PURR Act of 2025
2/19/2025, 10:23 AMSummary of Bill HR 597
Bill 119 HR 597, also known as the Pet Food Labeling Modernization Act, aims to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearer authority to regulate the labels, labeling, and advertising of companion animal pet food. The goal of the bill is to ensure national uniformity in the regulation of pet food, making it easier for consumers to understand the ingredients and nutritional content of the food they are feeding their pets.The bill seeks to update and clarify the FDA's authority in regulating pet food labels to ensure that they are accurate and informative. This includes requiring pet food manufacturers to provide clear and accurate information about the ingredients in their products, as well as any nutritional claims or guarantees. The bill also aims to standardize the format and content of pet food labels to make it easier for consumers to compare different products and make informed decisions about what to feed their pets.
In addition to regulating labels, the bill also addresses the advertising of pet food, ensuring that any claims made in advertisements are truthful and not misleading to consumers. This is important in helping pet owners make informed choices about the food they purchase for their animals. Overall, Bill 119 HR 597 is focused on improving transparency and consistency in the regulation of pet food labels and advertising, ultimately benefiting both consumers and their furry companions.
Congressional Summary of HR 597
Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 or the PURR Act of 2025
This bill establishes the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as the sole regulatory authority over pet food for dogs and cats. It also provides certain flexibilities for pet food manufacturers with respect to the types of ingredients they may use and the associated labeling and marketing requirements.
The bill specifies that, with exceptions for certain existing oversight activities, no state or local government may establish, implement, or enforce any authority or requirement relating to pet food marketing or labeling and instead provides for oversight by the CVM.
The bill requires the CVM to review and act on pet food ingredient submissions within 90 days. Additionally, the bill provides a presumption that pet food ingredients are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) if they are recognized as acceptable per the Association of American Feed Control Officials and the CVM does not find otherwise. Manufacturers may voluntarily notify the CVM of ingredients that are considered GRAS but that have not yet been specifically recognized as such.
The bill also allows manufacturers to state, without prior approval, that their products (1) sometimes, but not always, have certain ingredients (e.g., flavors); (2) have certain health benefits (e.g., tartar control); or (3) are human grade or natural, if certain conditions are met.
