What Pet Product Safety Standards Actually Cover

Last Updated: August 31, 2026 by Ecommerce Review Hub

Most pet owners assume that if a product is on the shelf, or on a product listing page, it has cleared some meaningful safety threshold. The reality is considerably more complicated. Pet product safety standards vary dramatically by product category, regulatory body, and geography, and large portions of the market operate in a regulatory space with no mandatory federal requirements at all. At Ecommerce Review Hub, we evaluate pet products across dozens of categories, and one of the most common questions we encounter is a simple one: what do safety standards actually cover? This guide answers that question by walking through how the current regulatory landscape works, where its gaps are, and what signals shoppers and brands should pay attention to.

What Pet Product Safety Standards Actually Are

The phrase "safety standards" means something different depending on the product type. For pet food, it refers primarily to FDA oversight and AAFCO guidelines governing ingredients, labeling, and manufacturing conditions. For non-edible products, toys, harnesses, beds, collars, it refers to a patchwork of voluntary standards borrowed from adjacent categories, retailer requirements, and in some cases no enforceable standard at all. Unlike children's products, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), pet products have no federal body overseeing their design or safety. The FDA only covers pet foods and edible items, while everything else, from toys to harnesses to crates, currently functions without regulation. That's a meaningful gap for a category that generates billions in annual sales and involves products that go directly into an animal's mouth, around its neck, or into its sleeping space.

Why the Regulatory Gap in Pet Products Matters in 2026

The scale of the market makes the absence of dedicated oversight difficult to ignore. The global market for pet toys was estimated to be nearly $3 billion in 2021, yet there are zero international standards for this growing category. Since then, the category has only grown. In the United States, federal oversight of pet toys is limited. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has broad authority to act on consumer products that pose unreasonable risks, but there is no dedicated mandatory safety standard for pet toys. The result is a compliance environment where this regulatory gap does not mean anything goes, it means that the compliance burden is more fragmented, more driven by retailer requirements, and, in the absence of a clear legal minimum, more dependent on brands proactively demonstrating that their products are safe. For shoppers trying to make informed decisions on ecommerce platforms, that fragmentation is the core challenge. At Ecommerce Review Hub, understanding these structural issues informs how we assess and present product safety information in our reviews.

What Pet Food Safety Standards Cover

Pet food is the most regulated segment of the market, though even here the framework is shared across multiple agencies and isn't without its own complications. The Food and Drug Administration regulates pet food similar to that for other animal foods. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled.

Ingredients and Labeling

Pet food labeling is regulated at two levels. The current FDA regulations require proper identification of the product, net quantity statement, name and place of business of the manufacturer or distributor, and proper listing of all the ingredients in the product from most to least, based on weight. Nutritional standards sit with a separate body. In the United States, pet food regulation is a cooperative effort between federal and state agencies. The FDA regulates the safety of pet food ingredients and finished products, ensuring they are free from harmful toxins and bacteria. However, the nutritional standards are largely established by AAFCO.

What AAFCO Governs, and What It Doesn't

AAFCO's role is widely misunderstood. AAFCO does not directly test, regulate, approve, or certify pet foods to make sure they meet standard requirements. Instead, they establish guidelines for ingredient definitions, product labels, feeding trials, and laboratory analyses of the nutrients that go into pet foods. Pet food companies then use third-party testing agencies to analyze their foods according to AAFCO guidelines. This means the "AAFCO statement" on a pet food label is a manufacturer self-affirmation, not a government-issued certification. Nutritional adequacy standards established by AAFCO must be met or exceeded for a pet food to be marketed as "complete and balanced" for a certain life stage. What AAFCO governs most concretely is ingredient naming: ingredients must be listed in descending order according to their weight, with the first ingredient listed accounting for the most weight in a product. All ingredients must be listed by their AAFCO-established names and definitions. This lets consumers compare products objectively.

