Pet Food/Treats

Dog and cat treats, specialty pet food & raw chews

Licensed / Registered Product Required
$50annual Indiana Commercial Feed License
$50per product on the Pet Food Listing Form
Nocottage-food exemption applies
FDAfood facility registration also required

What's Covered  /  What Needs a Different Path

✓ Covered here

  • Pet treats/food sold under a current Indiana Commercial Feed License (Form F-1)
  • Small packages (10 lbs. or less) with a completed Pet Food Listing Form (F-3), $50/product
  • Unground, unmixed raw meat/chews sold with no nutrient claims – exempt from the feed law itself

✗ Needs a different path

  • Selling any manufactured pet food/treat without a Commercial Feed License, regardless of business size
  • Home-Based or Homestead Vendor cottage law – explicitly does not apply to animal food and treats
  • Nutrient or health claims (“high protein,” “good source of iron”) on raw, unprocessed meat/chews – that triggers full feed-law licensing

Three Steps to Compliance

A

Get an Indiana Commercial Feed License

File Form F-1 with the Office of Indiana State Chemist ($50/year) – required of anyone who manufactures a pet food/treat or whose name appears on the label.

B

List each product

For packages 10 lbs. or less, file Form F-3 (Pet Food Listing) at $50 per distinct product – different ingredients, name, or guaranteed analysis counts as a new product.

C

Register with the FDA and label fully

Register as an FDA food facility, then label with brand/product name, species, intended use, guaranteed analysis, ingredients, directions, and manufacturer contact info.

Quick Reference

ItemRuleRegulator
Manufactured pet food/treatsCommercial Feed License (Form F-1)Office of Indiana State Chemist
Small packages (≤10 lbs.)Pet Food Listing Form F-3, $50/productOISC
Raw, unground, unmixed meat/chewsExempt from feed law if no nutrient claims355 IAC 6-1-1
Food facility registrationRequired under 21 CFR 1.225FDA (federal)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Indiana's cottage food law cover dog treats?

No – the Home-Based and Homestead Vendor laws explicitly do not apply to animal food and treats; pet products follow the Commercial Feed Law instead.

How much does it cost to sell pet treats legally?

Generally $50/year for the Commercial Feed License plus $50 per distinct product on the Pet Food Listing Form for small packages.

Is raw meat for dogs exempt from licensing?

Only if it's unground, unmixed, and makes no nutrient claims; grinding, mixing, or adding words like “food,” “treat,” or nutrient claims brings it under full feed-law licensing.

Do I need to register with the FDA too?

Yes – pet food manufacturers must register as an FDA food facility in addition to the state Commercial Feed License.

Printable Checklist

File Form F-1 for an Indiana Commercial Feed License
File Form F-3 for each distinct small-package product
Register as an FDA food facility
Label with species, use, guaranteed analysis, and ingredients
Avoid nutrient claims on exempt raw meat/chews
Renew your feed license annually