Jordan Enforces Feedstuffs and Pet Nutrition Standards for Dogs and Cats

Jordan has established mandatory safety and nutritional standards for feedstuffs and feed additives intended for dogs and cats, ensuring compliance with quality and safety benchmarks.

Compliance Overview: Mandatory Safety and Nutritional Standards for Dog and Cat Feedstuffs in Jordan

Jordan has established DJS 2411:2026 – Feedstuffs and feed additives — Food for Dogs and Cats, a mandatory standard governing the safety, nutritional composition, and labeling of manufactured pet food (dry, wet, and semi-wet formulations) and feed additives (e.g., vitamin and trace mineral mixtures) for dogs and cats. The regulation is enforced by the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization (JSMO) and aligns with animal health objectives under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS)^{1, 2}.

Regulation Analysis

1. Scope and Covered Products

The standard applies to:

• Manufactured pet food: Dry, wet, and semi-wet formulations for dogs and cats^{1, 2}.
• Feed additives: Vitamins and trace minerals incorporated into pet food¹.
• Tariff/ICS classification:
  • HS Code 2309: Preparations used in animal feeding¹.
  • ICS Code 65.120: Animal feeding stuffs^{1, 2}.

Exclusions: The regulation does not cover raw or unprocessed feedstuffs (e.g., fresh meat, bones) unless explicitly formulated as part of a manufactured product¹.

2. Key Requirements

A. Safety Standards

• Microbiological limits: Adherence to permissible thresholds for contaminants (e.g., Salmonella, E. coli), likely referencing the Saudi Standard SFDA.FD/2017 for microbiological criteria^{1, 2}.
• Chemical contaminants: Maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides, heavy metals (e.g., lead, arsenic), and mycotoxins (e.g., aflatoxins)¹. Specific thresholds are not detailed in the sources but are implied under "safety benchmarks."
• Prohibited substances: No explicit list provided in the sources, but the standard prohibits ingredients harmful to animal health¹.

B. Nutritional Standards

• Mandatory nutrients: Pet food must contain specified levels of vitamins (e.g., A, D, E) and trace minerals (e.g., zinc, iron, copper)¹.
• Labeling requirements:
  • Nutritional adequacy statement: Must declare whether the product meets the dietary needs for a pet’s life stage (e.g., growth, adult maintenance, gestation/lactation)¹.
  • Ingredient list: All components must be listed in descending order by weight¹.
  • Guaranteed analysis: Minimum/maximum percentages of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture¹.
  • Feeding instructions: Recommended serving sizes based on pet weight/age¹.
• Additives: Vitamins and trace minerals must comply with purity and stability criteria¹.

C. Manufacturing and Packaging

• Hygiene controls: Manufacturing facilities must implement Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to prevent contamination¹.
• Packaging: Must preserve product integrity and prevent spoilage. No specific materials are mandated in the sources¹.
• Traceability: Batch/lot numbers must be included on packaging for recall purposes¹.

D. Import/Export Compliance

• Pre-market approval: Importers must submit product documentation (e.g., certificates of analysis, ingredient lists) to JSMO for verification^{1, 2}.
• Certification: Products must bear a conformity mark (e.g., JSMO certification) prior to market entry².
• Inspections: Random sampling and testing of imported/locally produced pet food may occur at ports of entry or retail outlets¹.

3. Regulatory Timeline and Process

Comment Period: Stakeholders (e.g., manufacturers, importers, industry associations) may submit feedback to JSMO or the Ministry of Agriculture until 13 September 2026^{1, 2}.

4. Enforcement and Penalties

• Non-compliance consequences:
  • Product recalls: Mandatory for products failing safety/nutritional standards¹.
  • Fines: Not specified in the sources, but likely imposed under Jordan’s Consumer Protection Law No. 7 of 2017 or Standards and Metrology Law.
  • Import bans: Non-compliant shipments may be rejected at customs¹.
• Authorities:
  • JSMO: Primary regulator for standards compliance and certification^{1, 2}.
  • Ministry of Agriculture: Oversees animal health aspects and may conduct inspections¹.
  • Customs Department: Enforces import controls at borders¹.

5. International Alignment

• No direct adoption of international standards: Jordan’s regulation does not conform to Codex Alimentarius, OIE, or IPPC standards¹.
• Comparative references: The standard cites Egyptian (ES 8447/2021), Indian (IS 11968:2019), and Saudi (SFDA.FD/2017) standards for context, but deviations (e.g., stricter microbiological limits) are possible¹.

Summary Answer

Jordan’s DJS 2411:2026 establishes mandatory safety and nutritional standards for manufactured dog and cat food, including dry, wet, and semi-wet formulations, as well as feed additives like vitamins and trace minerals. Key requirements include microbiological and chemical contaminant limits^{1, 2}, nutritional adequacy labeling¹, and pre-market certification for imports². The regulation is enforced by JSMO and the Ministry of Agriculture, with a proposed entry into force on 1 December 2026². Stakeholders may submit comments until 13 September 2026^{1, 2}. While the standard references international benchmarks (e.g., Saudi SFDA.FD/2017), it does not directly adopt them¹. Non-compliance may result in recalls, fines, or import bans¹. All trading partners are affected¹.

Sources

1. ↩ Feedstuffs and feed additives – Food for Dogs and Cats https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/SPS/NJOR47.docx
2. ↩ DJS 2411:2026 –Feedstuffs and feed additives — Food for Dogs and Cats https://docs.wto.org/imrd/directdoc.asp?DDFDocuments/T/G/TBTN26/JOR97.docx