Home Manufactured Pet Foods/Treats: What You Need to Know
Virginia treats homemade pet foods and pet treats as commercial feed — not cottage food. If you bake dog biscuits or dehydrate cat treats at home, you need VDACS licensing and product registration before selling, even at a farmers market.
VDACS pet food & treat guide
This VDACS booklet explains what home manufacturers need before producing and selling pet foods or treats in Virginia — licensing, per-product registration, labeling requirements, and basic food safety. Pet treats are popular at farmers markets, but they are regulated separately from Virginia's home food processor (cottage food) exemption.
Open official VDACS PDFAlso see Virginia Cooperative Extension publication FST-322 for farmers market context. Confirm current fees and forms on vdacs.virginia.gov.
Key requirements at a glance
Obtain a Virginia Commercial Feed License
Every pet food or treat producer in Virginia needs a Commercial Feed License from VDACS Office of Plant Industry Services. Annual fees range from $35 to $50 depending on product type. The license covers the calendar year (January 1 – December 31) and must be renewed annually.
Feed license application (PDF) →Decide how you will sell at market
Your sales format determines registration fees. Bulk/self-serve bins require an annual tonnage fee ($0.07/ton, $35 minimum). Pre-packaged products sold in packages of 10 pounds or less require separate registration at $50 per distinct product (e.g., beef vs. chicken, or small vs. large dog formulas each count separately).
Register your product(s)
Submit product registration through the same VDACS feed registration application. Each pre-packaged product flavor or animal-size variant needs its own registration. Registrations renew annually.
Product registration application (PDF) →Follow good manufacturing practices
Virginia does not require facility inspection for home pet treat producers, but you must follow good manufacturing practices outlined in federal regulations (21 CFR Part 110) — proper hygiene, cleaning and sanitizing, approved ingredient suppliers, and validated processes.
Label every package correctly
Each package needs a compliant label before sale. See the labeling checklist below.
Sell safely at the farmers market
Refrigerated products must stay at 41°F (5°C) or below. Dry treats store in clean, covered containers at room temperature. Limit customer handling; provide tongs or serving spoons. Post your handling policy if needed.
Label checklist
- Statement of identity (brand/product name)
- Animal species the food is intended for — front label must say "This food/treat is made for [dogs/cats/etc.]"
- Net quantity (weight for solids, volume for liquids, with metric equivalent)
- Ingredients in descending order by weight
- Guaranteed analysis: crude protein (min), crude fat (min), crude fiber (max), moisture (max) — a process authority or private lab can provide this
- Nutritional adequacy statement for complete pet foods; treats should state "For intermittent or supplemental feeding only" or "Not a complete food"
- Manufacturer name and address
Food safety essentials
- Practice proper hand hygiene before and during production
- Clean and sanitize equipment and surfaces before and after each batch
- Buy ingredients from approved, reputable suppliers
- Salmonella can contaminate pet treats and sicken both pets and owners
- Store refrigerated products below 41°F; dry treats below 80°F in a cool, dry place
Not cottage food: Virginia's home food processor exemption covers human shelf-stable baked goods and similar products — not pet treats. If you only sell human cottage foods, see the Virginia state guide. If you also make pet treats, you need the feed license path described above.