Title 012 | Chapter 003 | Regulation 027REG
PROPOSED
This document is not yet current.
PREVIOUS VERSION
The previous document that this document is based upon is available.
Agricultural Experiment Station
(Amendment)
12 KAR 3:027.Ingredients.
Section 1.
Each ingredient of a pet food or specialty pet food shall be listed in the ingredient statement as established in subsections (1) through (4) of this section.(1)
The names of all ingredients in the ingredient statement shall be shown in letters or type of the same size, style, and color.(2)
The ingredients shall be listed in descending order by their predominance by weight in non-quantitative terms.(3)
Ingredients shall be listed and identified by the name and definition established by AAFCO.(4)
Any ingredient for which no name and definition have been so established shall be identified by the common or usual name of the ingredient.Section 2.
The ingredients "meat" or "meat by-products" shall be qualified to designate the animal from which the meat or meat by-products are derived unless the meat or meat by-products are derived from cattle, swine, sheep, goats, or any combination thereof. For example, ingredients derived from horses shall be listed as "horsemeat" or "horsemeat by-products".Section 3.
Brand or trade names shall not be used in the ingredient statement.Section 4.
The quality, nature, form, or other attribute of an ingredient may be referenced if:(1)
The designation is not false or misleading;(2)
The ingredient imparts a distinctive characteristic to the pet food or specialty pet food because it possesses that attribute; and(3)
A reference to quality or grade of the ingredient does not appear in the ingredient statement.Section 5.
Incorporation by Reference.(1)
"2023(2)
This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Division of Regulatory Services, 103 Regulatory Services Building, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0275, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.DR. JAMES MATTHEWS, Director of Agricultural Experiment Station
APPROVED BY AGENCY: September 10, 2025
FILED WITH LRC: September 11, 2025 at 10:50 a.m.
PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD: A public hearing on this administrative regulation shall be held on November 24, 2025, at 9:00 am, at the offices of the Division of Regulatory Services, 1600 University Court, Lexington, Kentucky 40546. Individuals interested in being heard at this hearing shall notify this agency in writing by five workdays prior to the hearing, of their intent to attend. If no notification of intent to attend the hearing was received by that date, the hearing may be cancelled. A transcript of the public hearing will not be made unless a written request for a transcript is made. If you do not wish to be heard at the public hearing, you may submit written comments on the proposed administrative regulation. Written comments shall be accepted through November 30, 2025. Send written notification of intent to be heard at the public hearing or written comments on the proposed administrative regulation to the contact person.
CONTACT PERSON: G. Alan Harrison, Feed & Milk Director, University of Kentucky Division of Regulatory Services, 103 Regulatory Services Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, phone (859) 257-2785, fax (859) 323-9931, email alan.harrison@uky.edu.
REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS AND TIERING STATEMENT
Contact Person:
G. Alan Harrison
Subject Headings:
Agriculture, Pet Food and Feed, Consumer Protection
(1) Provide a brief summary of:
(a) What this administrative regulation does:
This administrative regulation establishes the required format for listing ingredients on the label of pet foods and specialty pet foods.
(b) The necessity of this administrative regulation:
Provides a uniform guide on how ingredients are to be expressed on product labeling so all manufacturers are playing by the same rules.
(c) How this administrative regulation conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
Helps allow for the efficient enforcement of KRS 250.491 to 250.631, regarding commercial feeds.
(d) How this administrative regulation currently assists or will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
Provides clear rules on how ingredients are to be listed on product labeling.
(2) If this is an amendment to an existing administrative regulation, provide a brief summary of:
(a) How the amendment will change this existing administrative regulation:
The amendment updates usage of the Official Publication of the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) from the 2018 Edition to the 2023 edition.
(b) The necessity of the amendment to this administrative regulation:
The feed ingredient and feed terms defined in the Official Publication of AAFCO needed to be updated from the older version to a more modern version.
(c) How the amendment conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
Updates terms and definitions used to regulate the feed industry.
