Washington Administrative Code

This chapter is pursuant to RCW 15.53.9012 and regulates COMMERCIAL FEED, specifically PET FOOD and SPECIALTY PET FOOD DISTRIBUTED in Washington state for the purpose of uniformity with federal regulations and national consensus codes and ultimately to protect consumers from cont…

(1) This chapter applies to PET FOOD as defined in RCW 15.53.901, which includes food for dogs (Canis familiaris) and cats (Felis catus).(2) This chapter applies to SPECIALTY PET FOOD as defined in RCW 15.53.901 and includes any animal normally maintained in a household, such as,…

(1) Adoption of regulations under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act in this chapter is of the version effective January 1, 2025, and 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq. in this chapter is adoption of the version effective January 1, 2025.(2) Adoption of provisions under the Association o…

(1) Definitions and terms in this chapter as well as those defined in chapter 15.53 RCW are mostly shown in capitalized letters to indicate that they are specifically defined.(2) The department adopts the Official Feed Terms and the Official Common and Usual Names and Definitions…

(1) PET FOOD and SPECIALTY PET FOOD shall be LABELED with the following information:(a) PRODUCT NAME and brand name, if any, on the PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL as specified in WAC 16-252-024;(b) A statement specifying the purpose of the product, conspicuously designated on the PRINCI…

(1) The names of the FEED INGREDIENT(S) used in the brand or PRODUCT NAME or elsewhere on the product LABEL shall appear in order of predominance by weight in the product. Names of flavors due to their varying intensity can be in any order.(2) The words "100%," or "All," or words…

(1) A statement identifying the purpose of a PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD is required on the PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL of the LABEL in accordance with the following:(a) The purpose of a PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD shall be stated as:(i) "Complete [Species] Food" - For food pro…

(1) PET NUTRITION FACTS shall be displayed in a prominent place on the LABEL of all PET FOODS (including treats, FOOD SUPPLEMENTS, VETERINARY DIETS, and FOOD MIXERS), but not necessarily on the PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL. The information shall be set off in a box by use of hairlines…

(1) Each FEED INGREDIENT of a PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD shall be listed in the INGREDIENT STATEMENT as follows:(a) The names of all FEED INGREDIENTS in the INGREDIENT STATEMENT shall be shown in letters or type of the same size, style and color, except where the defined name…

(1) An artificial color may be used in a PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD only if it has been shown to be harmless to PETS or SPECIALTY PETS. The permanent or provisional listing of an artificial color in the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations as safe for …

(1) All PET FOODS and SPECIALTY PET FOODS shall bear feeding directions consistent with the purpose statement on the PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL.(2) PET FOOD, including treats and FOOD MIXERS, LABELED as complete and balanced for any or ALL LIFE STAGES, as provided in WAC 16-252-044 …

(1)The statement shall be determined in terms of metabolizable energy (ME) on an "as fed" moisture basis by one of the following methods then converted to Calories (kcal) per the FAMILIAR HOUSEHOLD UNIT (i.e., can, measuring cup, treat, or piece):(a) By calculation using the foll…

(1) Calorie terms:(a) "Light":(i) A dog food product which bears on its LABEL the terms "light," "lite," "low calorie," or words of similar designation shall:(A) Contain no more than 3100 kcal ME/kg for products containing less than 20 PERCENT moisture, no more than 2500 kcal ME/…

(1) The LABEL of a PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD shall specify the business or corporate name and address of the GUARANTOR which may be the manufacturer or distributor. When the PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD is not MANUFACTURED by the PERSON whose name appears on the LABEL, the…

(1) A PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD product which bears handling and storage instructions shall display such instructions under the bolded header "Handling and Storage Instructions:" that is separate and distinct from any feeding directions. A header is not required for small pa…

(1) The DEPARTMENT adopts: 21 C.F.R. Chapter I, Part 589, Substances Prohibited from Use in Animal Food or Feed.(2) For the purpose of RCW 15.53.902, the terms "poisonous or deleterious substances" include, but are not limited to, the following:(a) When screenings are added to a …

