The pet food industry in India is experiencing a substantial growth driven due to increasing pet ownership, premiumization, and improved nutrition knowledge for animals. As part of a mature pet food industry, pet food regulation in India is gaining paramount significance with appropriate emphasis toward ensuring enhanced safety and quality in pet foods. In this context, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced IS 11968:2019 pet food regulation – Pet Food for Dogs and Cats — Specification, establishing a structured framework for pet food manufacturing, nutrition, safety, and labeling under the Indian pet food regulatory framework.
What’s Next for Pet Food Regulations in India under IS 11968:2019?
The pet food industry in India is experiencing a substantial growth driven due to increasing pet ownership, premiumization, and improved nutrition knowledge for animals. As part of a mature pet food industry, pet food regulation in India is gaining paramount significance with appropriate emphasis toward ensuring enhanced safety and quality in pet foods. In this context, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) introduced IS 11968:2019 pet food regulation – Pet Food for Dogs and Cats — Specification, establishing a structured framework for pet food manufacturing, nutrition, safety, and labeling under the Indian pet food regulatory framework.
As a result of shifting consumer trends, growing imports, and alignment requirements with international norms, a question that has importance is: What’s up next for pet foods in India as a regulation in IS 11968:2019? This article examines the current regulatory framework, emerging trends, expected updates, and how stakeholders should prepare.
Overview of IS 11968:2019
This is the main Indian standard for commercial dog and cat foods and constitutes a strong foundation of BIS standards for pet food. This standard is applicable for all domestic as well as imported dog and cat foods, whether dry, semi-moist, or canned. This standard contains minimum requirements for the followings:
- Nutritional adequacy
- Ingredient and material quality
- Safety and hygiene parameters
- Packaging and labeling norms
Key Objectives of the Standard
- Ensure pets receive balanced and adequate nutrition
- Prevent adulteration, contamination, and unsafe formulations
- Establish standardization across different companies and products
- Strengthen consumer confidence and animal health
Although BIS certification under IS 11968:2019 is currently voluntary, it plays a central role in pet food compliance in India, with regulatory discussions increasingly pointing toward stronger oversight and enforcement. [1]
Core Provisions under IS 11968:2019
- Ingredient and Raw Material Requirements
The standard requires that:
- All ingredients have to be safe, wholesome, and suitable for animal consumption
- The raw material should not contain harmful elements, pathogens, insect infestations, or mold.
- Usage of banned drugs or hazardous substances/additives is not allowed
The above factors significantly impact the development of animal food products and sourcing strategies.
- Nutritional Composition Criteria
IS 11968:2019 is enabled by the provision of detailed nutrient composition requirements for complete pet foods, categorized depending on the species and life stages, forming the backbone of pet food formulation and pet nutrition product development.
For Dogs (Complete Dog Food):
- Crude protein: minimum 22% for puppies, 18% for adults
- Total fat: minimum 8% for puppies, 5% for adults
- Specified levels for calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and essential vitamins
For Cats (Complete Cat Food):
- Crude protein: minimum 30% for kittens, 26% for adults
- Mandatory inclusion of nutrients such as taurine, arginine, fatty acids, and essential minerals
These specifications are critical to ensure scientifically balanced diets and contribute to the responsible development of pet food product. [2]
- Safety, Quality, and Hygiene Requirements
Pet foods must:
- Should be free from rancid, musty odors, or harmful contaminants
- Meet limits for heavy metals, mycotoxins, pesticide residues, and microorganisms
- Undergo prescribed heat treatments, especially for canned and wet foods
- Have a production process based in hygiene schemes in accordance with GMP and HACCP guidelines
Such clauses enhance the pet food safety standards India and ensure the health of domestic animals.
