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Georgia · Direct-to-Consumer Compliance · Category 20 of 24

Pet Food/Treats

Homemade pet food and treats sold direct to consumer under Georgia's Commercial Feed Act

GDA License / Registration Required
GDA Feed license
License
Required, ≤10 lb packages
Product registration
$75
New app. fee
$40/product/year
Product reg. fee

What's Covered / What Needs More

✓ Generally Covered

  • Selling pet food and treats once you hold a GDA Feed license and have registered each product (packages of 10 lbs or less)
  • Selling homemade dog/cat treats at markets, online, and to retail stores once properly licensed and registered
  • Truthful labeling: net weight, feeding instructions, ingredient list, and guaranteed analysis where applicable
  • Renewing your license and product registrations annually (January 1 – December 31 cycle)

✕ Needs More / Watch Out

  • Selling any homemade pet food or treats without a GDA Feed license and product registration — cottage food law explicitly does not cover pet products
  • Skipping feeding instructions on the label, which are required for pet food/treats
  • Assuming small-batch or 'gift' framing avoids the registration requirement — Georgia regulates pet food as 'commercial feed' regardless of batch size
  • Ignoring Veterinary Feed Directive rules if you add any medicated ingredient

Three Steps to Compliance

A

Get a GDA Feed license

Apply through GDA's Agricultural Inputs Section for a Feed license ($75 new application fee) — this is required before selling any commercial pet food or treats in Georgia.

B

Register every product

Register each specialty pet food/treat product in packages of 10 lbs or less ($40/product/year, combinable with your license application); total license + registration fees cap at $2,000.

C

Label and renew annually

Include net weight, ingredients, feeding instructions, and guaranteed analysis as applicable; renew your license and registrations each year on the January–December cycle.

Quick Reference

License required?Yes — GDA Feed license, Agricultural Inputs Section
Product registrationRequired for pet/specialty pet food in packages ≤10 lbs
New application fee$75
Product registration fee$40 per product per year
Fee capTotal license + registration fees capped at $2,000
CycleAnnual, January 1 – December 31

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a license to sell homemade dog treats?
Yes — Georgia regulates pet food and treats as 'commercial feed,' requiring a GDA Feed license and product registration, unlike human cottage food.
Is there a small-batch exemption for pet treats?
No — Georgia's Commercial Feed Act applies regardless of batch size; there's no cottage-food-style exemption for pet products.
How much does it cost to get started?
A $75 new Feed license application fee plus $40 per registered product (≤10 lb packages), with total fees capped at $2,000 annually.
What has to be on my pet treat label?
Net weight, full ingredient list, feeding instructions, and guaranteed analysis where applicable — truthful, non-misleading labeling is a core requirement.

Printable Checklist

MarketStand · Georgia Producer Compliance Series
This guide is general information, not legal advice, current as of September 2026. Georgia's cottage food, meat inspection, dairy, egg, plant, feed, and alcohol rules change — always verify current requirements with the Georgia Department of Agriculture (agr.georgia.gov), Georgia Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division, and your local health department before selling.
Primary sources: Georgia Dept. of Agriculture (Cottage Food, Meat Inspection, Egg Law, Live Plant Program, Feed/Pet Food Program); HB 398 (2025); Georgia Raw Dairy Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-450 et seq.; Georgia Meat Inspection Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-60; Georgia Food Act, O.C.G.A. §26-2-20; GA Dept. of Revenue Alcohol & Tobacco Division; FDA (DSHEA, MoCRA, FSMA Produce Safety Rule, 21 CFR 108/111/113/114).