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Organic pet foods - Law and Standards
Organic pet foods - guaranteed safe and healthy!In evaluating organic pet foods we need to have some understanding of organic food certification and the law and standards that underpin it. A brief overview follows, but for more detailed information on EU/UK standards please click here In the UK, organic foods have been regulated by the European Union since 1992 (EU-Eco-regulation). The production of organic food in the UK is therefore bound to certain standards by law. Further, the renowned Soil Association has developed further criteria to ensure that quality organic food standards are met. Please click here for further information on Soil Association standards, particularly in relation to animal welfare.
In the USA, organic foods for humans have been regulated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which, since 2002 has had the National Organic Program (NOP) that also oversees the production of organic pet foods. Any pet food product that is certified as organic must pass stringent regulations at all points of production. If a product meets the requirements and is in compliance with organic labelling regulations, the name or code of the certifying agency as well as their contact information will appear on the product's packaging. Whether in the UK or the USA, all organic certifying agencies are mandated by their governing bodies to enforce regulations and standards to see that all ingredients are handled, grown, processed, stored, and packaged organically. In this way, we know that when we buy organic for our pets we know we are giving them food that is free of toxic chemicals, drugs, GM materials, and anything that might be rejected for human consumption. We are also contributing to animal welfare in terms of both livestock and wildlife, as well as the environment in general.
So What Exactly is Organic Pet Food?To conclude then, organic pet food and treats come from farms and factories that use quality certified organic materials and ingredients that contain no chemical pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, growth hormones, antibiotics, toxic chemical preservatives or other harmful ingredients. In addition, as mentioned above, the manufacturers must follow the law and standards that support environmental health and ecological balance. for a look at the benefits for your pet click here
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