250-RICR-40-20-5
250-RICR-40-20-5. Rules and Regulations Relating to Commercial Feed (version Periodic Refile, 01/20/2002 to 10/15/2017)
RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO COMMERCIAL FEED
Pursuant to due publication and public hearing required by the provisions of Chapter 42-35 of the Laws
of the State of Rhode Island, the director has adopted the following Rules and Regulations.
Regulation 1. Definitions and Terms.
a.
The names and definitions for commercial feeds shall be the Official Definition of Feed
Ingredients adopted by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, except as the director
designates otherwise in specific cases.
b.
The terms used in reference to commercial feeds shall be the Official Feed Terms adopted by the
AAFCO, except as the director designates otherwise in specific cases.
c.
The following commodities are hereby declared exempt from the definition of commercial feed,
under the provisions of section 3(d), of the chapter: raw meat; and hay, straw, stover, silages,
cobs, husks, and hulls when unground and when not mixed or intermixed with other materials:
Provided that these commodities are not adulterated within the meaning of section 7(a), of the
chapter.
d.
Individual chemical compounds and substances are hereby declared exempt from the definition of
Commercial Feed under the provisions of section 3(d) of the chapter. It has been determined that
these products meet the following criteria:
1.
There is an adopted AAFCO definition for the product.
2.
The product is either GRAS or is not covered by a specific FDA Regulation.
3.
The product is either a natural occurring product of relatively uniform chemical
composition or is manufactured to meet the AAFCO definition of the product.
4.
The use of the product in the feed industry constitutes a minor portion of its total
industrial use.
5.
Small quantities of additives, which are intended to impart special desirable
characteristics shall be permitted.
6.
There is no need or problem of control of this product.
LIST OF EXEMPTED SUBSTANCES
Loose Salt
Regulation 2. Label Format.
Commercial feeds shall be labeled with the information prescribed in this regulation on the principal
display panel of the product and in the following general format:
a.
Net Weight.
b.
Product name and brand name if any.
c.
If drugs are used:
1.
The word "medicated" shall appear directly following and below the product name in
type size no smaller than one half the type size of the product name.
2.
The purpose of medication (claim statement).
3.
The required direction for use and precautionary statements or reference to their location
if the detailed feeding direction and precautionary statements required by regulations 6
and 7 appear elsewhere on the label.
4.
An active drug ingredient statement listing the active drug ingredients by their established
name and the amounts in accordance with regulation 4(d).
d.
The guaranteed analysis of the feed as required under the provisions of section 5(a)(3) of the
chapter include the following items, unless exempted in (8) of this subsection, and in the order
listed:
1.
Minimum percentage of crude protein.
2.
Maximum or minimum percentage of equivalent protein from nonprotein nitrogen as
required in regulation 4(e).
3.
Minimum percentage of crude fat.
4.
Maximum percentage of crude fiber.
5.
Minerals, to include, in the following order: (a) minimum and maximum percentages of
calcium (Ca), (b) minimum percentages of phosphorus (P), (c) minimum and maximum
percentages of salt (NaCl), and (d) other minerals.
6.
Vitamins in such terms as specified in regulation 4(c).
7.
Total sugars as invert or dried molasses products or products being sold primarily for
their sugar content.
8.
Exemptions.
(I) Guarantees for minerals are not required when there are no specific label
claims and when the commercial feed contains less than 6 1/2% of Calcium,
Phosphorus, Sodium and Chloride.
(II)
Guarantees for vitamins are not required when the commercial feed is neither
formulated for nor represented in any manner as a vitamin supplement.
(III)
Guarantees for crude protein, crude fat, and crude fiber are not required when
the commercial feed is intended for purposes other than to furnish these
substances or they are of minor significance relating to the primary purpose of
the product, such as drug premixes, mineral or vitamin supplements, and
molasses.
e.
Feed ingredients, collective terms for the grouping of feed ingredients, or appropriate statements
as provided under the provisions of section 5(a) (4) of the chapter.
1.
The name of each ingredient as defined in the Official Definitions of Feed Ingredients
published in the Official Publication of the Association of American Feed Control
Officials, common or usual name, or one approved by the director.
2.
