Code of Massachusetts Regulations › 330 CMR - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES › Title 330 CMR 13.00 - Pet Food › Section 13.05 - Expression of Guarantees

Current through Register 1525, July 5, 2024
(1) The sliding
			 scale method of expressing a guaranteed analysis (for example, "protein
			 15-18%") is prohibited.
(2) Pet
			 foods which is formulated as and represented to be a mineral supplement, shall
			 include in the guaranteed analysis the minimum and maximum percentages of
			 calcium, phosphorus and the minimum and maximum percentage of salt. The minimum
			 content of all other essential nutrient elements recognized by the AAFCO Dog or
			 Cat Food Nutrient Profile or other AAFCO recognized nutrient profile from
			 sources declared in the ingredient statement shall be expressed as the element
			 in units specified in the recognized nutrient profile. Product labels may
			 express the mineral guarantees in milligrams (mg) per unit
			 (
e.g
., tablets, capsules, granules, or liquids) consistent
			 with those employed in the quantity statement and directions for use. Liquids
			 expressed as volume must also list a weight equivalent (
e.g
.,
			 1 fl. oz. = 28 grams).
(3) Vitamins
			 guaranteed on pet food labels shall be stated in International Units per
			 kilogram (IU/kg) for vitamins A, D, and E. All other vitamins shall be stated
			 in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) except vitamin B12 which may be guaranteed
			 in micrograms per kilogram (ug/kg).
(4) The label of a pet food which is
			 formulated as and represented to be a vitamin supplement shall include a
			 guarantee of the minimum content of each vitamin declared in the ingredient
			 statement. Vitamin guarantees shall be expressed as in
			 330 CMR
			 13.04(3). Products labeled
			 as in
			 330 CMR 13.04(2)
			  may express the vitamin guarantees in
			 approved units consistent with those employed in the quantity statement and
			 direction for use. Liquids may be expressed as in
			 330 CMR
			 13.04(2).
(5) If the label of a pet food does not
			 represent the pet food to be either a vitamin or a mineral supplement, but does
			 include a table of comparison of a typical analysis of the vitamin, mineral or
			 nutrient content of the pet food with levels recommended by AAFCO-recognized
			 animal nutrition authority, such comparison may be stated in the units of
			 measurement used in the AAFCO Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. The statement
			 in a table of comparison of the vitamin, mineral, or nutrient content shall
			 constitute a guarantee, but need not be repeated in the guaranteed analysis.
			 Such table of comparison may appear on the label separate and apart from the
			 guaranteed analysis.
(6) The use of
			 percentages or words of similar import when referring to nutrient levels
			 established by the AAFCO Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profile or other recognized
			 nutrient profile shall not be permitted on pet food labels, except that such
			 direct comparisons in whole or part of the individual nutrient contents of a
			 pet food with those recommended by the recognized nutrient profile may be made
			 where the comparisons are expressed in the same quantitative units as those
			 used by the cited nutrient profile and the product in question meets the
			 nutrient profile recommended by the authority and the comparison is preceded by
			 a statement to that effect.