The DEPARTMENT adopts the following as current good manufacturing practices:(1) The requirements of 21 C.F.R. Part 507 – Current good manufacturing practice, hazard analysis, and risk-based preventive controls for food for animals.(2) The requirements of 21 C.F.R. Part 113 – Ther…

Records relating the LOT IDENTIFIER, manufacture, processing, packing, distribution, receipt, holding, registration, and substantiation of the product must be kept for two years after the last date of distribution, unless otherwise specified.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.53.9012. …

(1) Any PERSON who DISTRIBUTES a PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD in or into this state must register the product with the department as required under RCW 15.53.9014.(2) The registration application, which includes renewal applications, must be complete, accurate, legible, and sub…

(1)(a) Each registrant must file a semi-annual report on forms provided by the DEPARTMENT setting forth the number of TONS of PET FOOD or SPECIALTY PET FOOD DISTRIBUTED in or into this state as required by RCW 15.53.9018.(b) The report must include the amount of PET FOOD or SPECI…

(1) Any PERSON may request a refund if they can show a specified amount over $50 was paid in error. Refund requests must be received in writing to the DEPARTMENT at the address referenced in WAC 16-252-182(5) or emailed to petfood@agr.wa.gov within 90 calendar days of the payment…

(1) Electronic access to 21 C.F.R. is available at https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21. Print copies of the titles can be purchased from the U.S. Government Bookstore online at https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/laws-regulations/code-federal-regulations-cfrs-print. If you do not…

Chapter 16-256 WAC, Commercial feed rules—Processed animal waste, becomes effective on July 1, 2004.[Statutory Authority: Chapters 15.53 and 34.05 RCW. WSR 03-23-131, § 16-256-001, filed 11/19/03, effective 7/1/04.]

"Animal wastes" means a material composed of excreta, with or without bedding materials and/or animal drugs, collected from poultry, ruminants or other animals except humans."Lot identifier" means a unique identifier for each lot, batch or production run that enables the manufact…

A product is considered a processed animal waste product only if it meets one of the definitions in the following table.Processed Animal Waste ProductsProduct TypeDescriptionThermal Dehydration LimitDried poultry waste (DPW)A processed animal waste product composed of the feces f…

The label, tag, or label invoice accompanying shipments of animal waste products must contain the information required in RCW 15.53.9016, this chapter and the following information:(1) If the product contains drugs or drug residues, then the label must contain the following state…

(1) The purpose of the sampling and testing requirements in this section is to determine the presence of harmful materials or biological contaminants specified in WAC 16-256-070 and to assure compliance with the quality standards in that section.(2) Any person seeking or maintain…

(1) A commercial feed license is required for each facility that manufactures or distributes processed animal waste product intended, promoted, represented, advertised or distributed for use as a commercial feed or feed ingredient.(2) The commercial feed license application form,…

(1) A commercial feed license for a processed animal waste product facility will be denied or revoked if the:(a) Applicant or the processed animal waste product is determined to be in violation of any Washington state statute or Washington state agency rule or regulation affectin…

(1) Dried animal waste products must comply with the requirements in the following table:Dried Animal Waste Products Required Minimum/Maximum ContentDried Poultry WasteDried Poultry Waste-NPN ExtractedDried Poultry LitterDried Ruminant WasteCrude proteinAt least18.00% 11.00% 18.0…

Any licensed processed animal waste product facility must keep accurate records for two years containing the following information:(1) All sources of the raw materials used in the production of processed animal waste products and the date those raw materials were acquired includi…

The purpose of this chapter is to administer animal disease traceability activities by assessing a per head fee on cattle sold or slaughtered in the state or transported out of the state.[Statutory Authority: RCW 16.36.150 and chapter 34.05 RCW. WSR 15-02-024, § 16-29-005, filed …

In addition to the definitions found in RCW 16.36.005, 16.57.010, 16.58.020 and chapter 16-610 WAC the following definitions apply to this chapter:"Custom slaughtering" means slaughtering performed by a person licensed under chapter 16.49 RCW to slaughter meat food animals for th…

