H.R. 7380 - Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 (PURR Act of 2024)

Summary

The bill aims to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide clarity and updates to the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating the marketing and labeling of companion animal pet food. The bill also aims to establish national uniformity in regulations for companion animal pet food marketing and labeling. The bill recognizes the growing pet food industry in the United States and the increasing interest by pet owners in understanding how their companion animals' food is regulated and produced. It notes that the previous regulatory framework for pet food did not adequately meet the needs of pets and their owners due to changes in pet ownership relationships and understanding of nutritional needs and preferences. The bill seeks to create a more streamlined federal regulatory process for pet food ingredients, improve marketplace certainty, and enhance companion animal nutrition through a unified comprehensive federal system of oversight on the manufacture and sale of pet food.

Key Points

The pet food industry is growing in the United States, with increasing pet food exports and contribution to the national economy by buying agricultural products from farmers, ranchers, and farm-product processors.
Pet ownership has also increased, leading to higher pet food sales and a greater interest in how companion animals' food is regulated and produced.
Historically, pet food and livestock feed have been regulated under the same framework, but pet owners' understanding of pets' nutritional needs and preferences has changed, necessitating a separate regulatory framework for pet food.
The previous regulatory framework for pet food marketing and labeling was multifaceted, inconsistent, and varied by state.
The bill aims to establish a more streamlined federal regulatory process for new pet food ingredients, allowing for expedited advances in nutrition, greater innovation, and functionality.
Replacing the patchwork of pet food regulation with a uniform federal regulatory framework improves marketplace certainty, promotes consistent ingredient review and market introductions, and enhances companion animal nutrition.
The bill defines various terms related to pet food, including "companion animal," "pet food," "pet food ingredient," and provides regulations and guidelines for pet food labeling and marketing claims.
The Secretary of Health and Human Services is responsible for issuing proposed and final regulations to implement the amendments made by this bill within specified timelines.

Rep. Brad Wenstrup

Stats

Sponsored Legislation