○ Use directions and precautionary statements.
Product and Brand Names
Under this rule, a commercial feed must be labeled with its product name and its brand name if any. A product or brand name may not be inconsistent with the intended use of the commercial feed, and may not contain any statement or representation that is false, deceptive or misleading. This rule regulates the use of certain terms, including ingredient names, in product or brand names.
Medicated Commercial Feeds
Under this rule, if a commercial feed contains one or more drugs, the commercial feed label must identify the commercial feed as a “medicated” feed. It must also include:
○ A statement explaining the purpose for each drug.
○ A statement identifying the name and amount of each active drug ingredient in the commercial feed.
○ Directions for use and precautionary statements needed for the safe administration and handling of the commercial feed.
Statement of Purpose
Under this rule, a commercial feed must be labeled with a statement of purpose that identifies all of the following:
○ The species and classes of animals for which the commercial feed is intended.
○ The specific intended use of the commercial feed, unless the commercial feed is intended as a complete feed for all species and classes of animals identified on the feed label.
Under this rule, a statement of purpose is not required for either of the following:
○ An ingredient or combination of ingredients sold as a specialized nutritional source for use in manufacturing other commercial feeds.
○ Grain or grain mixtures, provided that they contain no drugs and the seller makes no specific feed claim for them.
The rule identifies standard terms which, if used on a commercial feed label, indicate that the commercial feed is intended for a specified class of animals. For example, a swine feed labeled as a “pre-starter” is intended for swine weighing from 2 to 11 lbs. The rule does not require the use of these standard terms, but the terms may not be used in a manner inconsistent with the rule. The rule specifies standard terms corresponding to standard classes of swine, poultry, beef cattle, dairy cattle, equines, sheep and goats, ducks, geese and rabbits.
Guaranteed Analysis
Under this rule, a commercial feed must be labeled with a “guaranteed analysis” that guarantees the amount of nutrients and other key substances in the commercial feed. Under this rule, a guaranteed analysis must include all of the following:
○ A minimum guarantee for all of the following substances, unless the commercial feed is clearly labeled for a specialized purpose that is unrelated to the content of those substances:
○ Crude protein.
○ Equivalent crude protein from non-protein nitrogen, if present.
○ Crude fat.
○ A maximum guarantee for crude fiber, unless the commercial feed is clearly labeled for a specialized purpose that is unrelated to its crude fiber content.
○ Mineral guarantees if the feed is sold wholly or in part for its mineral content.
○ Vitamin guarantees if the commercial feed is sold wholly or in part for its vitamin content.
○ Microorganism guarantees if the commercial feed is sold wholly or in part for its microorganism content.
○ A sugar guarantee if the commercial feed is sold primarily for its sugar content.
○ If the commercial feed is intended as a specialized nutrient source primarily for use in the manufacture of other commercial feeds, a minimum guarantee for each nutrient that is relevant to that purpose.
○ Additional guarantees, if any, that are required for a specific class of commercial feed under this rule. This rule identifies specific substances which must be guaranteed in certain commercial feeds, including feeds intended for swine, poultry, beef cattle or calves, dairy cattle or calves, equines, sheep, goats, ducks, geese, fish or rabbits.
This rule specifies the form and order in which guarantees are to be listed in the guaranteed analysis. Except where this rule requires a different format, guarantees must be expressed as a percentage by weight of commercial feed.
Ingredient Statement
Under this rule, a commercial feed must be labeled with an ingredient statement that lists the name of each ingredient from which the commercial feed is manufactured. An ingredient name must be one of the following:
○ The common or usual name of that ingredient.
○ The official name of that ingredient as stated in AAFCO's official publication.
○ An appropriate collective name, specified in the rule, which accurately describes that ingredient. If an ingredient statement includes a collective term that describes one or more individual ingredients, none of those individual ingredients may be listed in the ingredient statement under any other name.
Manufacturer or Distributor; Name and Address
Under this rule, a commercial feed must be labeled with the name and principal mailing address of a manufacturer or labeler who assumes responsibility for the content and labeling of that commercial feed. If a person manufactures commercial feed on behalf of another licensed manufacturer or labeler who is identified on the feed label, the person manufacturing that feed on behalf of that responsible manufacturer or labeler need not be identified on the feed label.
For example, if a local feed mill manufactures feed on behalf of a feed consultant who is licensed as a manufacturer or labeler under this rule, and whose name and address appear on the feed label, the feed consultant is legally responsible for the content and labeling of the commercial feed. The local feed mill need not be identified on the feed label.