(d) How the amendment will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
These updates are beneficial to both the regulatory body and the regulated industry as it brings in new terms and definitions that have been developed since 2018.
(3) Does this administrative regulation or amendment implement legislation from the previous five years?
No
(4) List the type and number of individuals, businesses, organizations, or state and local governments affected by this administrative regulation:
Firms which register commercial feeds in Kentucky will be affected by this administrative regulation.
(5) Provide an analysis of how the entities identified in question (4) will be impacted by either the implementation of this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change, if it is an amendment, including:
(a) List the actions that each of the regulated entities identified in question (4) will have to take to comply with this administrative regulation or amendment:
No action required by distributors of animal feed. No significant action required by manufacturers of animal feed.
(b) In complying with this administrative regulation or amendment, how much will it cost each of the entities identified in question (4):
No cost.
(c) As a result of compliance, what benefits will accrue to the entities identified in question (4):
No significant benefit to distributors of animal feed. Manufacturers of animal feed may benefit from additional ingredients available for use in products and more descriptive ingredient definitions.
(6) Provide an estimate of how much it will cost the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation:
(a) Initially:
No cost.
(b) On a continuing basis:
No cost.
(7) What is the source of the funding to be used for the implementation and enforcement of this administrative regulation or this amendment:
The Division of Regulatory Services regular annual budget is the source of funding.
(8) Provide an assessment of whether an increase in fees or funding will be necessary to implement this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change if it is an amendment:
(9) State whether or not this administrative regulation establishes any fees or directly or indirectly increases any fees:
No new fees and no increase in existing fees.
(10) TIERING: Is tiering applied?
No, this administrative regulation treats all regulated entities the same.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(1) Identify each state statute, federal statute, or federal regulation that requires or authorizes the action taken by the administrative regulation:
KRS 250.571
(2) State whether this administrative regulation is expressly authorized by an act of the General Assembly, and if so, identify the act:
KRS 250.571
(3)(a) Identify the promulgating agency and any other affected state units, parts, or divisions:
University of Kentucky Division of Regulatory Services
(b) Estimate the following for each affected state unit, part, or division identified in (3)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
No fiscal impact
For subsequent years:
No fiscal impact
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
No fiscal impact
For subsequent years:
No fiscal impact
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
No fiscal impact
For subsequent years:
No fiscal impact
(4)(a) Identify affected local entities (for example: cities, counties, fire departments, school districts):
No impact on local entities
(b) Estimate the following for each affected local entity identified in (4)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
(5)(a) Identify any affected regulated entities not listed in (3)(a) or (4)(a):
No impact on other entities
(b) Estimate the following for each regulated entity identified in (5)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
(6) Provide a narrative to explain the following for each entity identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a)
(a) Fiscal impact of this administrative regulation:
This regulation is being updated to reference the latest recommendations from the Association of American Feed Control Officials with regards to ingredient definitions and labeling of pet food.
(b) Methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
Minor changes in regulation affect only manufacturers and guarantors of pet food.
(7) Explain, as it relates to the entities identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a):
(a) Whether this administrative regulation will have a "major economic impact", as defined by KRS 13A.010(14):
No
(b) The methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
Minor changes in regulation affect only manufacturers and guarantors of pet food.
FEDERAL MANDATE ANALYSIS COMPARISON
(1) Federal statute or regulation constituting the federal mandate.
: Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and C.F.R. 21
(2) State compliance standards.
: In harmony with federal standards.
(3) Minimum or uniform standards contained in the federal mandate.
: Standards developed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials are in harmony with federal standards.
(4) Will this administrative regulation impose stricter requirements, or additional or different responsibilities or requirements, than those required by the federal mandate?
No
(5) Justification for the imposition of the stricter standard, or additional or different responsibilities or requirements.
: N/A
Agricultural Experiment Station
(Amendment)
12 KAR 3:027.Ingredients.
Section 1.