Collective terms for the grouping of feed ingredients as defined in the Official
Definitions of Feed Ingredients published in the Official Publication of the Association of
American Feed Control Officials in lieu of the individual ingredients; Provided that:
(I)
When a collective term for a group of ingredients is used on the label, individual
ingredients within that group shall not be listed on the label.
(II)
The manufacturer shall provide the feed control official, upon request, with a
listing of individual ingredients, within a defined group, that are or have been
used at manufacturing facilities distributing in or into the state.
f.
Name and principal mailing address of the manufacturer or person responsible for distributing the
feed. The principal mailing address shall include the street address, city, state and zip code;
however, the street address may be omitted if it is shown in the current city directory or telephone
directory.
g.
The information required in section 5(a) (I) (5) of the chapter must appear in its entirety on one
side of the label or on one side of the container. The information required by section 5(a) (6)-(7)
of the chapter shall be displayed in a prominent place on the label or container but not necessarily
on the same side as the above information. When the information required by section 5(a) (6)-(7)
is placed on a different side of the label or container, it must be referenced on the front side with a
statement such as "see back of label for directions for use." None of the information required by
section 5 of the chapter shall be subordinated or obscured by other statements or designs.
Regulation 3. Brand and Product Names.
a.
The brand or product name must be appropriate for the intended use of the feed and must not be
misleading. If the name indicates the feed is made for a specific use, the character of the feed
must conform therewith. A mixture labeled "Dairy Feed," for example, must be suitable for that
purpose.
b.
Commercial, registered brand or trade names are not permitted in guarantees or ingredient listings
and only in the product name of feeds produced by or for the firm holding the rights to such a
name.
c.
The name of a commercial feed shall not be derived from one or more ingredients of a mixture to
the exclusion of other ingredients and shall not be one representing any components of a mixture
unless all components are included in the name: Provided, that if any ingredient or combination of
ingredients is intended to impart a distinctive characteristic to the product which is of significance
to the purchaser, the name of that ingredient or combination of ingredients may be used as a part
of the brand name or product name if the ingredient or combination of ingredients is quantitatively
guaranteed in the guaranteed analysis, and the brand or product name is not otherwise false or
misleading.
d.
The word "protein" shall not be permitted in the product name of a feed that contains added non-
protein nitrogen.
e.
When the name carries a percentage value, it shall be understood to signify protein and/or
equivalent protein content only, even though it may not explicitly modify the percentage with the
word "protein": Provided, that other percentage values may be permitted if they are followed by
the proper description and conform to good labeling practice. When a figure is used in the brand
name (except in mineral, vitamin or other products where the protein guarantee is nil or
unimportant), it shall be preceded by the word "number" or some other suitable designation.
f.
Single ingredient feeds shall have a product name in accordance with the designated definition of
feed ingredients as recognized by the Association of American Feed Control Officials unless the
director designates otherwise.
g.
The word "Vitamin", or a contraction thereof, or any word suggesting vitamin can be used only in
the name of a feed which is represented to be a vitamin supplement, and which is labeled with the
minimum content of each vitamin declared, as specified in regulation 4(c).
h.
The term "mineralized" shall not be used in the name of a feed, except for "TRACE
MINERALIZED SALT". When so used, the product must contain significant amounts of trace
minerals which are recognized as essential for animal nutrition.
i.
The term "meat" and "meat by-products" shall be qualified to designate the animal from which the
meat and meat by-products is derived unless the meat and meat by-products are from cattle, swine,
sheep and goats.
Regulation 4. Expression of Guarantees.
a.
The guarantees for crude protein, equivalent protein from non-protein nitrogen, crude fat, crude
fiber and mineral guarantees (when required) will be in terms of percentages by weight.
b.
Commercial feeds containing 6 1/2% or more Calcium, Phosphorus, Sodium and Chloride shall
include in the guaranteed analysis the minimum and maximum percentages of calcium (Ca), the
minimum percentage of phosphorus (P), and if salt is added, the minimum and maximum
percentage of salt (NaCl). Minerals, except salt (NaCl), shall be guaranteed in terms of percentage
of the element. When calcium and/or salt guarantees are given in the guaranteed analysis such
shall be stated and conform to the following:
1.
When the minimum is 5.0% or less, the maximum shall not exceed the minimum by more than
one percentage point.
2.