Declaration of Net Quantity
Under this rule, no person may sell or distribute any package, container or bulk lot of commercial feed unless that package, container or bulk lot bears a label which accurately declares the net quantity of commercial feed contained in that package, container or bulk lot. The declaration must comply with all of the following requirements:
○ Net quantity must be declared in terms of weight, measure or count, based on applicable requirements under s. 98.06, Stats. (Liquid quantities must normally be declared in terms of liquid measure, and other quantities must normally be declared in terms of weight.)
○ If the net quantity is declared in terms of weight or measure, the weight or measure must be expressed in appropriate inch-pound units and in appropriate metric units.
○ The declaration must include any supplementary declarations which are needed to make the declaration fully informative. For example, if a declaration includes a declaration of count, it should also specify the size or weight of the counted units.
Use Directions and Precautionary Statements
Under this rule, a commercial feed must be prominently labeled with use directions and precautionary statements. This requirement is subject to the following exceptions:
○ No use directions are required for a non-medicated ingredient or a combination of non-medicated ingredients that is sold as a specialized nutritional source for use in manufacturing other feeds.
○ Grains or grain mixtures, provided that they contain no drugs and the seller makes no specific feed claim for them.
CUSTOM-MIXED FEED
Labeling Custom-Mixed Feed
A “custom-mixed” feed is a feed prepared at the request of a final retail purchaser according to a formula provided by that final retail purchaser. Under this rule, a “custom-mixed” feed is exempt from the labeling requirements that apply to other commercial feeds (see above). However, the manufacturer of a “custom-mixed” feed must provide the purchaser with all of the following information, in writing, when that manufacturer delivers that feed to the purchaser:
○ The name and address of the manufacturer.
○ The name and address of the purchaser.
○ The name of the “custom-mixed” feed.
○ The net quantity of the “custom-mixed” feed.
○ The name and net quantity of every commercial feed and every other ingredient (e.g., grain) used to manufacture the “custom-mixed” feed.
○ Applicable use directions and precautionary statements. If any commercial feed used in manufacturing a “custom-mixed” feed is labeled with use directions or precautionary statements, the manufacturer of the “custom-mixed” feed must provide a copy of those use directions and precautionary statements to the purchaser of the “custom-mixed” feed.
○ All of the following if the “custom-mixed” feed contains any drug:
○ A statement, following directly after the name of the “custom-mixed” feed, which discloses that the feed is “medicated.”
○ A clear statement explaining the purpose for each drug.
○ A statement identifying the name and amount of each active drug ingredient.
The manufacturer of a “custom-mixed” feed must keep a copy of all of the above information for at least one year, and must make the information available for inspection and copying by the department upon request.
Guarantees and Disclaimers
The manufacturer of a “custom-mixed” feed is not responsible for the nutritional adequacy of that feed, provided that the manufacturer makes no claim of nutritional adequacy. The manufacturer may place a disclaimer on the label of the “custom-mixed” feed, stating that the manufacturer does not claim or warrant that the feed is nutritionally adequate or suitable for its intended purpose.
DOG AND CAT FOOD
Under this rule, dog and cat food is exempt from the labeling requirements that apply to other commercial feed (see above). However, a dog or cat food must be labeled with all of the following information:
○ The words “dog food” or “cat food,” or other words that clearly identify the product as dog or cat food.
○ The product name and brand name if any.
○ A guaranteed analysis.
○ An ingredient statement.
○ Drug labeling if the dog or cat food contains any drug.
○ A statement of nutritional adequacy, if required under this rule.
○ The name and principal mailing address of the manufacturer or distributor who is responsible for the content and labeling of the dog or cat food.
○ A declaration of net quantity.
○ Feeding instructions, if required under this rule.
Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis for a dog or cat food must include all of the following:
○ A minimum guarantee for crude protein.
○ A minimum guarantee for crude fat.
○ A maximum guarantee for crude fiber.
○ A maximum guarantee for moisture.
○ Mineral guarantees if the dog or cat food is sold wholly or in part for its mineral content.
○ Vitamin guarantees if the dog or cat food label makes specific vitamin claims or vitamin-related performance claims.
○ A minimum guarantee for other substances claimed on the label of the dog or cat food.
Guarantees must clearly identify the substances guaranteed. Except where a different format is required under this rule, guarantees must be expressed as a percentage by weight of the dog or cat food. This rule establishes specific requirements for vitamin and mineral guarantees.
Ingredient Statement
Under this rule, a dog or cat food must be labeled with an ingredient statement that lists the name of each ingredient from which the dog or cat food is manufactured. An ingredient name must be one of the following:
○ The common or usual name of that ingredient.
○ The official name of that ingredient as stated in AAFCO's official publication.
Medicated Dog or Cat Food
