Imagine carefully selecting organic food for your beloved pet, believing you’re offering them the cleanest, safest nutrition possible. Now imagine learning that those standards are on the verge of disappearing — not because of science, but because of bureaucratic deregulation.
That’s the current reality for millions of pet owners following the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s (AMS) proposal to rescind newly established organic pet food regulations. These rules, which had only been in place since December 2024, were intended to bring clarity and integrity to an often confusing and inconsistent marketplace. But due to a government-wide “10-for-1” deregulation initiative, they may soon be wiped from the books — and with them, the protections they afforded.
A Short-Lived Win for Pet Food Transparency
The now-endangered organic pet food rule was part of the “National Organic Program; Market Development for Mushrooms and Pet Food” finalized in late 2024. It was designed to address a long-standing regulatory gray area: how pet foods labeled as “organic” should be formulated, labeled, and certified.
Before this rule, organic pet food was regulated using an inconsistent mix of standards — some borrowed from livestock feed regulations, others from processed human foods. Neither was a perfect fit. Livestock feed rules, for instance, prohibit many common pet food ingredients like slaughter by-products. Meanwhile, the rules for human-processed products lack necessary allowances for pet-specific nutrients.
The 2024 rule addressed this issue directly, offering a unified, appropriate framework for pet foods. It specified how organic claims could be made and what ingredients were allowed — including the clear stipulation that slaughter by-products in organic foods must come from healthy, inspected animals fit for consumption.
It was a long-awaited step forward in protecting both pets and pet owners. But now, just months later, it’s on the chopping block.
Why Is the USDA Reversing Course?
The USDA’s justification? An executive order mandating that for every new regulation, ten existing ones must be eliminated. When asked why such a critical rule was targeted, the agency responded:
“There is an executive order that requires that whenever an agency promulgates a new rule, regulation, or guidance, it must identify at least 10 existing rules, regulations, or guidance documents to be repealed.”
In other words, despite acknowledging the rule’s importance just months ago, the USDA now views it as expendable — collateral damage in a broad deregulation sweep.
What’s at Stake?
The elimination of the organic pet food rule threatens to roll back hard-won protections. Without it, organic pet food would again fall under the same regulations as livestock feed — a completely inappropriate standard for cats and dogs.
That means manufacturers could legally source animal by-products from condemned, diseased, or uninspected animals — products that would never make it onto your own dinner plate. Under livestock feed regulations, there is no explicit requirement that ingredients come from animals fit for human consumption. For pet owners who turn to organic products specifically to avoid such risks, this would be a profound betrayal.
Worse still, the rescinding of the rule reintroduces regulatory confusion. Without specific organic pet food standards, certifying bodies may interpret guidelines differently, leading to a fractured marketplace where some products adhere to high standards while others cut corners — all while using the same “organic” label.
The USDA Once Agreed — This Rule Matters
It’s important to note that the USDA itself once championed the rule’s necessity. In the 2024 final rule, they stated:
“The lack of specific standards for organic pet food has created inconsistency and uncertainty around labeling and composition requirements.”
“This rule addresses inconsistencies in how certifying agents are applying the current organic regulations to pet food. It also resolves regulatory uncertainties that artificially increase risk in the organic pet food market.”
Furthermore, the rule assured consumers that organic slaughter by-products could not include substandard or unsafe animal materials. In fact, the USDA emphasized that:
“Organic pet food must not contain condemned, diseased, or otherwise unsanitary animal products, and the final rule should in no way be misconstrued to permit them.”
A Call to Action
Pet parents who rely on organic labeling to make informed, healthy choices for their animals deserve better. Transparency, safety, and integrity in the organic pet food market should not be sacrificed for administrative convenience.
The USDA is accepting public comments on this proposed withdrawal until June 11, 2025. If this issue matters to you — and if you want to keep feeding your pets food you can trust — now is the time to speak up.
You can submit your comment by visiting the proposal page at
👉 Regulations.gov – AMS-NOP-22-0063-3399
Click the blue “Comment” button and let your voice be heard.
Ask the USDA to retain the organic pet food standards and find other, less critical regulations to repeal. Our pets aren’t livestock — and their food shouldn’t be treated as such.
The Bottom Line
Deregulation may make headlines, but not all rules are red tape. Some — like the organic pet food standards — exist to protect health, safety, and consumer trust. Removing these standards not only undermines the organic label, but puts countless animals at risk.
Our pets rely on us for everything, including the food we place in their bowls. Let’s make sure that food continues to meet the standards we expect — and they deserve.
Susan Thixton is the founder of TruthAboutPetFood.com, a leading advocate for transparency and accountability in the pet food industry. Her work brings together experts, veterinarians, and concerned pet owners to ensure safer standards for all.