Glossary
Feed law terms every dog treat seller meets
Verified September 7, 2026. Figures quoted from the statute, rule, fee page or form.
Feed law has its own vocabulary, and most of the confusion around selling dog treats comes from reading it as ordinary English. Distribute does not mean wholesale. Guarantor does not mean warranty. A small package is a defined category with a weight in it. This glossary defines the terms the way the statutes do, with the state definitions quoted in the tables and the federal terms quoted from FDA and AAFCO.
The terms that decide whether you are in
Commercial feed is any material distributed for use as feed or for mixing in feed, with a short list of exclusions for unmixed commodities and, in most states, unground raw meat. Pet food is commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats, and a treat is pet food. Specialty pet food is the same idea for companion animals other than dogs and cats. Distribute means to offer for sale, sell, exchange or barter, or to supply, furnish or otherwise provide feed, which is why a market stall, a website and a gift basket all count. Manufacture means to grind, mix, blend, process or package feed for distribution, which reaches a home oven.
Guarantor is the person whose name appears on the label as responsible for the product, and the guaranteed analysis is the set of nutrient guarantees that person stands behind. Label means the display of written or printed matter on the package, and labeling adds everything else that accompanies it, including a website description.
The terms that decide what you pay
A license or registration of the firm is the instrument that lets a person distribute feed in the state. Product registration or listing is the per-product filing some states add for pet food in small packages. A small package is a package at or under a stated weight, five or ten pounds in the verified states. Tonnage, or the inspection fee, is the per-ton charge on feed distributed, and a tonnage report is the statement of tons filed on the state's calendar. A minimum inspection fee is the amount due per report regardless of tons. Nutritional adequacy is the claim that a food is complete and balanced for a life stage, and the snack or treat exception is the rule that excuses a treat from making it.
Pet food, as each state defines it
| State | What the state says | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by a dog or cat or an animal normally maintained in a cage or tank in or near the household of the owner, such as gerbils, hamsters, birds, fish, snakes and turtles | 4 TAC §61.1(15) (Definitions) |
| Florida | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats | Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.003(1)(n) |
| Ohio | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by pets, a pet being any domestic animal normally maintained in or near a household | Ohio Rev. Code § 923.41(W) |
| Illinois | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs and cats | 505 ILCS 30/3(s) (Definitions of words and terms) |
| Michigan | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats (MCL 287.523(gg)); the rules use a broader form, any commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by pets (R 285.635.1(1)(e)) | MCL 287.523(gg) (Definitions) |
| Iowa | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats | Iowa Code § 198.3(19) (Definitions) |
| Missouri | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs and cats | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 266.160(21) |
| Indiana | YesA commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats | IC 15-19-7-16 ("Pet food") |
| California | YesProcessed pet food means a food for pets prepared by heating, drying, semidrying, canning or a method of treatment prescribed by department regulation, and the term includes treats and candy for pets but not fresh or frozen pet foods under CDFA control | Cal. Health & Safety Code § 113025 (Art. 1, Definitions) |
| Georgia | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats | O.C.G.A. § 2-13-1(17) |
Specialty pet food
| State | What the state says | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Not statedNo definition in Tex. Agric. Code ch. 141, 4 TAC ch. 61 or 4 TAC ch. 63; the definitions rule adopts AAFCO Official Publication terms by reference and no Official Publication is in the snapshot; the term is used without definition at 4 TAC 63.6(c) | 4 TAC Sec. 61.1 (Definitions), introductory paragraph, the definitions list that would carry the term |
| Florida | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by specialty pets | Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.003(1)(q) |
