RELATES TO:

KRS 250.491-250.631

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:

KRS 250.571

CERTIFICATION STATEMENT:

This certifies that this administrative regulation complies with the requirements of 2025 RS HB 6, Section 8.

NECESSITY, FUNCTION, AND CONFORMITY:

KRS 250.571(1) authorizes the Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station to promulgate administrative regulations necessary for the efficient enforcement of KRS 250.491 to 250.631. This administrative regulation establishes requirements for feeding directions to ensure that pet food and specialty pet food products have adequate labeling to provide for safe and effective use.

1. Section 1. All pet foods and specialty pet foods shall state feeding directions consistent with the intended use statement.

2. Section 2.Section 1.

   1. (1) Dog or cat food, including snacks or treats, labeled as complete and balanced for any or all life stages, as established in 12 KAR 3:039, Section 23(1) or Section 3, except those pet foods labeled in accordance with 12 KAR 3:039, Section 4, shall list feeding directions on the product label.
   2. (2) These directions shall be consistent with the intended uses indicated in the nutritional adequacy statement, unless a limited use or more limited life stage designation is declared elsewhere (for example, "adult formula").
   3. (1)(3) These directions shall be expressed in common terms and shall appear prominently on the label.

   4. (2)(4) Feeding directions shall, at a minimum, state]:

      1. (a) Include the amount of familiar household unit of product weight of dog (or cat); and."Feed (weight/unit of product) per (weight) of dog (or cat)."; and
      2. (b) The frequency of feeding.
3. Section 3.Section 2. If a dog or cat food is intended for use by or under the supervision or direction of a veterinarian, the statement: "Use only as directed by your veterinarian" may be used in lieu of feeding directions.

4. Section 4.Section 3.

   1. (1) Specialty pet food, including snacks or treats, labeled as complete and balanced for any or all life stages, as established in 12 KAR 3:039, Section 2 Section 3 or as a daily food1, shall list feeding directions on the product label.
   2. (1)(2) These feeding directions shall be adequate to meet the nutritional requirements of the intended species of specialty pet as recommended by the AAFCO-recognized nutritional authority.
   3. (2)(3) These directions shall be expressed in common terms and shall appear prominently on the label.
   4. (3)(4) The frequency of feeding shall also be statedspecified.

5. Section 4. Incorporation by Reference.

   1. (1) "[2018 ]Official Publication", ([2023][2018] Edition), Association of American Feed Control Officials, is incorporated by reference.
   2. (2) This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Division of Regulatory Services, 103 Regulatory Services Building, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0275, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

History

(012 KAR 003:032. AES-2(1973)-PF 6; 1 Ky.R. 1003; eff. 6-11-1975; 45 Ky.R. 634; eff. 9-28-2018; Crt to Am; filed Am 9-11-2025; 52 Ky.R. 590, 1355, 1672; eff. 6-30-2026.)

FILED WITH LRC: March 9, 2026

CONTACT PERSON: G. Alan Harrison, Feed & Milk Director, University of Kentucky Division of Regulatory Services, 103 Regulatory Services Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, phone (859) 257-2785, fax (859) 323-9931, email alan.harrison@uky.edu.