PURR Act of 2025
PURR Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# PURR Act of 2025 Summary **What It Does:** The PURR Act would streamline pet food regulation by giving the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) complete control over pet food safety and labeling rules for dogs and cats. Currently, pet food is regulated by both federal and state/local authorities, which can create conflicting rules. This bill would eliminate state and local pet food regulations, centralizing everything under federal control. It would also speed up the approval process for new pet food ingredients, requiring the FDA to review submissions within 90 days. **Who It Affects:** Pet food manufacturers would benefit from simplified, uniform national rules instead of navigating different requirements in each state. Pet owners may see more ingredient options in pet foods and potentially faster product innovation.
However, states and local governments would lose their ability to set their own pet food standards. Consumer advocates who prefer stricter state oversight might oppose it. **Current Status:** The bill was introduced by Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) and is currently in committee review. It has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives, so passage is uncertain at this stage.
CRS Official Summary
Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025 or the PURR Act of 2025This 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.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.