(1) An assessment of $0.23 per head is levied on all cattle sold or slaughtered in the state or transported out of the state except for:(a) An assessment of $0.05 per head is levied on all immediate slaughter cattle.(b) No assessment is paid on cattle slaughtered and retained by …

(1) Slaughter facilities shall furnish the department a report of all cattle slaughtered by individual consignment. The report is due by the fifteenth day of the month following the month the transaction occurred. The report must include:(a) Slaughter date;(b) Number of head slau…

The slaughter facility must keep accurate records for six years for all cattle entering a federally inspected slaughter facility. Records must be open for review by authorized department of agriculture personnel during normal business hours, and must be provided to the department…

(1) If any person fails to comply with the requirements of RCW 16.36.150, the director may issue that person a notice of infraction and may assess a penalty.(2) Each violation is a separate and distinct offense. Penalties may be assessed per violation or per head.(3) The followin…

In addition to the definitions found in RCW 16.36.005, the following definitions apply to this chapter:"Department" means the Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA)."Designated surveillance area" means a disease surveillance area in the Greater Yellowstone Area within …

(1) Restricted holding facilities are isolated areas approved and licensed by the director, as advised by the state veterinarian. Fees associated with restricted holding facilities are referenced under chapter 16-91 WAC.(2) There are three categories of restricted holding facilit…

(1) The following requirements are applicable to all categories of restricted holding facilities:(a) The restricted holding facility area shall house restricted animals separate and apart from all other nonrestricted animals. There may be no contact between animals not also simil…

(1) Application forms to establish a restricted holding facility may be obtained from:Washington State Department of AgricultureAnimal Services Division1111 Washington St. S.E.P.O. Box 42577Olympia, Washington 98504-2577Phone: 360-902-1878Email: ahealth@agr.wa.gov(2) Applicants f…

(1) All licenses for restricted holding facilities expire on the 30th day of June of the year following the date of issue. Restricted holding facilities must be inspected annually upon renewal and at any other time as determined by the director. Renewal of a restricted holding fa…

Definitions for terms used in this chapter and in chapters 16-302 and 16-303 WAC may be found in chapter 15.49 RCW, seed. For the purposes of these chapters, the following definitions shall apply unless otherwise provided for in law or rule:"Agricultural seed" as defined in RCW 1…

(1) The department adopts the 2016 Association of Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) rules and procedures for certification.(2) The department adopts the 2016 Association of Official Seed Analysts (AOSA) rules for testing seed.(3) The department adopts the Federal Seed Act, 7 C.F.R…

The seed program advisory committee shall meet at least annually and make recommendations to the department regarding the objectives of the seed program. The review should include a review of the regulatory activities and program expenditures.[Statutory Authority: RCW 15.49.005, …

(1) Each container of agricultural, vegetable or flower seeds, that is sold, offered or exposed for sale, or transported within this state for sowing purposes, must bear or have attached to the container a plainly written or printed label or tag in the English language; and(a) Th…

In addition to the information required on the label in WAC 16-301-015, the following requirements also apply:(1) Small grain seed - Labels for small grain seed must include the following information:(a) Each variety (e.g., Nugaines), whether the variety is typically a winter or …

In addition to the information required on the label in WAC 16-301-015, the following requirements also apply to vegetable and flower seed as prepared for use in home:(1) Vegetable seeds in packets or preplanted devices - Labeling for vegetable seeds in packets as prepared for us…

(1) Small grain, chickpea, field pea, lentil, and/or soybean seed distributed in packaged form to a wholesaler or a commercial grower for the grower's own use and accompanied by an invoice or other document containing the labeling information required in this chapter may attach l…

The labeling for agricultural and vegetable hybrid seed that contains less than ninety-five percent hybrid seed must include the following:(1) The lot number or other lot identification.(2) The origin state or foreign country, if known. If the origin is not known, that fact must …