- Packaging and Labeling Requirements
The standard mandates that pet food packaging:
- Be food-grade and hermetically sealed
- Clearly declare:
- Product name and type (complete or complementary)
- Ingredient list
- Nutritional information and metabolizable energy
- Feeding instructions
- Manufacturer/importer details
- Batch number, date of manufacture, and best-before date
Misleading or unsubstantiated claims such as “complete nutrition” or “premium quality” are discouraged as part of ongoing regulatory updates for pet food India. [3]
Why IS 11968:2019 Is Gaining Importance
There have been a number of developments that have brought into sharp relief the implications of IS 11968:2019 pet food regulation:
- Fast growth in imported pet foods
- Increased consumer demand for transparency and safety
- Increasing number of pet food recalls worldwide
- Expansion of e-commerce and cross-border trade
- Pressure to align with international standards like AAFCO (USA) guidelines, FEDIAF (EU) guidelines
The regulatory has gradually realized the extension of food safety and public health to pet food and strengthened the need for stronger pet food regulation in India. [4]
Emerging Regulatory Trends in India
- Shift Toward Mandatory Compliance
There is growing discussion around:
- Making BIS compliance mandatory for pet food
- Introducing pre-market compliance checks
- Enhancement of coordination among BIS, FSSAI, & animal husbandry departments
This shift signals the future of pet food regulation in India.
- Enhanced Import Controls
Upcoming pet food regulations India may include:
- Mandatory Certificates of Analysis (CoA)
- Batch-wise testing at ports of entry
- Greater scrutiny of ingredient origin and traceability
- Stronger Labeling and Claim Verification
Regulators are expected to tighten controls over:
- “Grain-free,” “organic,” “natural,” and “human-grade” claims
- Nutritional adequacy statements
- Breed-specific and therapeutic positioning
- Focus on Manufacturing Practices
Potential developments include:
- Mandatory GMP and HACCP compliance
- Periodic audits and inspections
- Robust documentation of quality management systems [5]
Comparative Snapshot: Current vs Expected Regulatory Direction
Aspect | Current Scenario | Expected Direction |
Compliance Nature | Voluntary BIS standard | Likely mandatory |
Ingredient Oversight | Basic safety checks | Detailed traceability |
Labeling | Standard declarations | Stricter claim validation |
Import Regulation | Limited checks | Enhanced port testing |
Nutritional Standards | Fixed minimums | Life-stage & functional focus |
Manufacturing Controls | General hygiene | GMP & HACCP alignment |
How Stakeholders Should Prepare
As India’s pet food regulatory framework moves toward tighter oversight and possible mandatory enforcement of IS 11968:2019, proactive preparation by all stakeholders will be critical to ensure compliance and long-term sustainability.
Manufacturers
- Align formulations strictly with IS 11968 nutrient specifications
- Strengthen R&D, documentation, and testing for compliant pet food formulation
- Enhance supplier qualification and traceability processes
Importers
- Certificate of Analysis and technical dossier preparation
- Ensure formulations and labels align with pet food compliance in India
- Anticipate increased port-level scrutiny
Regulators
- Promote awareness of standard adoption
- Explore integration of BIS requirements with FSSAI frameworks
Consumers
- Expect clearer labeling and safer products
- Prefer brands aligned with the Indian pet food regulatory framework [6]
Conclusion
IS 11968:2019 is an important development in the pet food regulation in India and will become an increasingly prominent part of its future. With the development in pet food regulation in India, it is important that organizations gear up to meet BIS norms. Food Research Lab is engaged in assisting organizations in pet foods product development and formulation in accordance with IS 11968:2019 standard related to the regulation of pet foods in India. Prior preparation by organizations in collaboration with regulatory experts will be highly effective in overcoming future challenges in accessing the market under the Indian pet food regulatory framework.
References
- Bureau of Indian Standards. (n.d.). IS 11968:2019 – Pet food for dogs and cats – Specification. Retrieved from https://standardsbis.bsbedge.com/BIS_SearchStandard.aspx?Standard_Number=IS%2011968&id=493
- Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas Blogs. (2023, June). The pawsome pet care sector: Legal insights. Retrieved from https://corporate.cyrilamarchandblogs.com/2023/06/the-pawsome-pet-care-sector-legal-insights/
- Managing IP. (n.d.). The Indian pet food industry’s legal bite: Trends, regulations and IP hurdles. Retrieved from https://www.managingip.com/article/2ehu9bvpujcnqkeodj2f4/sponsored-content/the-indian-pet-food-industrys-legal-bite-trends-regulations-and-ip-hurdles
- Pet Nutrition India. (n.d.). Pet Nutrition India. Retrieved from https://petnutritionindia.com/
- (n.d.). Pet food regulation article. Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/523159518/Pet-food-Regulation-Article
- Standards Archive. (2019). IS 11968:2019 – Pet Food for Dogs and Cats – Specification. Retrieved from https://dn710009.ca.archive.org/0/items/gov.in.is.11968.2019/IS11968%3A2019.pdf
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