G/TBT/N/USA/2047  
18 September 2023  
(23-6190) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  State of 
California  
2. Agency responsible:   
Health and Human Services Agency, Department of Public Health, State of California 
[2078]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [X], 7.2 [  ], 
other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Pet food 
labeling; Animal feeding stuffs (ICS code(s): 65.120)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Pet Food 
Labeling and Licensing Revisions; (5 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Proposed rule - Amends rule to update labeling requirements 
and clarify language. This proposal would amend the Labeling and Licensing Requirements 
of Sections 19025 and 19041 (respectively) of the regulations set fo rth in Title 17, of the 
California Code of Regulations (CCR) which relate to the Pure Pet Food Act of 1969 (Act). 
Regarding labeling, the amendment would permit pet food producers who meet the 
requirements set forth in Section 19025 to use the terms "human  grade" and "natural" in 
describing their processed pet food products, delete unclear and non –specific language 
related to the term human grade, and incorporate labeling guidelines from the Association 
of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food Labeling 
Guide (Labeling Guide) . Regarding licensing, the amendment to Section 19041 would 
align the fees and licensing period noted in the regulations with the fees and licensing 
period set forth in the Health and Safety Code. Finally, non –substantive changes are also 
proposed "producers" or a "producer"). Existing regulations set forth in Section 19025 do 
not ad dress the use of "natural" on a processed pet food label.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Consumer information, labelling; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection  G/TBT/N/USA/2047  
 
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  8. Relevant documents:   
California Regulatory Notice Register 2023, Number 34 -Z, 25 August 2023, pages 1104 
to 1108:  
https://oal.ca.gov/wp -content /uploads/sites/166/2023/08/2023 -Notice -Register -
Number -34-Z-August -25-2023.pdf  
Further information accessible from the Food and Drug Branch of the California 
Department of Public Health (CDPH):  
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/Pages/FDBPrograms/FoodSafetyProgra
m.aspx  
Refer to Specific Food Programs: Pet Foo d (PDF) - 
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CEH/DFDCS/CDPH%20Document%20Library/FDB/F
oodSafetyProgram/Pet%20Food/Proced uresPetFood.pdf  
Resources - Pet Food License FAQs (PDF)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  10 October 2023  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/USA/23_1243 8_00_e.pdf