value of the food, additives, allowable limits of contaminates, and the requirement of sanitary processing and packaging which contributes to the quality and safety of the food product.
Key highlights include:
- Classification of pet food products into complete food and complementary food categories with nutritional and labeling standards defined for each.
- Requirements for ingredient quality, food safety and hygiene and nutritional adequacy.
- A framework which assists manufacturers in developing product credibility and regulatory compliance.
- Eligibility to seek BIS certification pet food India and bear the BIS Standard Mark on product upon certification.
Despite being voluntary, adherence to the IS 11968:2019 is seen as a mark of quality in India’s booming pet food industry. [2]
Regulatory Landscape for Pet Food in India
There are several regulatory authorities in India for pet food products. BIS lays down quality standards for the pet food products through its Indian Standard, IS 11968:2019. FSSAI takes care of food safety regulations and hygienic conditions for the pet food manufacturers and lays down permissible limits of contaminates in pet food.
Importation of animal origin pet products is regulated by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying about obtain import permits and veterinary health certificate for imported products as per pet product import regulations India. Apart from the above-mentioned rules, the manufacturers must strictly follow the provisions of the Legal Metrology Act for product labeling and packaging declarations and adhere to the Consumer Protection Act and IT Act for claim made, advertisement of product and online sales.
As the industry evolves, compliance with animal feed compliance India requirements and broader food safety expectations is becoming increasingly important for pet food businesses operating in the Indian market. [3]
Steps to Register and Approve Pet Food Products
Following the regulatory framework outlined in IS 11968:2019, there are 7 basic steps required for a pet food company to be able to comply with FSSAI pet food licensing procedure and BIS certification pet food India procedure
- Business Establishment and Legal Registration
Set up a business entity in India. It could be a Private Ltd, LLP, or Proprietorship depending on the business type. Complete registration under the Shop & Establishment Act and if the products are sold retail the state Animal Welfare Board’s approval must be sought to assure Animal Feed compliance India requirements are met.
- Product Formulation and Testing as per IS 11968:2019
Formulate the pet food to meet the prescribed nutritional and safety requirements as indicated in IS 11968:2019 standards regarding custom pet food formulation and innovation. Details include formulation of ingredients, their safety profiles, the use of suitable additives and nutrition adequate to the defined species category in pet food formulation standards.
The product samples of the formulated pet food must be tested by a BIS recognized lab and it must comply with IS 11968:2019 for all the defined microbiological, chemical and nutritional parameters. Any such product must not contain contaminants over a limit specified in the standards or exceed norms of hygiene and processing as specified in dog cat food regulatory India guidelines.
- Labelling and Packaging Compliance
The labels must bear the product name, ingredients, nutrition facts, name of the manufacturer, net weight, month and year of manufacture, best before dates, warning and directions of use in accordance with pet food labelling regulations India and BIS labelling rules. Also, the package contents must be declared in terms of Legal Metrology for size, and weight of packaged contents of pet product in packaging compliance as per product requirement in Indian labelling. The type of food, whether “complete” or “complementary”, must be declared on the package.
- BIS Certification Application (Optional but Recommended)
- This application shows that an organization is keen on authenticating their pet food product. To authenticate your pet food product as having satisfied IS 11968:2019 standards, you can get a BIS Standard Mark Certification of Product, etc.
- For the application which consists of product test reports, manufacturing details, and documents for meeting labelling requirement of pet food.
- The process to get a BIS Standard Mark application include all product test reports and the manufacture details to show you have met the labelling requirement of pet food products.
- You will be able to get the BIS Standard Mark for the label when you have successfully verified your product.
- FSSAI Registration or Licensing
Businesses dealing with pet food must have to get a registration with FSSAI Food Safety compliance depending on scale of business. Fill out an appropriate FSSAI registration form, apply for pet food licensing (remember, pet food is classified under Animal Fodder) and adhere to the necessary food safety standards and hygiene. Get the food safety certification India by fulfilling the conditions stipulated for general food safety rules in the country.