When the minimum is above 5.0%, the maximum shall not exceed the minimum by more than
20% and in no case shall the maximum exceed the minimum by more than 5 percentage points.
c.
Guarantees for minimum vitamin content of commercial feeds and feed supplements, when made,
shall be stated on the label in milligrams per pound of feed except that:
1. Vitamin A, other than precursors of vitamin A, shall be stated in International or USP units per
pound.
2.
Vitamin D, in products offered for poultry feeding, shall be stated in International Chick Units per
pound.
3.
Vitamin D for other uses shall be stated in International or USP units per pound.
4.
Vitamin E shall be stated in International or USP units per pound.
5.
Guarantees for vitamin content on the label of a commercial feed shall state the guarantee as true
vitamins, not compounds, with the exception of the compounds Pyridoxine Hydrochloride,
Choline Chloride, Thiamine, and d-Pantothenic Acid.
6.
Oils and premixes containing vitamin A or Vitamin D or both may be labeled to show content in
terms of units per gram.
d.
Guarantees for drugs shall be stated in terms of percent by weight, except:
1.
Antibiotics present at less than 2,000 grams per ton (total) of commercial feed shall be stated in
grams per ton of commercial feed.
2.
Antibiotics present at 2,000 or more grams per ton (total) of commercial feed shall be stated in
grams per pound of commercial feed.
3.
Labels for commercial feeds containing growth promotion and/or feed efficiency levels of
antibiotics, which are to be fed continuously as the sole ration, are not required to make
quantitative guarantees except as specifically noted in the Federal Food Additive Regulations for
certain antibiotics, wherein, quantitative guarantees are required regardless of the level or purpose
of the antibiotic.
4.
The term "milligrams per pound" may be used for drugs or, antibiotics in those cases where a
dosage is given in "milligrams" in the feeding directions.
e.
Commercial feeds containing any added non-protein nitrogen shall be labeled as follows:
1.
For ruminants.
a. Complete feeds, supplements, and concentrates containing added non-protein nitrogen and
containing more than 5% protein from natural sources shall be guaranteed as follows:
Crude Protein, Minimum, .........%.
(This includes not more than .........% equivalent protein from non-protein nitrogen).
b. Mixed feed concentrates and supplements containing less than 5% protein from natural sources
may be guaranteed as follows:
Equivalent Crude Protein from Non-Protein Nitrogen, minimum, .........%.
c. Ingredient sources of non-protein nitrogen such as Urea, Di-Ammonium Phosphate,
Ammonium Polyphosphate Solution, Ammoniated Rice Hulls, or other basic non-protein nitrogen
ingredients defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials shall be guaranteed as
follows:
Nitrogen, minimum, .........%.
Equivalent Crude Protein from Non-Protein Nitrogen, minimum, .........%.
2.
For Non-ruminants.
a. Complete feeds, supplements and concentrates containing crude protein from all forms of non-
protein nitrogen, added as such, shall be labeled as follows:
Crude protein, minimum, .........%.
(This includes not more than .........% equivalent crude protein which is not
nutritionally available to species of animal for which feed is intended).
b. Premixes, concentrates or supplements intended for non-ruminants containing more than 1.25%
equivalent crude protein from all forms of non-protein nitrogen, added as such, must contain
adequate directions for use and a prominent statement: "WARNING: This feed must be used
only in accordance with directions furnished on the label."
f.
Mineral phosphatic materials for feeding purposes shall be labeled with the guarantee for
minimum and maximum percentage of calcium (when present), the minimum percentage of
phosphorus, and the maximum percentage of fluorine.
Regulation 5. Ingredients.
a.
The name of each ingredient or collective term for the groupings of ingredients, when required to
be listed, shall be the name as defined in the Official Definitions of Feed Ingredients as published
in the Official Publication of American Feed Control Officials, the common or usual name, or one
approved by the director.
b.
The name of each ingredient must be shown in letters or type of the same size.
c.
No reference to quality or grade of an ingredient shall appear in the ingredient statement of a feed.
d.
The term "dehydrated" may precede the name of any product that has been artificially dried.
e.
A single ingredient product defined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials is not
required to have an ingredient statement.
f.
Tentative definitions for ingredients shall not be used until adopted as official, unless no official
definition exists or the ingredient has a common accepted name that require no definition, (i.e.
sugar).
g.
