Section R. 285.635.3 - Pet food label informationRule 3. Pet food shall be labeled with the information prescribed in this rule.
(a) The statement of net content and product name shall be on the principal display panel of the label. Other required information may be placed elsewhere on the label but shall be sufficiently conspicuous to render it easily readable.(b) The label of a pet food shall specify the name and address of the place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor of the pet food. The statement of the place of business shall include the street address, if any, of the place unless the street address is shown in a current city directory.(c) The information required to appear in the "guaranteed analysis" shall be listed in the following order and in the form stipulated in R 285.635.8: Crude protein (minimum)
Crude fat (minimum)
Crude fiber (maximum)
Moisture (maximum)
Additional guarantees shall follow moisture
(d) The maximum moisture in all canned pet foods shall be guaranteed and shall not exceed 78% of the natural moisture content of the constituent ingredients of the product, whichever is greater. Pet foods consisting principally of stew, gravy, sauce, broth, juice, or a milk replacer which are so labeled, may contain moisture in excess of 78%.(e) Guarantees for minerals are not required if a pet food is neither formulated for, nor represented in any manner as, a mineral supplement. A guarantee as may be given or required shall be expressed as the element and in units of measurement established by a recognized authority on animal nutrition such as the national research council.(f) Guarantees for vitamins are not required if a pet food is neither formulated for, nor represented in any manner as, a vitamin supplement. A guarantee as may be given or required shall be stated in units of measurement established by a recognized authority on animal nutrition such as the national research council.(g) A vignette, graphic, or pictorial representation of a product on a pet food label shall not misrepresent the contents of the package.(h) The words "dog food," "cat food," or similar designations shall appear conspicuously upon the principal display panel of a pet food label.(i) 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 the entire life cycle or any limited stage of the life cycle of a dog or cat unless the product or feeding contains 1 of the following: (i) Ingredients in quantities sufficient to provide the estimated nutrient requirements for all stages or any limited stage of the life of a dog or cat, which have been established by a recognized authority on animal nutrition, such as the committee on animal nutrition of the national research council.(ii) A combination of ingredients which, if fed to a normal animal as the only source of nourishment, shall provide satisfactorily for fertility of females, gestation and lactation, normal growth from weaning to maturity without supplementary feeding, and shall 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 for the life cycle or for the specific stage of growth claimed. The testing shall be in accord with the protocol established by the association of American feed control officials.Mich. Admin. Code R. 285.635.3