Executive Summary
The Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC), representing over 200 pet product companies, strongly opposes the USDA’s proposed rescission of the Organic Pet Food Standards finalized earlier this year. These long-awaited standards were the result of over two decades of stakeholder collaboration and brought essential clarity to an underserved market segment. They lowered barriers for producing complete and balanced organic pet food by aligning with industry practices and permitting key ingredients like animal co-products and synthetic taurine.
Rescinding the rule would reverse years of progress, increase regulatory confusion, and harm small businesses, processors, and pet food companies working to meet growing consumer demand for organic options. Since the rule’s adoption, many PSC members have begun sourcing organic ingredients and developing new products. Rolling back the standard would derail these efforts, undermine innovation, and limit consumer choice—particularly for pet parents seeking the same quality of nutrition for their pets as for their families.
The USDA’s claim that rescission would reduce paperwork and costs is inaccurate. In fact, the 2024 rule reduced administrative burdens and enabled greater access to the organic market for brands and certifiers alike. PSC would like to urge members to file comments with the USDA to preserve the existing rule, consult the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), and uphold the integrity and transparency of the organic regulatory process.
Public comments are open until June 11 at midnight ET. We encourage all stakeholders to speak out in support of maintaining strong, inclusive standards for organic pet food.
Here’s how to submit:
- Click on this link: Rescinding National Organic Program: Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food
- Click on the Comment Box in the top left corner
Identify yourself and your interest in the organic pet food category.
Example Text to Write: “I am Jane Doe, the founder and owner of Happy Pupz pet food company. My company manufactures and markets products for pet parents concerned about the health of their companion animals and the stewardship of the environment. I oppose the proposal to rescind the Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food. Classifying pet food as animal feed and allowing the use of animal byproducts streamlines and clarifies the process by making it easier for companies to formulate complete and balanced rations that meet the requirements of USDA Organic labeling. This results in a reduction of costs related to paperwork burden and allows operators and producers to utilize industry-standard practices (animal feed production) to create new products and expand the marketplace.”