When the word "iodized" is used in connection with a feed ingredient, the feed ingredient shall
contain not less than 0.007% iodine uniformly distributed.
Regulation 6. Directions for Use and Precautionary Statements.
a.
Directions for use and precautionary statements on the labeling of all commercial feeds and
customer-formula feeds containing additives (including drugs, special purpose additives, or non-
nutritive additives shall:
1.
Be adequate to enable safe and effective use for the intended purposes by users with no special
knowledge of the purpose and use of such articles; and,
2.
Include, but not be limited to, all information prescribed by all applicable regulations under the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.
b.
Adequate directions for use and precautionary statements are required for feeds containing non-
protein nitrogen as specified in Regulation 7.
c.
Adequate directions for use and precautionary statements necessary for safe and effective use are
required on commercial feeds distributed to supply particular dietary needs or for supplementing
or fortifying the usual diet or ration with any vitamin, mineral, or other dietary nutrient or
compound.
Regulation 7. Non-Protein Nitrogen.
a.
Urea and other non-protein nitrogen products defined in the Official Publication of the Association
of American Feed Control Officials are acceptable ingredients in commercial feeds for ruminant
animals as a source of equivalent crude protein. If the commercial feed contains more than 8.75%
of equivalent crude protein from all forms of non-protein nitrogen, added as such, or the
equivalent crude protein, from all forms of non-protein nitrogen, added as such, exceeds one-third
of the total crude protein, the label shall bear adequate directions for the safe use of feeds and a
precautionary statement:
"CAUTION: USE AS DIRECTED"
The directions for use and the caution statement shall be in type of such size so placed on the label that they
will be read and understood by ordinary persons under customary conditions of purchase and use.
b.
Non-protein nitrogen products defined in the Official Publication of the Association of American
Feed Control Officials, when so indicated, are acceptable ingredients in commercial feeds
distributed to non-ruminant animals as a source of nutrients other than equivalent crude protein.
The maximum equivalent crude protein from non-protein nitrogen sources when used in non-
ruminant rations shall not exceed 1.25% of the total daily ration.
c.
On labels such as those for medicated feeds which bear adequate feeding directions and/or
warning statements, the presence of added non-protein nitrogen shall not require a duplication of
the feeding directions or the precautionary statements as long as those statements include
sufficient information to ensure the safe and effective use of this product due to the presence of
non-protein nitrogen.
Regulation 8. Drug and Feed Additives.
a.
Prior to approval of a registration application and/or approval of a label for commercial feed
which contain additives (including drugs, other special purpose additives, or non-nutritive
additives) the distributor may be required to submit evidence to prove the safety and efficacy of
the commercial feed when used according to the directions furnished on the label.
b.
Satisfactory evidence of safety and efficacy of a commercial feed may be:
(i)
When the commercial feed contains such additives, the use of which conforms to the requirements
of the applicable regulations in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, or which are "prior
sanctioned" or "generally recognized as safe" for such use, or
(ii) When the commercial feed is itself a drug as defined in section 3(g) of the chapter and is generally
recognized as safe and effective for the labeled use or is marketed subject to an application
approved by the Food and Drug Administration under Title 21 U.S.C. 360(b).
Regulation 9. Adulterants.
a.
For the purpose of section 7(a) (i) of the chapter, the terms "poisonous or deletrious substances"
include but are not limited to the following:
1.
Fluorine and any mineral or mineral mixture which is to be used directly for the feeding of
domestic animals and in which the fluorine exceeds 0.30% for cattle; 0.35% for sheep; 0.45% for
swine; and 0.60% for poultry.
2.
Fluorine bearing ingredients when used in such amounts that they raise the fluorine content of the
total ration above the following amounts: 0.009% for cattle; 0.01% for sheep; 0.014% for swine;
and 0.035% for poultry.
3.
Soybean meal, flakes or pellets or other vegetable meals, flakes or pellets which have been
extracted with trichlorethylene or other chlorinated solvents.
4.
Sulfur dioxide, Sulfurous acid, and salts of Sulfurous acid when used in or on feeds or feed
ingredients which are considered or reported to be a significant source of Vitamin B1 (Thiamine).
b.