| Ohio | Not statedNot defined in ORC ch. 923 or Ohio Admin. Code ch. 901:5-7, which use the phrase without defining it; a definition may sit in chapters 4 to 6 of the AAFCO Official Publication 2024 adopted by 901:5-7-01(A)(1), and that publication is not in the snapshot | Ohio Admin. Code 901:5-7-01(A), the incorporation that would carry the definition |
| Illinois | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by specialty pets | 505 ILCS 30/3(t) (Definitions of words and terms) |
| Michigan | Not statedNo definition of specialty pet food in the Feed Law or in Regulation No. 635, which define only specialty pet at MCL 287.523(mm); the act and the rules both adopt AAFCO official feed terms by reference and no AAFCO Official Publication is in the snapshot | Mich. Admin. Code R 285.635.1(2) (Definitions and terms), the incorporation that would carry the term |
| Iowa | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by specialty pets | Iowa Code § 198.3(23) (Definitions) |
| Missouri | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by specialty pets | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 266.160(26) |
| Indiana | YesA commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by specialty pets | IC 15-19-7-19 ("Specialty pet food") |
| California | NoneCalifornia does not use the term specialty pet food anywhere in the statute or the rules; the operative term is processed pet food | Cal. Health & Safety Code Sec. 113025 (Art. 1, Definitions), the definitions section that would carry the term |
| Georgia | YesAny commercial feed prepared and distributed for consumption by specialty pets, but not including feeds for horses, rabbits and wild birds | O.C.G.A. § 2-13-1(18.2) |
Treat or snack
| State | What the state says | Cite |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Not statedNo definition of treat or snack in Tex. Agric. Code ch. 141, 4 TAC ch. 61 or 4 TAC ch. 63; the definitions rule adopts AAFCO Official Publication terms by reference and no Official Publication is in the snapshot; the phrase snack or treat is used without definition at 4 TAC 63.2(o) | 4 TAC Sec. 61.1 (Definitions), introductory paragraph, the definitions list that would carry the term |
| Florida | YesTreats includes products identified as Snacks, Chews, Biscuits, Cookies or Bones that are intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only and which are not intended or represented to serve as the primary source of nutrients in an animal diet; pet treats are treats prepared and distributed for consumption by dogs or cats | Fla. Admin. Code 5E-3.003(1)(i) |
| Ohio | Not statedNeither ORC ch. 923 nor Ohio Admin. Code ch. 901:5-7 defines treat or snack; a definition may sit in chapters 4 to 6 of the AAFCO Official Publication 2024 adopted by 901:5-7-01(A)(1), and that publication is not in the snapshot; ODA guidance treats treats and biscuits as a type of pet food | Ohio Admin. Code 901:5-7-01(A), the incorporation that would carry the definition |
| Illinois | Not statedNeither 505 ILCS 30 nor 8 Ill. Adm. Code Part 200 defines treat or snack; the phrase prominently identified as a snack or treat is used once, at 200.130(o), without definition, and 505 ILCS 30/10(b) adopts the AAFCO official feed terms by reference while no AAFCO Official Publication is in the snapshot | 505 ILCS 30/10(b) (Rules and regulations), the incorporation that would carry the term |
| Michigan | Not statedNo definition of treat or snack in the Feed Law (MCL 287.521 to 287.539) or in Regulation No. 635; the phrase Pet Treat is defined only in the glossary block of the MDARD license application form, which is agency wording and not statute, as a commercial feed provided to an animal as a reward or snack and not intended as pet food; the act and the rules adopt AAFCO official feed terms by reference and no AAFCO Official Publication is in the snapshot | Mich. Admin. Code R 285.635.1(2) (Definitions and terms), the incorporation that would carry the term |
| Iowa | Not statedNo definition of treat or snack in Iowa Code 198.3 or in either rule chapter; the phrase prominently identified as a snack or treat is used at rule 42.2(14) without definition, and the rules adopt the AAFCO official feed terms by reference while no AAFCO Official Publication is in the snapshot | Iowa Admin. Code 21.41.1(198), subrule 41.1(1) (Definitions and terms), the incorporation that would carry the term |
| Missouri | Not statedNo Missouri definition of treat or snack in Mo. Rev. Stat. ch. 266 or in either CSR chapter; the phrase prominently identified as a snack or treat is used at 2 CSR 70-31.020(15) without definition, and 2 CSR 70-30.010(1) and 70-30.015(1) adopt the AAFCO official feed terms by reference while no AAFCO Official Publication is in the snapshot; MDA separately draws a working line between pet food, pet treat and pet toy | 2 CSR 70-31.020(15) (Pet Food Label Format and Labeling), first physical line of the three-column reprint, use of the undefined phrase |
