Using pet food, animal feed, and supplements
What you need to do when feeding pet food, animal feed, and supplements to animals.
Requirements for animal feeds and supplements
Pet food, animal feed, and supplements are classed as oral nutritional compounds (ONCs). When you feed them to your animals, you must comply with the requirements for ONCs. The requirements are set out in the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines (ACVM) (Exemptions and Prohibited Substances) Regulations 2011.
Make sure it's fit for purpose
When using an animal feed or supplement:
- you must be confident it is fit for use
- presume the manufacturer and seller made sure it is fit for purpose (unless you have a reason not to)
- try to confirm its fitness before feeding or don't buy it if you have suspicions about it
- if you don't follow the manufacturer's instructions or you alter it, you must make sure it is:
- still fit for purpose
- not likely to cause any harms listed in Regulation 7(a) to (h )
- if you make your own animal feed, you are fully responsible for its fitness.
Follow instructions
To avoid problems:
- follow label instructions carefully
- use products as recommended by the manufacturer.
Advice for dairy farmers on magnesium products:
Magnesium supplementation in dairy cows [PDF, 198 KB]
If something goes wrong
If something goes wrong when you use an animal feed or pet food (an adverse event), let us know.
How to report an adverse event with an animal feed
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