Each ingredient of a pet food or specialty pet food shall be listed in the ingredient statement as established in subsections (1) through (4) of this section.(1)
The names of all ingredients in the ingredient statement shall be shown in letters or type of the same size, style, and color.(2)
The ingredients shall be listed in descending order by their predominance by weight in non-quantitative terms.(3)
Ingredients shall be listed and identified by the name and definition established by AAFCO.(4)
Any ingredient for which no name and definition have been so established shall be identified by the common or usual name of the ingredient.Section 2.
The ingredients "meat" or "meat by-products" shall be qualified to designate the animal from which the meat or meat by-products are derived unless the meat or meat by-products are derived from cattle, swine, sheep, goats, or any combination thereof. For example, ingredients derived from horses shall be listed as "horsemeat" or "horsemeat by-products".Section 3.
Brand or trade names shall not be used in the ingredient statement.Section 4.
The quality, nature, form, or other attribute of an ingredient may be referenced if:(1)
The designation is not false or misleading;(2)
The ingredient imparts a distinctive characteristic to the pet food or specialty pet food because it possesses that attribute; and(3)
A reference to quality or grade of the ingredient does not appear in the ingredient statement.Section 5.
Incorporation by Reference.(1)
"2023 Official Publication", (2023 Edition), Association of American Feed Control Officials, is incorporated by reference.(2)
This material may be inspected, copied, or obtained, subject to applicable copyright law, at the Division of Regulatory Services, 103 Regulatory Services Building, College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0275, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.DR. JAMES MATTHEWS, Director of Agricultural Experiment Station
APPROVED BY AGENCY: September 10, 2025
FILED WITH LRC: September 11, 2025 at 10:50 a.m.
PUBLIC HEARING AND COMMENT PERIOD: A public hearing on this administrative regulation shall be held on November 24, 2025, at 9:00 am, at the offices of the Division of Regulatory Services, 1600 University Court, Lexington, Kentucky 40546. Individuals interested in being heard at this hearing shall notify this agency in writing by five workdays prior to the hearing, of their intent to attend. If no notification of intent to attend the hearing was received by that date, the hearing may be cancelled. A transcript of the public hearing will not be made unless a written request for a transcript is made. If you do not wish to be heard at the public hearing, you may submit written comments on the proposed administrative regulation. Written comments shall be accepted through November 30, 2025. Send written notification of intent to be heard at the public hearing or written comments on the proposed administrative regulation to the contact person.
CONTACT PERSON: G. Alan Harrison, Feed & Milk Director, University of Kentucky Division of Regulatory Services, 103 Regulatory Services Building, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, phone (859) 257-2785, fax (859) 323-9931, email alan.harrison@uky.edu.
REGULATORY IMPACT ANALYSIS AND TIERING STATEMENT
Contact Person:
G. Alan Harrison
Subject Headings:
Agriculture, Pet Food and Feed, Consumer Protection
(1) Provide a brief summary of:
(a) What this administrative regulation does:
This administrative regulation establishes the required format for listing ingredients on the label of pet foods and specialty pet foods.
(b) The necessity of this administrative regulation:
Provides a uniform guide on how ingredients are to be expressed on product labeling so all manufacturers are playing by the same rules.
(c) How this administrative regulation conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
Helps allow for the efficient enforcement of KRS 250.491 to 250.631, regarding commercial feeds.
(d) How this administrative regulation currently assists or will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
Provides clear rules on how ingredients are to be listed on product labeling.
(2) If this is an amendment to an existing administrative regulation, provide a brief summary of:
(a) How the amendment will change this existing administrative regulation:
The amendment updates usage of the Official Publication of the American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) from the 2018 Edition to the 2023 edition.
(b) The necessity of the amendment to this administrative regulation:
The feed ingredient and feed terms defined in the Official Publication of AAFCO needed to be updated from the older version to a more modern version.
(c) How the amendment conforms to the content of the authorizing statutes:
Updates terms and definitions used to regulate the feed industry.
(d) How the amendment will assist in the effective administration of the statutes:
These updates are beneficial to both the regulatory body and the regulated industry as it brings in new terms and definitions that have been developed since 2018.