Manufacturing Conditions

Beyond labeling, safety standards also touch production environments. The AAFCO Model Good Manufacturing Practices impose requirements including that employees who receive, store, manufacture, process, package, label, sample, transport, or distribute feed or feed ingredients must be trained to do the job they are responsible for. The building and grounds where animal feed is made must be built so they can be cleaned and must be kept clean. Chemicals, lubricants, pesticides, fertilizers, and cleaning compounds unapproved for use in feed must be stored to minimize contamination and adulteration risks. Even with these frameworks in place, recalls remain a recurring issue. Most recalls trace back to a small set of recurring risks, pathogen contamination, nutrient imbalances, and foreign material remain the most consistent sources of recall risk in pet food production.

What Non-Edible Pet Product Standards Cover

For toys, harnesses, beds, collars, and other hardgoods, the standard-setting picture is fundamentally different. There is no equivalent of the FDA or AAFCO. Instead, manufacturers work with a fragmented mix of voluntary standards, retailer mandates, and material-specific regulations.

Borrowed Standards from Children's Products

In practice, many pet product manufacturers voluntarily apply children's toy safety standards to their products. There are standards that are relevant to certain pet products based on their characteristics. These include ASTM F963-17, the Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety, and although ASTM F963 applies to children's toys, manufacturers can elect to apply the standard's requirements to pet toys, as they are ultimately required to supply only safe products. ASTM F963 covers mechanical and physical hazards including small parts, sharp edges, structural integrity, and substance restrictions, all concerns that apply to pet products just as much as children's toys.

Chemical and Material Restrictions

Chemical safety is one area where pet products do encounter enforceable requirements. While there is no single mandatory standard for pet toys at the federal level, several regulatory frameworks are relevant. The EPA's chemical reporting requirements under TSCA Section 8(a)(7) extend to manufacturers and importers of articles containing PFAS and other restricted substances. As TSCA enforcement expands, pet toy supply chains are increasingly in scope. California's Proposition 65 adds another layer: products sold in California that contain chemicals on the Prop 65 list above threshold levels require warning labels. In the EU, the General Product Safety Regulation 2023/988, applicable since December 2024, requires that consumer products placed on the EU market are safe and traceable, and REACH Annex XVII restrictions can also apply to pet products.

Electronic Pet Products and Battery Regulations

For tech-enabled pet products, smart feeders, interactive toys, GPS collars, additional rules kick in. Button cell battery regulations under 16 CFR Part 1263 apply to electronic pet toys containing button cell or coin batteries. Given the severe injury risk from battery ingestion, this is a non-negotiable compliance requirement for any electronic pet toy category. This is one area where the CPSC does have clear jurisdiction: even absent CPSC's formal regulation of pet products, the agency oversaw the Pet Zone recalls out of concern for children's safety, likely based on the agency's authority to protect consumers from potential button cell battery hazards.

The Role of Retailer Requirements

In the absence of mandatory federal standards, major retailers have stepped in to set their own benchmarks. Major US retailers including PetSmart, Petco, and Chewy have their own supplier codes that reference ASTM F963 chemical requirements and CPSC guidelines as benchmarks for chemical safety in pet products. Compliance with these retailer codes is effectively mandatory for any brand seeking mainstream distribution. This dynamic is reshaping what safety compliance looks like in practice. Voluntary leadership is emerging through the work of groups like ASTM International's subcommittee on pet products, which is developing safety specifications for both pet toys and in-car pet restraint systems. According to ASTM, the absence of international safety standards for a market segment worth nearly $3 billion is a risk for all stakeholders. As more retailers demand compliance with the kinds of standards used for children's products, voluntary adoption of these specifications may become the norm, and, in practice, a prerequisite for access to major retail channels.

Common Challenges in Pet Product Safety Compliance

The structural complexity of this landscape creates real challenges for both brands and consumers. Ecommerce Review Hub tracks these issues across the product categories we cover.

Misleading Marketing Claims: Some pet product manufacturers use marketing by claiming that a product has "Passed Crash Testing" or that the product is "Crash Tested." Just because a product is crash tested doesn't mean that it passed crash testing. These claims are especially common in the harness and car restraint space.

Supply Chain Opacity: One of the biggest challenges in pet product safety is the opacity of the supply chain. Many brands act as "marketing companies", they design a product in the US, send a sketch to a sourcing agent, and the product is manufactured in a factory they have never visited. Without physical inspections, the brand relies on the factory's word that they used the correct materials.

