Washington Administrative Code
Title 16 - Agriculture, Department of (See also Titles 24, 60, and 142)
GRAIN AND CHEMICAL
Chapter 16-252 - Commercial feed-Pet food and specialty pet food
Section 16-252-012 - Label format and labeling
Current through Register Vol. 24-06, March 15, 2024
(1) Pet food and specialty pet food shall be labeled with the following information:
(2) When a pet food or specialty pet food enclosed in an outer container or wrapper is intended for retail sale, all required label information shall appear on the outer container or wrapper.
(3) A vignette, graphic, or pictorial representation on a pet food or specialty pet food label shall not misrepresent the contents of the package.
(4) The use of the word "proven" in connection with a label claim for a pet food or specialty pet food is not permitted unless the claim is substantiated by scientific or other empirical evidence.
(5) No statement shall appear upon the label or labeling of a pet food or specialty pet food which makes false or misleading comparisons between that product and any other product.
(6) A personal or commercial endorsement is permitted on a pet food or specialty pet food label provided the endorsement is not false or misleading.
(7) A statement on a pet food or specialty pet food label stating "Improved," "New," or similar designation shall be substantiated and limited to six months production.
(8) A statement on a pet food or specialty pet food label stating preference or comparative attribute claims shall be substantiated and limited to one year production, after which the claim shall be removed or resubstantiated.
(9)
"WARNING: NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION - THIS PRODUCT HAS NOT BEEN PASTEURIZED AND MAY CONTAIN HARMFUL BACTERIA." and "DECHARACTERIZED WITH HARMLESS FOOD COLORING."
(10) All pet food and specialty pet food must be labeled with a lot identifier sufficient to allow the manufacturer to accurately trace the complete manufacturing and distribution history of the product, but the lot identified may be separate from the label information required under this section.
(11) Labels must state all required label information in English. Pet food and specialty pet food may be additionally labeled in other languages if the other language labels provide the same information as the English version of the label.
(12) The term "organic" may not appear on labels or shipping documents of any pet food or specialty pet food unless the food was produced under conditions that comply with the National Organic Standard for the production and handling of organic crops, livestock and processed food products. The National Organic Standard may be obtained from the department, or on the internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic.
(13) When screenings are added to unmixed by-product pet food or specialty pet food, the term "screenings" must appear on the label:
(14) Distressed or salvage pet food or specialty pet food that contains, or may contain, prohibited mammalian protein must be labeled with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy precautionary statement "Do not feed to cattle or other ruminants."