| Indiana | NoneInd. Code ch. 15-19-7 defines no term for treat or snack, and the phrase snack or treat is used at IC 15-19-7-25.7(c) without definition; the OISC Form F-1 Instructions glossary, which is agency wording and not statute, states that a pet treat means a commercial feed provided to a pet as a reward or snack and not intended as complete feed | OISC Form F-1 Instructions (Rev 08-2026), "Definitions (See Also IC 15-19-7)" |
| California | NoneCalifornia defines no separate term for treat or snack; treats and candy for pets sit inside the definition of processed pet food | Cal. Health & Safety Code § 113025 (Art. 1, Definitions), second sentence |
| Georgia | Not statedNo definition of treat or snack in O.C.G.A. ch. 2-13 or in Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. ch. 40-5; the phrase prominently identified as a snack or treat is used at r. 40-5-8-.02(15) without definition, and both the statute and the rules adopt AAFCO definitions by reference while no AAFCO Official Publication is in the snapshot; GDA regulates dog treats as pet food | Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. r. 40-5-8-.02(15), use of the undefined phrase |
The federal terms
The FD&C Act definition of food covers articles used for food or drink for animals; FDA (CVM) regulates pet food under it.
The FD&C Act defines the term “food” as “articles used for food or drink for man or other animals...and articles used for components of any such article." Courts have interpreted this to mean products or components of a product that are used mainly for nutrition, taste, or aroma.
FDA's compliance policy defines pet food to include treats and chews.
Furthermore, for purposes of this document, pet food is used to mean food for pets and includes treats and chews for pets. The policies in this guidance apply to finished animal feed and pet food and the ingredients used to manufacture these products.
AAFCO states many states require registration and/or licensure before distribution into that state and that shipping in response to an internet order is distribution; farmers-market and giveaway treats are also distribution.
many states require pet food and specialty pet food registration and/or distributor licensure before offering distribution into that state. [...] Therefore, shipping product into a state in response to an internet purchase constitutes “distribution”.
AAFCO states it does not regulate, approve, certify or review labels; states have that authority under their feed laws.
AAFCO does not regulate, approve, certify or endorse animal feed or pet food in any way, and AAFCO does not review an individual company’s label or labeling. It is the states, and their designated regulatory officials, which have the legal authority to review a feed or pet food label and approve or disapprove products for distribution in their state
Verified states on this site
This guide prints only what the verified state records support. More states are added a block at a time as they clear verification.
Questions people actually type
What is the difference between a license and a registration?
In feed law the two words are used interchangeably for the firm instrument, and states pick one. Some call the firm instrument a license and the per-product filing a registration, some call the firm instrument a registration and have no per-product filing at all. What matters is what the instrument attaches to, the firm or the product, and the state page names both.
What does AAFCO stand for and does it license anyone?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials, a membership body of the state and federal officials who enforce feed laws. It writes the model bill and model regulations that states adopt, but it does not regulate, license, approve or review labels itself and says so. The authority sits with each state under its own feed law.
Is a treat a pet food or something else?
A pet food, in every verified state and in FDA's compliance policy. Some states define pet treat in agency guidance or on a form as a commercial feed given as a reward or snack and not intended as a complete diet, but no verified statute makes a treat a separate category. The snack or treat exception on the label is the only place the word carries its own rule.
Keep reading
DogTreatLicense is an informational reference about state commercial feed laws as they apply to people who make and sell pet treats in the United States. It reprints instrument names, fees, thresholds, label items and citations from state statutes, rules, fee schedules and agency forms, together with the date each state was last verified. Nothing on this site is legal advice, and fees and rules change. Confirm with the state feed control office before you register or sell.
Questions about this page go to the state feed control office first. Our terms explain what this site is and is not. See also privacy.