Indiana General Assembly
House Bill No. ___
An Act Concerning the Safety and Nutritional Quality of Commercial Animal Food
SECTION 1. Short Title
This act shall be known as the Healthy Pet Food Act of Indiana.
SECTION 2. Purpose
The purpose of this act is to:
Improve the health and well-being of companion animals.
Ensure transparency in pet food ingredients.
Eliminate the use of unnecessary artificial color additives that provide no nutritional benefit.
Encourage the use of wholesome, nutritious ingredients.
SECTION 3. Definitions
As used in this chapter:
"Animal food" means commercial food intended for dogs, cats, and other household pets.
"Artificial color additive" means any synthetic coloring agent approved for use in food, including FD&C Red No. 3 and FD&C Red No. 40.
"Manufacturer" means any person or company producing or distributing commercial animal food for sale in Indiana.
SECTION 4. Prohibited Ingredients
Beginning January 1, 2028, a manufacturer may not manufacture, distribute, or sell commercial animal food in Indiana that contains:
FD&C Red No. 3.
Any artificial red dye used solely for cosmetic coloring that provides no nutritional or preservative purpose.
SECTION 5. Nutritional Standards
Commercial animal food sold in Indiana must:
Meet or exceed applicable nutritional standards established by recognized pet nutrition authorities.
Contain ingredients that are safe and suitable for animal consumption.
Accurately disclose all ingredients on product labels.
SECTION 6. Enforcement
The Indiana State Department of Agriculture, in coordination with other appropriate state agencies, shall:
Inspect products offered for sale.
Issue warnings for first violations.
Assess civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation for repeated violations.
Remove noncompliant products from sale when necessary.
SECTION 7. Rulemaking
The appropriate state agency may adopt rules necessary to implement and enforce this chapter.
