10/07/2025
Regulatory and Veterinary Compliance Costs
Another key reason pet products often cost more than human equivalents is the regulatory and veterinary compliance required to bring them to market. While it might seem that human products would be more heavily regulated, the truth is that pet products—especially food, medicine, and health-related items—face stringent, species-specific oversight that adds significant cost to research, production, and distribution.
In the United States, for example, pet food is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and overseen by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). These organizations set strict guidelines for labelling, nutritional adequacy, ingredient safety, and manufacturing practices. To comply, manufacturers must conduct nutritional analysis, feeding trials, and detailed ingredient tracking. This involves laboratory testing, record-keeping, and product revisions, all of which increase operational costs.
If a pet food product claims to be “complete and balanced,” it must meet precise nutrient profiles developed by AAFCO for specific life stages and species (e.g., kittens vs. adult cats). These profiles are not easy to meet without expert formulation and testing, often involving veterinary nutritionists and biochemists. The process is far more complex than creating a general human snack or supplement, where a broader tolerance for individual dietary variation exists.
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