Domestic food nutritional standards for cats and dogs have been released. Getty Image Bank
With domestic nutritional standards for food for representative companion animals dogs and cats established, the government’s revision of the ‘Pet Food Labeling Standards System’, which aims to be implemented in 2026, is also expected to gain momentum.
An official from the National Institute of Animal Science under the Rural Development Administration said on the 24th, “Setting nutritional standards for pet food is a preliminary preparation for revising the pet food labeling standard system of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.” A day ago, the National Institute of Animal Science and Technology announced at the Sejong Government Complex that Director Lim Soon-soon had established nutritional standards for domestic dog and cat food.
This nutritional standard, which presents the minimum recommended levels of feed nutrients essential for maintaining the health and physiological state of companion animals, was developed by domestic and foreign feed industry experts, including the National Institute of Animal Science and the Korean Society of Animal Husbandry and the Companion Animal Nutrition Research Group, based on domestic conditions and realities. It was set with comprehensive consideration. Depending on the species, gender, and growth process, dogs are divided into adult dogs (38 species), puppies, and breeding-age females (over 40 species), and cats are classified into adult cats (41 species), kittens, and breeding-age females (over 43 species). We established the type and content of recommended nutrients.
An official from the Korea Pet Food Association evaluated the establishment of this nutritional standard as “laid the foundation for increasing the reliability of domestic pet food,” adding, “It will serve as an opportunity to highlight companion animal-related research and have a positive impact on the overseas export of domestic pet food.” “It looks like it will have an impact.”
Recommended nutrient content of ‘complete food’ for adult dogs. Rural Development Administration National Institute of Livestock Science
Meanwhile, due to the lack of nutritional standards in Korea, both companies and buyers have experienced difficulties in the registration and distribution process of pet food. In the United States, the Association of Animal Feed Officials (AAFCO) is applying guidelines to ensure the nutritional adequacy of pet food, and in Europe, products that meet all daily nutrient content are considered ‘complete’ according to the nutritional guidelines of the Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF). It is allowed to indicate ‘food’.
In Korea, where there were no nutritional standards, the nutrients legally required to be labeled on feed packaging were limited to a few, such as crude protein, crude fat, ash, and moisture, and there were no content labeling regulations for functional ingredients. Accordingly, many consumers were harmed by false and exaggerated advertisements for pet food by some pet food companies.
Prior to setting this nutritional standard, last month the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs held a public hearing on the revision of the pet food labeling standards system and announced related revisions. The main content is that pet food managed together with existing livestock feed such as cows and pigs is separately classified, and pet food is broadly classified into ‘complete feed’ and ‘other feed’. In conclusion, this nutritional standard is expected to serve as a standard for distinguishing complete feed from other feeds.
An official from the National Institute of Animal Science said, “Based on nutritional standards, it will be possible to label ‘complete feed’ in Korea as in Europe,” and added, “As was the case in the recent public hearing, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will hold an information session to listen to opinions from industry officials and coordinate the timing of introducing the amendment.” “I think it is,” he said.
An official from a leading domestic pet food company said, “It is welcome that Korea has its own guide and clear standards rather than borrowing standards from other countries. “I think the quality of the feed can be improved nutritionally,” he said. “However, when it comes to the expression ‘complete feed,’ there are concerns about consumer confusion because there are prescription foods and snack items in addition to feed. “I think an analytical agency or standard for classification will be important,” he said.
Reporter Park Jae-rim jamie@segye.com
Source: www.segyebiz.com
