Pet-food label-compliance matrix — US / EU / CN / KR / JP / CA
Cross-border / e-commerce label-compliance reference: 6 jurisdictions (🇺🇸 US, 🇪🇺 EU, 🇨🇳 CN, 🇰🇷 KR, 🇯🇵 JP, 🇨🇦 CA) × 20 label dimensions. Built purely by integrating existing in-site first-hand topics — no new primary source is cited. Each cell states the rule and the src: topic_id it is drawn from. Dimensions where no in-site topic covers a jurisdiction are marked — (honest gap), never backfilled from second-hand sources.
> Method note: this is a derived aggregation (derived_from_dataset); the cited topics are themselves C1-verified against first-hand statute/regulation/standard text. Cells are short factual summaries, not verbatim quotes. Re-verify each cited topic for the authoritative wording.
The matrix
| # | Dimension | 🇺🇸 US | 🇪🇺 EU | 🇨🇳 CN | 🇰🇷 KR | 🇯🇵 JP | 🇨🇦 CA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mandatory label items | FPLA identity+net qty+responsible firm; AAFCO Model fills GA/adequacy/feeding (FDA_petfood_labeling_FPLA, AAFCO_labeling_99_lifecycle) | Reg 767/2009 Art 15/17/19: type, operator, batch, net qty, additives, species, storage life, composition (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | MOA Ann.20 Annex 3 Art 3 = 12 mandatory items (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Annex 15-2 common matters: name, ingredient-reg no., net wt, mfr/importer, dates (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Pet Food Safety Act: 5 mandatory (name, best-before, ingredients, origin, operator) (jp-label-2026_001) | SOR/2024-132 s.45: name, mfr/registrant, ID code, net amt, GA, directions, reg no. (CA_FEED_LABELING) |
| 2 | Guaranteed analysis format | AAFCO Model GA (crude protein/fat/fiber/moisture+minerals) (AAFCO_guaranteed_analysis) | Annex VII crude protein/fibre/fat/ash (pets) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 产品成分分析保证值 mandatory (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Nutrient standards set; GA not a dedicated label rule (KR_byeolpyo_complete_feed_standards) | Voluntary under Fair Competition Code (jp-label-2026_001) | Nutrient Guarantees & Conditions tables (cfia_nutrient_tables_001) |
| 3 | Nutritional standard reference | AAFCO nutrient profiles (state-adopted) (AAFCO_FEDIAF_2013_2025_nutrient_standard_evolution) | No legal min levels; FEDIAF guidelines referenced (FEDIAF_2025_dog_adult_maintenance) | GB/T 31216 + NY/T 4838-2025 (dog); GB/T 31217 + NY/T 4839-2025 (cat) (CN_GB31216_2014_complete_dog_food) | NIAS 2024 nutrient standards (nias_nutrient_001) | Safety Act component standards (第五条) (jp_petfood_safety_act_full_standards) | CFIA RG-1 / nutrient tables (CA_CFIA_RG1_pet_food_overview) |
| 4 | Ingredient list rules | AAFCO Ch.6 definitions; descending order (AAFCO_Ch6_full_ingredient_definitions) | Composition descending by weight; Feed Catalogue (EU_feed_catalogue_Reg_68_2013) | 原料组成 descending weight; names match 目录 (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Descending order; <2% may be unordered (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Ingredient names mandatory (③) (jp-label-2026_001) | Standards/schedule; ingredient list (CFIA_SOR_V3_SECTIONS_008→CA_FEED_ADDITIVES_CONTAMINANTS) |
| 5 | Net quantity | FPLA net quantity (501.105) (FDA_petfood_labeling_FPLA) | Mandatory, mass for solids (Art 15) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 净含量 mandatory (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Actual weight g/mL/L (Art 3) (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Voluntary (Fair Competition Code) (jp-label-2026_001) | Mandatory net amount (s.45) (CA_FEED_LABELING) |
| 6 | Manufacturer / distributor id & address | Name & place of business (501.5) (FDA_CFR21_part501_labeling) | Responsible operator name+address; establishment no. (Art 15) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 生产企业名称及地址 mandatory (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Mfr/importer name, address, tel (Art 3) (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Operator name & address (⑤) (jp-label-2026_001) | Mfr/registrant name & address (s.45) (CA_FEED_LABELING) |
| 7 | Lot / batch number | No dedicated federal topic (AAFCO/CFR model implies) — partial (ECFR_pet_food_labeling_AAFCO) | Mandatory batch/lot ref (Art 15) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | Not a standalone label item (batch tracing in supervision reg) — partial (CN_petfood_supervision_2021) | Date of manufacture/import + expiry; batch not explicit — partial (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Not in the 5 mandatory items — gap (jp-label-2026_001) | "Identification code" named, not batch/lot — partial (CA_FEED_LABELING) |
| 8 | Production / expiry date | Best-by under AAFCO model; no dedicated federal topic — partial (AAFCO_labeling_99_lifecycle) | "Best before"/"use before" (Art 17) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 生产日期 + 保质期 mandatory (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Date of manufacture/import + expiration mandatory (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | 賞味期限 (best-before) mandatory (②) (jp-label-2026_001) | Not a named mandatory line — partial (CA_FEED_LABELING) |