All screenings or by-products of grains and seeds containing weed seeds, when used in
commercial feed or sold as such to the ultimate consumer, shall be ground fine enough or
otherwise treated to destroy the viability of such weed seed so that the finished product contains
no more than allowed by the director, through Promulgation of Regulations of the Rhode Island
Seed Act.
Regulation 10. Good Manufacturing Practices.
a.
For the purpose of enforcement of section 7(d) of the chapter the director adopts the following as
current good manufacturing practices:
1.
The regulations prescribing good manufacturing practices for medicated feeds as published in the
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Part 225, Sections 225.1-225.115.
2.
The regulations prescribing good manufacturing practices for medicated pre-mixes as published in
the Code of Federal Regulations. Title 21, Part 226, Sections 226-1-226.115.
OFFICIAL PET FOOD REGULATIONS
Regulation PF1. Definitions and Terms.
a.
Principal Display Panel means the part of a label that is most likely to be displayed, presented,
shown or examined under normal and customary conditions of display for retail sale.
b.
Ingredient Statements means a collective and contiguous listing on the label of the ingredients of
which the pet food is composed.
c.
Immediate Container means the unit, can, box, tin, bag, or other receptacle or covering in which
a pet food is displayed for sale to retail purchasers, but does not include containers used as
shipping containers.
Regulation PF2. Label Format and Labeling.
a.
The statement of net content and product name must be shown on the principal display panel. All
other required information may be placed elsewhere on the label but shall be sufficiently
conspicuous as to render it easily read by the average purchaser under ordinary conditions of
purchase and sale.
b.
The declaration of the net contents shall be made in conformity with the United States "Fair
Packaging and Labeling Act" and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
c.
The information which is required to appear in the "Guaranteed Analysis" shall be listed in the
following order:
Crude protein (Minimum Amount)
Crude fat (Minimum Amount)
Crude fiber (Maximum Amount)
Moisture (Maximum Amount)
Additional guarantees shall follow moisture.
d.
The label of a pet food shall specify the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or
distributor of the pet food. The statement of the place of business should include the street
address, if any, of such place unless such street address is shown in a current city directory or
telephone director.
e.
If a person manufactures, packages, or distributes a pet food in a place other than his principal
place of business, the label may state the principal place of business in lieu of the actual place
where each package of such pet food was manufactured or packaged or is to be distributed, if such
statement is not misleading in any particular.
f.
A vignette, graphic, or pictorial representation of a product on a pet food label shall not
misrepresent the contents of the package.
g.
The use of the word "proven" in connection with label claims for a pet food is improper unless
scientific or other empirical evidence establishing the claim represented as "proven" is available.
h.
No statement shall appear upon the label of a pet food which makes false or misleading
comparisons between that pet food and any other pet food.
i.
Personal or commercial endorsements are permitted on pet food labels where said endorsements
are factual and not otherwise misleading.
j.
When a pet food is enclosed in an outer container or wrapper which is intended for retail sale, all
required label information must appear on such outside wrapper or container unless all of the
required label information is readily legible through apertures or transparencies in such outside
container or wrapper.
k.
The words "Dog Food", "Cat Food", or similar designations must appear conspicuously upon the
principal display panels of the pet food labels.
l.
The label of a pet food shall not contain an unqualified representation or claim, directly or
indirectly, that the pet food therein contained or a recommended feeding thereof, is or meets the
requisites of a complete, perfect, scientific or balanced ration for dogs or cats unless such product
or feeding:
1.
Contains ingredients in quantities sufficient to provide the estimated nutrient requirements for all
stages of the life of a dog or cat, as the case may be, which have been established by a recognized
authority on animal nutrition, such as the Committee on Animal Nutrition of the National
Research Council of the National Academy of Science* or,
*To the extent that the product's ingredients provide nutrients in amounts which substantially
deviate from those nutrient requirements estimated by such a recognized authority on animal
nutrition, or in the event that no estimation has been made by a recognized authority on animal
nutrition of the requirements of animals for one or more stages of said animals' lives, the product's
represented capabilities in this regard must have been demonstrated by adequate testing.
2.
Contains a combination of ingredients which when fed to a normal animal as the only source of
nourishment will provide satisfactorily for fertility of females, gestation and lactation, normal
growth from weaning to maturity without supplementary feeding, and will maintain the normal
weight of an adult animal whether working or at rest and has had its capabilities in this regard
demonstrated by adequate testing.
m.