- Import Registration (if applicable)
- The animal derived pet foods must follow the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and other relevant laws on animal feed import in India.
- The Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries (DADF) would require a veterinary health certificate for the import based on set regulations.
- The importer must show evidence of the health certification on the packages of imported pet food products under pet product import regulations.
- Additionally, import permits must be obtained from DADF prior to shipment of animal origin pet food products to India.
- Market Surveillance and Compliance
Adhere to the on-going rules and regulations related to consumer protection laws on claim making and product labeling; Maintain traceability and complete documentation for possible checks; Cooperate with the state Animal Welfare Boards or BIS official when being checked and continue animal feed compliance India as required. [4] [1]
Pet Food Categories under IS 11968:2019
The IS 11968:2019 categorizes pet foods for dogs and cats into different categories with specific nutritional requirements and compliance aspects that the manufacturer needs to follow during pet food product development to ensure regulatory adherence and product quality.
| Category | Description | Key Compliance Area |
| Complete Pet Food | Nutritionally complete food intended as sole diet | Nutritional adequacy, ingredient safety |
| Complementary Food | Food intended to supplement complete diet | Labelling, ingredient disclosure |
| Specialized Diets | Therapeutic or functional diets for specific health issues | Scientific validation of health claims |
| Treats and Snacks | Non-essential items with limited nutritional benefit | Safety and contaminant limits |
Summary Table of Registration and Approval Steps
The following table summarizes 7 necessary steps to comply with pet food registration India IS 11968 and assigns responsibility to respective authorities on each step of approval starting from business to the end of market observation.
| Step | Description | Responsible Authority |
| 1. Business Registration | Legal entity incorporation, Shops & Establishments registration | Registrar of Companies, State Authorities |
| 2. Product Formulation | Formulate as per IS 11968:2019 nutritional and safety standards via animal pet food development and private label pet food development | Manufacturer, Accredited Labs |
| 3. Labelling Compliance | Design label per BIS and Legal Metrology requirements | Manufacturer |
| 4. BIS Certification | Apply for BIS Standard Mark with documentation and factory audit | Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) |
| 5. FSSAI Licensing | Obtain FSSAI pet food licensing registration for pet food manufacturing | Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) |
| 6. Import Registration | Registration and health certification for imported animal-origin pet food | Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries (DADF) |
| 7. Market Surveillance | Maintain compliance with consumer protection and welfare laws | Various State and Central Authorities |
Conclusion
IS 11968:2019 serves as an essential document that governs and regulates the safety and nutritional quality of pet foods in India. Although it is optional, increasingly as the pet market is maturing, compliance with this standard is beneficial to gain the trust of consumers and comply with the regulations.
Launch your compliant pet food product today. Contact Food Research Lab for the end-to-end pet food product development services starting from custom formulation, accredited testing, BIS and FSSAI licensing and approval and to gain consumer confidence and secure your supply chain by getting in touch to deal with IS 11968:2019 compliances.
References
- Bureau of Indian Standards. (2019). IS 11968:2019—Pet food: Requirements for the manufacture, labelling, and testing of dog and cat food. Bureau of Indian Standards. https://dn710009.ca.archive.org/0/items/gov.in.is.11968.2019/IS11968%3A2019.pdf
- Emerge Legal. (2024). Navigating legal regulations in India’s booming pet care industry. https://emergelegal.in/navigating-legal-regulations-in-indias-booming-pet-care-industry/
- Managing IP. (2024). The Indian pet food industry’s legal bite: Trends, regulations, and IP hurdles. https://www.managingip.com/article/2ehu9bvpujcnqkeodj2f4/sponsored-content/the-indian-pet-food-industrys-legal-bite-trends-regulations-and-ip-hurdles
- Watson, P. E., Thomas, D. G., Bermingham, E. N., Schreurs, N. M., & Parker, M. E. (2023). Drivers of palatability for cats and dogs—What it means for pet food development. Animals, 13(7), 1134. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13071134
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