(3) Does this administrative regulation or amendment implement legislation from the previous five years?
No
(4) List the type and number of individuals, businesses, organizations, or state and local governments affected by this administrative regulation:
Firms which register commercial feeds in Kentucky will be affected by this administrative regulation.
(5) Provide an analysis of how the entities identified in question (4) will be impacted by either the implementation of this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change, if it is an amendment, including:
(a) List the actions that each of the regulated entities identified in question (4) will have to take to comply with this administrative regulation or amendment:
No action required by distributors of animal feed. No significant action required by manufacturers of animal feed.
(b) In complying with this administrative regulation or amendment, how much will it cost each of the entities identified in question (4):
No cost.
(c) As a result of compliance, what benefits will accrue to the entities identified in question (4):
No significant benefit to distributors of animal feed. Manufacturers of animal feed may benefit from additional ingredients available for use in products and more descriptive ingredient definitions.
(6) Provide an estimate of how much it will cost the administrative body to implement this administrative regulation:
(a) Initially:
No cost.
(b) On a continuing basis:
No cost.
(7) What is the source of the funding to be used for the implementation and enforcement of this administrative regulation or this amendment:
The Division of Regulatory Services regular annual budget is the source of funding.
(8) Provide an assessment of whether an increase in fees or funding will be necessary to implement this administrative regulation, if new, or by the change if it is an amendment:
(9) State whether or not this administrative regulation establishes any fees or directly or indirectly increases any fees:
No new fees and no increase in existing fees.
(10) TIERING: Is tiering applied?
No, this administrative regulation treats all regulated entities the same.
FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(1) Identify each state statute, federal statute, or federal regulation that requires or authorizes the action taken by the administrative regulation:
KRS 250.571
(2) State whether this administrative regulation is expressly authorized by an act of the General Assembly, and if so, identify the act:
KRS 250.571
(3)(a) Identify the promulgating agency and any other affected state units, parts, or divisions:
University of Kentucky Division of Regulatory Services
(b) Estimate the following for each affected state unit, part, or division identified in (3)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
No fiscal impact
For subsequent years:
No fiscal impact
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
No fiscal impact
For subsequent years:
No fiscal impact
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
No fiscal impact
For subsequent years:
No fiscal impact
(4)(a) Identify affected local entities (for example: cities, counties, fire departments, school districts):
No impact on local entities
(b) Estimate the following for each affected local entity identified in (4)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
(5)(a) Identify any affected regulated entities not listed in (3)(a) or (4)(a):
No impact on other entities
(b) Estimate the following for each regulated entity identified in (5)(a):
1. Expenditures:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
2. Revenues:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
3. Cost Savings:
For the first year:
No impact
For subsequent years:
No impact
(6) Provide a narrative to explain the following for each entity identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a)
(a) Fiscal impact of this administrative regulation:
This regulation is being updated to reference the latest recommendations from the Association of American Feed Control Officials with regards to ingredient definitions and labeling of pet food.
(b) Methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
Minor changes in regulation affect only manufacturers and guarantors of pet food.
(7) Explain, as it relates to the entities identified in (3)(a), (4)(a), and (5)(a):
(a) Whether this administrative regulation will have a "major economic impact", as defined by KRS 13A.010(14):
No
(b) The methodology and resources used to reach this conclusion:
Minor changes in regulation affect only manufacturers and guarantors of pet food.
FEDERAL MANDATE ANALYSIS COMPARISON
(1) Federal statute or regulation constituting the federal mandate.
: Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and C.F.R. 21
(2) State compliance standards.
: In harmony with federal standards.
(3) Minimum or uniform standards contained in the federal mandate.
: Standards developed by the Association of American Feed Control Officials are in harmony with federal standards.
(4) Will this administrative regulation impose stricter requirements, or additional or different responsibilities or requirements, than those required by the federal mandate?
No
(5) Justification for the imposition of the stricter standard, or additional or different responsibilities or requirements.
: N/A