Labels for products which are compounded for or which are suitable for only a limited purpose
(i.e., a product designed for the feeding of puppies) may contain representations that said pet food
product or recommended feeding thereof, is or meets the requisites of a complete, perfect,
scientific or balanced ration for dogs or cats only:
1.
In conjunction with a statement of the limited purpose for which the product is intended or
suitable (as, for example, in the statement 'a complete food for puppies'). Such representations and
such required qualification therefor shall be juxtaposed on the same panel and in the same size,
style and color print; and
2.
Such qualified representations may appear on pet food labels only if:
a. The pet food contains ingredients in quantities sufficient to satisfy the estimated nutrient
requirements established by a recognized authority on animal nutrition, such as the Committee on
Animal Nutrition of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences for such
limited or qualified purpose; or
b. The pet food product contains a combination of ingredients which when fed for such limited
purpose will satisfy the nutrient requirements for such limited purpose and has had its capabilities
in this regard demonstrated by adequate testing.
n.
Except as specified by regulation PF 3(a), the name of any ingredient which appears on the label
other than in the product name shall not be given undue emphasis so as to create the impression
that such an ingredient is present in the product in a larger amount than is the fact, and if the name
of more than one such ingredient are shown, they shall appear in the order of their respective
predominance by weight in the product.
Regulation PF3. Brand and Product Names.
a.
No flavor designation shall be used on a pet food label unless the designated flavor is detectable
by a recognized test method, or is one the presence of which provides a characteristic
distinguishable by the pet. Any flavor designation on a pet food label must either conform to the
name of its source as shown in the ingredient statement or the ingredient statement shall show the
source of the flavor. The word flavor shall be printed in the same size type and with an equal
degree of conspicuousness as the ingredient term(s) from which the flavor designation is derived.
Distributors of pet food employing such flavor designation or claims on the labels of the product
distributed by them shall, upon request, supply verification of the designated or claimed flavor to
the appropriate control official.
b.
The designation "100%" or "All" or words of similar connotation shall not be used in the brand or
product name of a pet food if it contains more than one ingredient. However, for the purpose of
this provision, water sufficient for processing, required decharacterizing agents and trace amount
of preservatives and condiments shall not be considered ingredients.
c.
The term "meat" and "meat byproducts" shall be qualified to designate the animal from which the
meat and meat-by-products are derived unless the meat and meat-by-products are from cattle,
swine, sheep, and goats. For example, "horsemeat" and "horsemeat-by-products".
d.
The name of the pet food shall not be derived from one or more ingredients of a mixture to the
exclusion of other ingredients and shall not be one representing any components of a mixture of a
pet food product unless all components or ingredients are included in the name except as
specified by Regulation PF 3(a), (e), or (f); provided that the name of an ingredient or combination
of ingredients may be used as a part of the product name if:
1.
The ingredient or combination of ingredients is present in sufficient quantity to impart a
distinctive characteristic to the product or is present in amounts which have a material bearing
upon the price of the product or upon acceptance of the product by the purchaser thereof; or
2.
It does not constitute a representation that the ingredient or combination of ingredients is present
to the exclusion of other ingredients; or
3.
It is not otherwise false or misleading.
e.
When an ingredient or a combination of ingredients derived from animals, poultry, or fish
constitutes 95% or more of the total weight of all ingredients of a pet food mixture, the name or
names of such ingredient(s) may form a part of the product name of the pet food: Provided, that
where more than one ingredient is part of such product name, then all such ingredient names shall
be in the same size, style, and color print.
f.
When an ingredient or a combination of ingredients derived from animals, poultry or fish
constitutes at least 25% but less than 95% of the total weight of all ingredients of a pet food
mixture the name or names of such ingredient or ingredients may form a part of the product name
of the pet food only if the product name also includes a primary descriptive term such as "meat-
balls" or "fishcakes" so that the product name describes the contents of the product in accordance
with an established law, custom or usage or so that the product name is not misleading. All such
ingredient names and primary descriptive term shall be
g.
Contractions or coined names referring to ingredients shall be used in the brand name of a pet food
unless it is in compliance with regulations PF 3 (a), (d), (e), or (f).
