This article was published in the January/February 2025 issue of Pet Food Processing. Read it and other articles from this issue in our January/February digital edition.
As the animal food industry moves into 2025, the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is gearing up to work with the Donald Trump Administration and Republican-led Congress to tackle significant regulatory and trade issues for the US animal food industry. In 2023, the industry exported an impressive $13.4 billion worth of feed, feed ingredients and pet food, totaling 19.8 million metric tons. Pet food alone contributed $2.4 billion to these exports. Looking ahead, the AFIA expects these figures could further grow should certain regulatory hurdles be overcome and fair trade promoted.
Opportunities for animal food reviews
The Trump administration is likely to revive its regulatory reform approach, similar to the president-elect’s “two-for-one” policy during his first administration, where for every two regulations that are reviewed or repealed, a new one can be implemented. The association also anticipates a closer examination of the rules and regulations responsible for ensuring the safety of the US food supply under the “Make America Healthy Again” agenda, which could impact animal food manufacturers.
With hopes that the administration will focus on responsible, science-based policies that improve animal nutrition, product quality, workplace safety and regulatory efficiency, the AFIA is also looking for opportunities to align regulations with advancements in animal nutrition science. For example, the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine is in the process of identifying barriers and improvements to its Food Additive Petition (FAP) and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notification processes for ingredient reviews, an effort the AFIA fully supports, as well as undertaking an effort to replace its recently ended review process with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Working with the states
State legislators are increasingly, and inappropriately, relying on the animal food industry to fund animal welfare and low-cost spay and neuter clinics, placing the financial burden on the pet food and feed sector, which is a cost that ultimately impacts manufacturers’ ability to keep pet food and feed affordable for consumers. As the 2025 state legislative sessions approach, the AFIA will continue to monitor bills that impose financial burdens on consumers with little benefit to the regulation of the industry or improved animal food safety. The association will advocate for alternative funding methods, urging state legislatures to engage their communities in supporting these programs in other ways, such as through special license plates and other philanthropic initiatives.
“The AFIA continues to urge all state legislators to adopt AAFCO’s modern pet food labeling rules,” wrote Constance Cullman of the American Feed Industry Association.
Meanwhile, significant changes are also underway in the pet food labeling sector. In January 2024, AAFCO, supported by the AFIA, launched a multi-year effort to modernize pet food labels to provide clearer nutritional information. The updated pet food labels will now include a nutrition facts box — like human food labels — that show calorie content per unit, such as cup, can or biscuit, and actual amounts of protein, fat, dietary fiber and carbohydrates. In addition, manufacturers will be required to use an intended use statement on the lower third of the principal display panel; ingredient statements will use parentheticals and common names; and handling and storage information will be standardized with optional icons and headers.
The pet food industry has already begun implementing the label changes, which will continue to be rolled out on a state-by-state basis. While some changes will take effect in 2025, states have until 2029 to fully comply with these new regulations, and the AFIA continues to urge all state legislators to adopt AAFCO’s modern pet food labeling rules.
Seeking a stable supply chain
US animal food manufacturers continue to voice concerns around trade disputes that could threaten the resiliency of the supply chain and their ability to continue business operations. The AFIA has been urging the Biden Administration and lawmakers to take prudent measures regarding foreign suppliers, particularly where alternatives are limited or not produced domestically, and will continue this call in 2025 with incoming policymakers.
One area of focus has been on single-country suppliers of essential vitamins, minerals and amino acids. China currently dominates global production of many of these critical nutrients, accounting for more than 70% of vitamin production and significant portions of key amino acids, including 77% of lysine, 91% of threonine, 84% of valine and 27% of methionine used in the United States. Evaluating the current supply chain and taking proactive steps to address potential vulnerabilities is crucial to avoiding severe impacts on US food security, animal welfare and the economic outlook of the agricultural sector.
To mitigate these risks, the AFIA supports diversifying the supply chain and strengthening domestic production through such measures as tax incentives, grants and other investment mechanisms, and prioritizing vitamins and amino acids in national security discussions. Strengthening domestic capabilities and fostering global cooperation are essential to ensuring a secure, reliable supply of these vital nutrients.
Boosting pet food exports
In 2025, the AFIA will continue leveraging the US Department of Agriculture’s Market Access Program (MAP) to expand US pet food exports, particularly in Vietnam. Building on past successes, the AFIA will maintain its collaboration with the Vietnamese Small Animal Veterinary Association (VSAVA) to support veterinary clinics and raise awareness among pet owners about the importance of proper animal nutrition. Additionally, the association will utilize USDA funding from the Emerging Markets Program (EMP) to explore opportunities for US pet food ingredient manufacturers and suppliers in the Vietnamese market. By supporting the expansion of domestic pet food production in Vietnam, with the use of US ingredients, these collaborations aim to make pet food more affordable and accessible to local pet owners.
The US animal food industry relies on MAP and EMP funding to build export opportunities. Funding for these programs is set in the farm bill, which Congress will continue to debate in its new session. These programs have not seen funding increases since 2006, yet they are crucial for promoting animal food exports, given the absence of new trade agreements. A continuing key policy priority for the AFIA is to secure increased funding in the farm bill for the MAP and EMP programs, as well as other market development initiatives, to support the continued growth of US agricultural exports, including pet food.
Strengthening the industry
“The US animal food industry will remain a vital contributor to the national economy and the continued growth of agriculture,” wrote Constance Cullman of the American Feed Industry Association.
The US animal food industry will remain a vital contributor to the national economy and the continued growth of agriculture, and the AFIA remains committed to advancing the industry through its efforts. Advocating for responsible, science-based policies and regulatory efficiency while fostering new market opportunities supports advanced animal nutrition and product quality, maintains the industry’s competitiveness in a global market, and promotes the wellbeing of animals.
For more regulatory news affecting the pet food market, visit our Regulatory page.