Pet Supplement Label Requirements in Canada and the US

Pet supplement label requirements depend on the country. In Canada, most pet supplements in dosage form are veterinary health products (VHPs), so the label must carry the statement “Veterinary Health Product / Produit de santé animale”, a lot number and an expiry date. In the US, a pet supplement is regulated as animal food or a drug, so food labelling rules apply.

Key takeaways

• Pet supplement label requirements start with the product’s legal category in each country.
• In Canada, a VHP label must show “Veterinary Health Product / Produit de santé animale” on the main panel of the inner and outer label.
• Health Canada must receive your VHP notification at least 30 days before you start selling.
• In the US, FDA says the dietary supplement law (DSHEA) doesn’t apply to animal products, so a pet supplement is either food or a drug.
• A US label for a product you didn’t make yourself must say “Manufactured for” or “Distributed by” before your name.

Founders often design the bag first and check the rules second. That order costs money, because a reprint after the first run is the most expensive way to learn the rules. This guide puts the pet supplement label requirements for both countries side by side, then gives you a checklist to run before anything goes to print.

Pet supplement label requirements in Canada

Health Canada describes VHPs as low-risk drugs in dosage form. They maintain or promote the health and welfare of companion and food-producing animals. They are not for treating, curing or preventing disease. Typical ingredients include vitamins, minerals and traditional medicines, and every active ingredient must appear on List C. The Veterinary Health Products page sets out the program.

Canadian pet supplement label requirements come from the Food and Drug Regulations. Section C.01.614 requires the VHP statement on the principal display panel of the inner and outer label. The general drug label rules in section C.01.004 then add the rest:

• Main panel: the proper or common name of the product.
• Any panel: the name and address of the manufacturer, the lot number, adequate directions for use, a quantitative list of the medicinal ingredients, and the expiration date.
• Outer label: the net amount, by weight, measure or number.
• List C statements: some ingredients need set wording. Health Canada’s example is “Do not use in pregnant or lactating animals.”

As for language, section A.01.015 says required label text must appear in English or French. The directions for use must be in both languages if the product sells without a prescription from an open shelf. Most pet stores and online shops fit that description, so plan for bilingual directions.

The VHP notification comes before the label

Your pet supplement label requirements and your notification have to match. Under section C.01.615, the manufacturer or importer notifies Health Canada at least 30 days before the first sale. The notification lists the brand name, the dosage form, the strength per dosage unit, the route of administration, the ingredients, the species, and the recommended use. Any change to that information also needs notice 30 days before you sell the changed product.

So if your label says “for dogs and cats” but your notification says dogs only, you have a problem. Settle the species, dose and use wording first, then write the label from the same document. Our guide to pet supplement manufacturing in Canada covers the wider setup.

Pet supplement label requirements in the US

The US works differently. FDA’s page on how it regulates pet food says DSHEA doesn’t apply to animal products. A pet supplement is therefore either animal food or an animal drug, depending on its ingredients and intended use. A claim about normal structure or function that comes from nutrition generally stays in food territory. A claim to treat or prevent a disease makes the product a drug, and most animal drugs need FDA approval before sale.

For animal food, the federal pet supplement label requirements sit in 21 CFR Part 501:

1. Statement of identity on the principal display panel, using the common or usual name or a descriptive term (501.3).
2. Net quantity of contents on the principal display panel, by weight for solids and by fluid measure for liquids (501.105).
3. Ingredients by common or usual name, in descending order of predominance by weight (501.4).
4. Name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor. If you didn’t make the product, qualify your name with a phrase such as “Manufactured for” or “Distributed by” (501.5).

States also regulate pet food, and many use model language from AAFCO. FDA notes that AAFCO is a voluntary group with no regulatory authority of its own, so check the rules in the states where you sell.

Pet supplement label requirements side by side

The table shows why one label rarely meets both sets of pet supplement label requirements. The Canadian label is built around medicinal ingredients and doses, while the US food label is built around a full ingredient list by weight. Many brands run two versions of the same bag. Others use one bag with a larger back panel that holds both layouts, which works if your designer plans for it early.

A 9-point pre-print checklist

Run this before you approve any label proof. It covers the pet supplement label requirements above plus the mistakes we see most often in client artwork.

1. Category. Does the Canadian version carry the VHP statement on the main panel of every label?
2. Notification match. Do the species, dose, form and use wording match your VHP notification word for word?
3. Ingredients. Does the Canadian list show amounts per dose, and does the US list run in order by weight?
4. Company line. Does the US label say “Manufactured for” or “Distributed by” before your name?
5. Net quantity. Is it on the main panel for the US and on the outer label for Canada?
6. Lot and expiry. Is there a clear space for the lot number and expiry date, ideally printed at packing time?
7. Directions. Are the Canadian directions in English and French?
8. Claims. Does any sentence promise to treat, cure or prevent a condition? If so, remove it.
9. Space. Does the text fit at a readable size on the smallest pack you plan to sell?

Point 6 trips up many small brands. Lot numbers and expiry dates change with every run, so don’t print them into the artwork. Leave a blank box and let the packing line add them. Point 8 matters in both countries, because disease wording moves a product out of the low-risk category.

A worked example: one soft chew, two labels

Here is how the pet supplement label requirements play out for one product. Say you plan a hip and joint soft chew for dogs, sold in Canada and on a US marketplace. In Canada, the front of the pouch shows the brand, the product name, the VHP statement and the dosage form. The back shows the medicinal ingredients per chew, the directions in English and French, the lot number, the expiry date and your company address.

In the US, the front shows the statement of identity and the net weight. The back lists every ingredient by weight, from the largest to the smallest, plus “Manufactured for” and your business address. Keep any joint wording to normal structure and function, and avoid naming a disease. For format choices, see our guide to pet supplement formats.

Related guides

• Pet supplement formats: soft chews, powders and liquids: pick the format before you design the label.
• Private label dog supplements: formats and minimums: plan your first run size and pack.
• How to launch a pet supplement brand in Canada: the steps around the label, from idea to shelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the pet supplement label requirements in Canada?

Most pet supplements in dosage form are veterinary health products. The label needs “Veterinary Health Product / Produit de santé animale” on the main panel, plus the product name, manufacturer name and address, lot number, directions, medicinal ingredients with amounts, expiry date and net amount. Some ingredients also need set warning statements from List C.

Do pet supplements need FDA approval in the US?

Not if they are sold as animal food with normal nutrition claims. FDA treats pet supplements as either food or drugs, depending on the ingredients and intended use. A claim to treat or prevent a disease makes the product a drug, and most animal drugs need approval before sale.

Do I need a lot number on a pet supplement label?

In Canada, yes, because the drug label rules require a lot number and an expiration date. The US animal food rules in Part 501 don’t list one. Still, a lot number on every pack makes it far easier to trace a complaint or run a recall.

Can one label meet pet supplement label requirements in both countries?

Sometimes, but it takes planning. The Canadian label centres on medicinal ingredients and needs bilingual directions, while the US label needs a full ingredient list by weight. Many brands use two versions, or one larger pack that holds both layouts.

How early should I notify Health Canada about a VHP?

At least 30 days before your first sale. The same 30-day notice applies before you sell a product whose notified details have changed.

When you’re ready to turn your label plan into a finished product, request a quote on our pet supplement OEM page.