WAC 16-252-040   Product or brand name label information required.  Label requirements in subsections (1) through (10) of this section apply to all pet food distributed under a product or brand name. Label requirements in subsections (1) through (6) and (8) through (10) of this section apply to all specialty pet food distributed under a product or brand name.

     (1) The brand or product name must be appropriate for the intended use of the pet food or specialty pet food, and must not be misleading. If the name indicates the pet food or specialty pet food is made for a specific use, the character of the pet food or specialty pet food must conform to that use. For example, a mixture labeled "dog food" must be suitable for dogs.

     (2) When reviewing product names for single ingredient pet foods or specialty pet foods, the department will be guided by the definitions of feed ingredients and feed terms established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials official publication unless those definitions and terms are specifically defined in chapter 15.53 RCW, WAC 16-252-010, or 16-252-015.

     (3) Except for the circumstances described in subsection (4) of this section, the name of a pet food or specialty pet food must not be derived from:

     (a) One or more ingredients of a mixture to the exclusion of the other ingredients; or

     (b) One component of a mixture unless all components are included in the name.

     (4) When a pet food or specialty pet food contains any ingredient or combination of ingredients for the purpose of imparting a distinct characteristic to the product that is significant to the purchaser, the name of that ingredient or combination of ingredients may be used as part of the brand name or product name if the department determines that the:

     (a) Ingredient or combination of ingredients is present in sufficient quantity to impart a distinctive characteristic to the product;

     (b) Product name does not constitute a representation that the ingredient or combination of ingredients is present to the exclusion of other ingredients; and

     (c) Product name is not otherwise false or misleading.

     (5) The words "one hundred percent" or "all," or words of similar meaning, must not be used in the brand or product name of a pet food or specialty pet food if the product contains more than one ingredient other than:

     (a) Water sufficient for processing;

     (b) Decharacterizing agents;

     (c) A trace amount of preservatives; or

     (d) A trace amount of condiments.

     (6) An ingredient or a combination of ingredients may form a part of the product name of a pet food or specialty pet food when the product conforms with one of the following options:

     (a) The ingredient(s) derived from animals, poultry, or fish constitutes at least ninety-five percent of the total product weight, including water sufficient for processing. If processing water is excluded, then the ingredient(s) derived from animals, poultry, or fish must constitute at least seventy percent of the total product weight.

Note:	Example 1: A product may be called "beef dog food" if beef makes up at least ninety-five percent of the total product weight, including water sufficient for processing. If processing water has been excluded from the calculation, then beef must make up at least seventy percent of the total product weight.
	Example 2: A product may be called "beef and chicken dog food" if the combination of beef and chicken makes up at least ninety-five percent of the total product weight, including water sufficient for processing. If processing water has been excluded from the calculation, then beef and chicken must make up at least seventy percent of the total product weight.

     (b) Any ingredient(s) that constitutes at least twenty-five percent of the total product weight, including water for processing and complies with (i) and (ii). If water for processing has been excluded, then any ingredient(s) that constitutes at least ten percent of the product weight and complies with (i) and (ii).

     (i) A descriptor is used with the ingredient name(s). This descriptor must imply other ingredients are included in the product formula. Examples of descriptors include "dinner," "platter," "entree," "formula," and "recipe"; and

     (ii) The descriptor must be in the same size, style and color print as the ingredient name(s).

Note:	Example 1: A product may be called "beef dinner dog food" if beef makes up at least twenty-five percent of the total product weight, including water for processing and meets the conditions stated in (i) and (ii).
	Example 2: If water for processing is excluded from the calculation, then a product may be called "beef dinner dog food" if beef makes up at least ten percent of the total product weight, and meets conditions stated in subsections (i) and (ii).

     (c) A combination of ingredients, which are included in the product name in accordance with (a) and (b) of this subsection meets all of the following:

     (i) Each ingredient constitutes at least three percent of the product weight, excluding water sufficient for processing;

     (ii) The names of the ingredients listed in the product name appear in the order of their respective predominance by weight in the product; and

     (iii) The names of the ingredients listed in the product name appear on the label in the same size, style, and color print.

Note:	Example 1: A product may be called "beef and chicken dog food" if:
	(a) Including water for processing, the combination of beef and chicken total at least ninety-five percent of the product weight; and
	(b) Excluding water for processing, at least three percent of the product weight is chicken.
	Example 2: A product may be called "beef and chicken dog food" if, excluding processing water, the combination of beef and chicken total at least seventy percent of the product weight and at least three percent of the product weight is chicken.
	Example 3: A product may be called "beef and chicken dinner" if:
	(a) Including water for processing, the combination of beef and chicken total at least twenty-five percent of the product weight; and
	(b) Excluding water for processing, at least three percent of the product weight is chicken.
	Example 4: A product may be called "beef and chicken dinner" if the combination of beef and chicken, excluding water for processing total at least ten percent of the product weight and at least three percent of the product weight is chicken.

     (7)(a) When the name of any ingredient appears in the product name of a pet food, or elsewhere on the product label, and includes a descriptor such as "with" or similar designation, the named ingredient(s) must each constitute at least three percent of the product weight exclusive of water for processing.

     (b) The three percent minimum level does not apply to claims for condiments or nutrients. Condiments include, but are not limited to, flavorings and spices. Nutrients include, but are not limited to, vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids.

     (c) If the names of more than one ingredient are shown, they must appear in their respective order of predominance by weight in the product.

     (d) The word "with" (or similar designation) and all named ingredients must appear in the same size, style, color and case print and be of no greater size than:

Panel Size	Maximum "with claim" Type Size
< 5 sq. in.	1/8"
5-25 sq. in.	1/4"
25-100 sq. in.	3/8"
100-400 sq. in.	1/2"
400 sq. in. +	1"

    

Note:	Example 1: A product may be called "beef with rice dog food" if:
	(a) Including water for processing, the product contains at least ninety-five percent beef; and
	(b) Excluding water for processing, at least three percent of the product weight is rice.
	Example 2: A product may be called "beef and chicken dinner with rice dog food" if:
	(a) Including water for processing, the product contains enough beef and chicken so that these two ingredients total at least twenty-five percent of the product weight; and
	(b) Excluding water for processing, at least three percent of the product weight is rice.

     (8) The term "mineralized" may only be used in a feed name for "trace mineralized salt" and must not be used in the name of any other feed. "Trace mineralized salt" must contain significant amounts of trace minerals that are recognized as essential for animal nutrition.

     (9)(a) If a brand name includes a single percentage value without explanation, the percentage value must signify the feed's crude protein content. For example, "BLUE BIRD PET FOOD eighteen percent cat food" means that the feed contains eighteen percent crude protein.

     (b) If a brand name includes a single percentage value and the percentage does not represent crude protein content, the brand name must indicate what the percentage represents. For example, "BLUE BIRD PET FOOD twenty-two percent calcium concentrate premix."

     (c) If a brand name includes more than one percentage value, the percentage must be followed by a corresponding description. For example, "BLUE BIRD PET FOOD forty-two percent crude protein - twenty-five percent fat cat milk replacer."

     (d) If the brand name contains either a percentage value that signifies crude protein or the word "protein," then the pet food or specialty pet food must contain no more than one and one-quarter percent nonprotein nitrogen.

     (10) Pet food and/or specialty pet food must be considered a distinct brand if it differs in guaranteed analysis, trademark name, or any other characteristic method of marking. However, this requirement does not prevent a brand from being distributed in various physical forms.



[Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.53 and 34.05 RCW. 03-23-129, § 16-252-040, filed 11/19/03, effective 7/1/04.]