Regulation PF4. Expression of Guarantees.
a.
The sliding scale method of expressing a guaranteed analysis (for example, "protein 15-18%") is
prohibited.
b.
Pursuant to section 5(a)3 of the Rhode Island Commercial Feed Law, the label of a pet food which
is formulated as and represented to be a mineral additive supplement, shall include in the
guaranteed analysis the maximum and minimum percentages of calcium, the minimum percentage
of phosphorus and the maximum and minimum percentages of salt. The minimum content of all
other essential nutrient elements recognized by NRC from sources declared in the ingredient
statement shall be expressed as the element and in units of measurement established by a
recognized authority of animal nutrition. Such as the National Research Council.
c.
Pursuant to section 5(a)3 of the Rhode Island Commercial Feed Law, the label of 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. Such guarantees shall be
stated in units of measurements established by a recognized authority on animal nutrition such as
the National Research Council.
d.
The vitamin potency of pet food products distributed in containers smaller than 1 lb. may be
guaranteed in approved units per ounce.
e.
If the label of a pet food does not represent the pet food to be either a vitamin or a mineral
supplement, but does not include a table of comparison of a typical analysis of the vitamin,
mineral, or nutrient content of the pet food with levels recommended by a recognized animal
nutrition authority, such comparison maybe stated in the units of measurement used by the
recognized authority on animal nutrition such as the National Research Council. 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.
Regulation PF5. Ingredients.
a.
The maximum moisture in all pet foods shall be guaranteed and shall not exceed 78.00% or the
natural moisture content of the constituent ingredients of the product, whichever is greater. Pet
foods such as those consisting principally of stew, gravy, sauce, broth, juice or a milk replacer
which are so labeled, may contain moisture in excess of 78.00%.
b.
Each ingredient of the pet food shall be listed in the ingredient statement, and names of all
ingredients in the ingredient statement must be shown in letters or type of the same size. The
failure to list the ingredients of a pet food in descending order by their predominance by weight
in non-quantitative terms may be misleading. Any ingredient for which the Association of
American Feed Control has established a name and definition shall be identified by the name so
established. Any ingredient for which no name and definition has been so established shall be
identified by the common or usual name of the ingredient. Brand or trade names shall not be used
in the ingredient statement.
c.
The term "dehydrated" may precede the name of any ingredient in the ingredient list that has been
artificially dried.
d.
No reference to quality or grade of an ingredient shall appear in the ingredient statement of a pet
food.
e.
A reference to the quality, nature, form, or other attribute of an ingredient shall not be made
unless such designation is accurate and unless the ingredient imparts a distinctive characteristic to
the pet food because it possesses that attribute.
Regulation PF6. Directions for Use.
a.
The label of a pet food product which is suitable only for intermittent or supplemental feeding or
for some other limited purpose shall:
1.
bear a clear and conspicuous disclosure to that effect; or
2.
contain specific feeding directions which clearly state that the product should be used only in
conjunction with other foods.
Regulation PF7. Drugs and Pet Food Additives.
a.
An artificial color may be used in a pet food only if it has been shown to be harmless to pets. The
permanent or provisional listing of an artificial color in the United States Food and Drug
Regulations as safe for use, together with the conditions, limitations, and tolerances, if any,
incorporated therein, shall be deemed to be satisfactory evidence that the color is, when used
pursuant to such regulations, harmless to pets.
b.
Prior to approval of a registration application and/or approval of a label for pet food, which
contains additives, (including drugs, other special purpose additives, or non-nutritive additives)
the distributor may be required to submit evidence to prove the safety and efficacy of the pet food,
when used according to directions furnished on the label. Satisfactory evidence of the safety and
efficacy of a pet food may be:
1.
When the pet food contains such additives, the use of which conforms to the requirements of the
applicable regulation in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, or which are "prior sanctioned"
or "Generally Recognized as Safe" for use or
2.
When the pet food itself is a drug as defined in section 3 (g) of the chapter and is generally
recognized as safe and effective for label use or is marketed subject to an application approved by
the Food and Drug Administration under Title 21, U.S.C. 360 (b).
c.
The medicated labeling format recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials
shall be used to assure that adequate labeling is provided.