DLG Directives for the testing of pet food

Dog and cat food (dry and wet food)
As of 01/2017

The tests comprise a physicochemical examination of the ingredients declared as well as an assessment of the declaration with regards to its legal compliance. The requirements for the individual parameters are detailed in the document “DLG Requirements Quality Seal Pet Food“ and are subject to the legal requirements according to Regulation (EG) 767/2009 on the marketing and use of feed, in particular Annex IV in conjunction with Regulation (EU) No. 939/2010.
 

1 Test criteria
1.1 Ingredients:

  • Fat content, protein, crude fibre, crude ash
  • Calcium, phosphorus (calcium/phosphorus-relation)
  • Dry substance (moisture content)
  • Energy content (arithmetically determined)

 

1.2 Additives:

The tests are adapted to the declaration and claims and may cover the following test parameters:

  • copper
  • zinc
  • manganese
  • iron
  • selenium
  • Jod
  • vitamin A
  • vitamin D3
  • vitamin E
  • vitamin C
  • vitamin B1
  • vitamin B2
  • vitamin B6
  • vitamin B12
  • Nicotinsäure
  • Folic acid
  • pantothenic acid
  • biotine
  • L-Carnitine
  • cholin chloride
  • taurine
  • omega-3-fatty acids
  • omega-6 fatty acids

 

1.3 Fulfilment of the nutritional needs of complete feedstuff

  • A nutritional evaluation of the ingredients will be carried out.

 

2. Test methods
The tests are subject to the applicable authoritative test methods.


3. Requirements

fat content, protein, fat content, crude ash, calcium, phosphorus:
The requirements are deemed to have been met if the analytically determined contents of the declared values do not differ from the tolerances stated in Regulation (EU) No.. 939/2010 in conjunction with Annex IV Part A of Regulation (EG) 767/2009. Further analytical latitudes will not be considered.

Energy content:
The estimation of metabolic energy (ME) contents is calculated in accordance with the specifications of the “Proceedings of the Society of Nutrition Physiology 2003”.
The pet food’s energy content, which was arithmetically determined from the analytical test, is informally communicated and provides the basis for the evaluation of the nutrition physiology.

Additives:
The requirements are deemed to have been met if the analytically determined contents of the declared values do not differ from the tolerances stated in Regulation (EU) No.. 939/2010 in conjunction with Annex IV Part B of Regulation (EG) 767/2009.
Further analytical latitudes can be considered.
The following allowances will be accepted as a result of native contents and higher dosage (due to long best-before date):

  • vitamin A: + 3,5fold declaration
  • vitamin D3, vitamin E: + ½ declaration
  • copper: + 5 mg
  • zinc: + 30 mg

Fulfillment of nutritional needs:
The requirements for the coverage of nutrional needs are deemed to have been met, if the specifications of the “Nutritional Guidelines of Fédération européenne de l´industrie des aliments pour animaux familiers” in the latest version are observed.
Further analytical latitudes can be considered.

 

4. Evaluations and information to the applicant, resp. user of the quality seal
Considering the requirements defined in point 3, the products will be evaluated as follows:


4.1 Laboratory analysis
4.1.1 Deceedance

In case of a deviation from the deceeding level: The requirement will be considered as not being fulfilled. The product will be rejected

4.1.2 Exceedance
a) Parameters with a legally determined maximum content

  • In case of a deviation from the exceeding level and if legally determined maximum contents are exceeded: The requirement will be considered as not being fulfilled. The product will be rejected.
  • In case of a deviation from the exceeding level, which is still below the maximum content: The requirement will be considered as fulfilled. The applicant, resp. user of the quality seal will be notified.


b) Parameters without a legally determined maximum content
fat content, protein, crude fibre, crude ash, calcium, phosphorus, moisture (if necessary, further ingredients)

  • In case of a deviation from the exceeding level: The requirement will be considered as not being fulfilled. The product will be rejected.

c) Other parameters

  • In case of a deviation from the exceeding level: The requirement will be considered as fulfilled. The applicant, resp. user of the quality seal will be notified.

4.2 Fulfillment of nutritional needs

  • In case of a deviation from the deceeding or exceeding level: The requirement will be considered as not being fulfilled. The product will be rejected.