Consumer Trust Deficits: The data on consumer confidence in this space is stark. Trust remains a big issue as 79% of consumers feel pet product advertising misleads them sometimes or often. As a result, 76% support stronger regulations to ensure product quality and safety. At the same time, research reveals that 93% of pet owners believe companies should be more open about their supply chain and production methods, and about 77% want to know their pet products' ingredients, with 73% needing information about where those ingredients come from.

Recall Fragmentation: When something goes wrong, from tainted treats to unsafe toys, the impact is immediate and profound. These incidents do more than inconvenience customers. They erode consumer trust that brands have spent years building.

What to Look for When Evaluating Pet Product Safety

Given that mandatory standards cover only part of the market, shoppers evaluating products need to go beyond a label or a listing page claim. Ecommerce Review Hub factors each of these criteria into how we assess products across our categories.

Third-Party Testing Documentation: Safe pet products usually go through third-party testing. Look for certifications from recognized groups. A brand that can't produce test reports on request is a brand worth questioning.

AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statements for Food: Look for a nutritional adequacy statement on the package. It should say the food is formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles or that animal feeding tests following AAFCO procedures substantiate the food provides complete and balanced nutrition. The statement will also specify which life stage the food is appropriate for.

Label Transparency: Vague or incomplete labels are a warning sign. Per regulations, product labels are legally mandated to provide information. Labels should have a clear material list, ingredients, country of origin, and be properly translated with no grammatical errors.

Willingness to Support Audits: Unwillingness to support compliance audits or provide safety paperwork is a red flag. If a supplier balks at the idea of an independent audit of their facility, or becomes evasive when asked for specific paperwork, they probably have something to hide.

Material Standards for Hardgoods: In bedding, blankets, and apparel, OEKO-TEX-certified fabrics, which meet strict safety standards for harmful substances, and organic cotton provide a safer alternative for pets with sensitive skin, ensuring comfort without exposure to toxic chemicals.

Retailer and Marketplace Compliance as a Baseline: Brands that have cleared the supplier vetting processes of major pet retailers have cleared at least a baseline threshold. In January 2025, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a Final Order against Amazon, holding the platform accountable as a "distributor" for over 400,000 hazardous products sold by third-party sellers. This order required Amazon to issue full refunds for unsafe items. As a result, Amazon has become far more vigilant about removing brands that pose regulatory risks.

Best Practices for Brands Navigating Pet Product Safety

For brands operating in the pet category, the absence of mandatory standards creates both risk and opportunity. Ecommerce Review Hub recommends the following based on what we see across the brands we cover.

Adopt Voluntary Standards Proactively: If you are a pet product business, adopting ASTM F963 as your manufacturing benchmark is a way to signal to consumers that you take safety seriously. If you are a consumer, looking for these certifications is a reliable way to filter out unsafe products.

Publish Test Evidence: While manufacturers can easily make claims of testing or crash testing, the grand majority of them do not publish their test evidence. Brands that do publish test reports stand out in the current environment.

Vet Suppliers Rigorously: The first step toward ensuring compliance is a supplier vetting process using a formal compliance questionnaire. The questionnaire should cover certifications, lab work, labels, past recalls, and everything in between.

Monitor Regulatory Developments: ASTM's F15.05 subcommittee is actively developing dedicated consumer safety specifications for dog toys. Brands that stay ahead of these emerging standards won't be caught scrambling to comply when they become retailer requirements.

Treat Recall Preparedness as a Safety Investment: Companies should openly share corrective measures such as enhanced testing protocols, supply chain audits, or independent third-party reviews. By highlighting these practices, brands show that they have learned from issues and are taking meaningful steps to protect pets and pet families.

Align to the Strictest Applicable Requirements: For brands exporting to both the US and EU, the practical approach is to test against the strictest applicable requirements from both markets. A single well-structured testing program that covers both frameworks is more efficient than managing separate compliance tracks and reduces the risk of market-specific gaps.

How Ecommerce Review Hub Helps Shoppers Navigate Pet Product Safety

The fragmented state of pet product safety standards is precisely the problem that Ecommerce Review Hub was built to help shoppers navigate. When a product category has no single mandatory standard, and when marketing claims can outpace actual testing, independent product review and evaluation becomes more valuable, not less. Our reviews surface the compliance indicators that matter: whether a pet food brand carries a meaningful AAFCO statement, whether a toy manufacturer has voluntarily adopted ASTM F963, whether a harness brand publishes its crash test methodology. We also flag the red flags, vague labeling, no third-party documentation, and marketing claims that outpace what the testing actually shows. Customers have higher expectations. Pet parents demand transparency and responsible sourcing. Safety is paramount in the crowded online market. While ecommerce continues to grow, pet parents are always trying to find the safest and most reputable online brand. Ecommerce Review Hub gives those pet parents the context they need to tell the difference.

The Future of Pet Product Safety Standards

The gap between the size of the pet product market and the maturity of its regulatory framework is closing, slowly. ASTM's F15.05 subcommittee created the Pet Products Research Group in 2024 and has since raised more than $100,000 for pet safety research. On the food side, legislative and regulatory activity is intensifying. AAFCO has raised concerns about the newly reintroduced Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2025, which it said could negatively affect consumer protection, transparency in pet food labeling, and product safety. The direction of travel is toward more standardization, but the timeline is uncertain. In the meantime, shoppers who understand what current standards do and don't cover are better positioned to make safer purchasing decisions. Ecommerce Review Hub continues to track regulatory developments across pet categories and incorporates evolving compliance benchmarks into how we evaluate products. Explore our pet product reviews to see how individual brands and products measure up against the standards that actually matter.

FAQs About Pet Product Safety Standards

What do pet product safety standards actually cover?

The FDA only covers pet foods and edible items, while everything else, from toys to harnesses to crates, currently functions without regulation. For food, standards govern ingredients, labeling, and manufacturing. For non-edible products, compliance is driven primarily by voluntary standards like ASTM F963, retailer requirements, and material-specific regulations like Prop 65 and TSCA. Ecommerce Review Hub evaluates products against all applicable frameworks to surface which brands are genuinely investing in safety versus which are relying on unverified claims.

Why are there no mandatory safety standards for pet toys in the US?

People are realizing pets aren't just pets anymore, they're like members of families. But despite this cultural shift, the regulatory framework hasn't kept pace. Pet toys are not legally required to meet any specific safety standard in the US or EU, no federal or EU agency oversees them the way children's toys are regulated. Industry groups like ASTM's F15.05 subcommittee are working to fill this gap, but mandatory standards don't yet exist. Ecommerce Review Hub tracks this evolving space closely.

What is AAFCO and does it certify pet food?

AAFCO sets nutritional guidelines and ingredient definitions for pet food but does not itself test or certify products. AAFCO does not directly test, regulate, approve, or certify pet foods. Instead, they establish guidelines for ingredient definitions, product labels, feeding trials, and laboratory analyses of the nutrients that go into pet foods. The AAFCO statement on a label reflects manufacturer self-affirmation. Ecommerce Review Hub explains what these statements mean, and what they don't, in our food and treat category reviews.

How do retailer requirements fill the gap left by regulation?

Major US retailers including PetSmart, Petco, and Chewy have their own supplier codes that reference ASTM F963 chemical requirements and CPSC guidelines as benchmarks for chemical safety in pet products. Compliance with these retailer codes is effectively mandatory for any brand seeking mainstream distribution. Brands selling through these channels have cleared at least a baseline threshold, which is one of the signals Ecommerce Review Hub factors into its product assessments.

What should I look for to identify a safer pet product online?

Safe pet products usually go through third-party testing. Beyond that, look for clear and complete labeling, published test reports, recognizable standards references (ASTM F963, OEKO-TEX, AAFCO nutritional adequacy statements), and a brand willing to be transparent about its manufacturing and supply chain. Ecommerce Review Hub synthesizes these signals across categories so shoppers don't have to parse compliance documents on their own.