| 9 | Storage / handling | AAFCO model labeling — partial (AAFCO_labeling_99_lifecycle) | Storage life + instructions for proper use (Art 17) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 贮存条件 + 注意事项 (ruminant warning) mandatory (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Precautions mandatory (Art 3) (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Not a listed mandatory item — partial (jp_petfood_safety_act_full_standards) | Not a mandatory label line — partial (CFIA_SOR_V3_SECTIONS_009) |
| 10 | Feeding guidelines | Feeding directions via AAFCO Model (AAFCO_feeding_trial_vs_formulated) | Instructions for proper use (Art 17) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 使用说明 mandatory (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Feed purpose with age/species (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Voluntary (給与方法) (jp-label-2026_001) | Directions for use as applicable (s.45) (CA_FEED_LABELING) |
| 11 | Species / life-stage claim | "Complete & balanced" + life-stage via AAFCO (AAFCO_labeling_99_lifecycle) | Life-stage assumption rules; complete vs complementary (FEDIAF_labeling_format) | 通用名称 must show species+life stage; snacks=宠物零食 (CN_label_22_items_detail) | Complete/other + purpose with age/species (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Name must state 犬用/猫用 (jp-label-2026_001) | Pet food under feed regs; RG-1 guidance — partial (CA_CFIA_RG1_pet_food_overview) |
| 12 | Health / function claims | Misbranding rules; disease claims restricted (ECFR_human_grade_claims) | PARNUT/disease-risk-reduction claims Reg 2020/354 — partial (EU_2020_354_overview_PARNUT_directive) | 3 claim categories; disease-prevention claims prohibited (CN_function_claim_3_categories) | Disease claims banned; permitted expressions (KR_functional_health_claims) | Safety Act emphasizes standards, not claim subst. — partial (PRESCRIPTION_DIET_WSAVA_GUIDANCE) | Permissible Claims Tables 1–3 (cfia_claims_tables_001) |
| 13 | Organic / natural / GMO claims | "Natural" (AAFCO Ch.6) + human-grade; no dedicated organic/GMO — partial (ECFR_human_grade_claims) | No dedicated EU pet-food organic/natural/GMO topic — gap | 天然/低脂肪 characteristic claims covered (CN_function_claim_3_categories) | Organic (Environment-Friendly Agriculture Act) + natural rules (KR_functional_health_claims) | No JP organic/natural/GMO label topic — gap | Claims tables include conditions; no dedicated organic/GMO — partial (cfia_claims_tables_001) |
| 14 | Country of origin marking | Not federally mandated for pet food — gap | Not required by Reg 767/2009 — not mandated (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | Not a standalone mandatory item (import context only) — partial (CN_imported_petfood_registration) | Exporting country + mfr name for imported feeds (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Mandatory 原産国名 (④), repack ≠ origin (jp-label-2026_001) | Not required — not mandated (CA_FEED_LABELING) |
| 15 | Language requirement | No federal bilingual mandate (FDA_petfood_labeling_FPLA) | Official language of Member State where placed (Art 14) (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 标签应当以中文 (Art 21/23) (cn_feed_reg_2011_art_21) | Korean as a rule; foreign scripts ≤ Korean font (Art 4.a) (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Japanese mandatory for the 5 items (jp-label-2026_001) | Bilingual English/French mandatory (CA_bilingual_labeling_requirements) |
| 16 | Import registration / reg. no. on label | No federal pet-food registration (state-level) — partial (ECFR_pet_food_state_registration) | Establishment approval no. where applicable (Art 15) — partial (EU_petfood_labeling_2022) | 许可证明文件编号 + 产品标准编号 mandatory (CN_label_22_items_detail) | 성분등록번호 + import registration (KR_imported_petfood_registration) | Importer/manufacturer obligations (jp_petfood_safety_act_registration) | Registration no. as applicable (s.45/6) (CFIA_SOR_V3_SECTIONS_006) |
| 17 | Allergen declaration | Covered (allergen labeling topic) (US_petfood_allergen_labeling) | Only "allergen-free" claim rules, no mandatory list — partial (FEDIAF_2025_allergen_free_claims) | Ingredient list only; no dedicated allergen topic — gap | Ingredient list only — gap | Ingredient names only — gap | Claims tables, not allergen list — gap |
| 18 | Additive / preservative labeling | CFR 573/582 + color additives (ECFR_pet_food_additive_CFR573) | Additives heading; functional groups Reg 1831/2003 (eu_reg_1831_2003_article_6_categories_functional_groups) | 添加剂组成 + positive list (CN_pet_food_additives_positive_list) | Vet medicinal additive content (KR_petfood_labeling_korean) | Additive limits (FAMIC) — partial (jp_petfood_safety_act_full_standards) | Medicated feed + GA; contaminants (CA_FEED_ADDITIVES_CONTAMINANTS) |
| 19 | Pet-food vs livestock-feed distinction | CVM oversight distinguishes (FDA_CVM_petfood_oversight) | Art 15/17 distinguish; authorised "pet food" expression (eu_2026_2279_pet_labelling_expression) | 宠物配合饲料 vs 宠物零食 (CN_petfood_supervision_2021) | Complete feed vs snack defined (KR_byeolpyo_complete_feed_standards) | Pet food defined in Act (jp_petfood_safety_act_full_standards) | Pet food under feed regs; exemptions (s.4) (CA_CFIA_RG1_pet_food_overview) |
| 20 | Penalty / non-compliance | FDA import refusals for misbranding; state penalties — partial (fda_oasis_refusals_misbranding_and_labeling_requirements_2026) | No dedicated EU pet-label penalty topic — gap | Non-compliant label Art 41; inconsistent-with-label Art 46 (cn_feed_reg_2011_art_39) | Art 31 penalty provisions; Art 33 admin fines (kr_control_fao_031) | Sale prohibited if non-conforming; recall (jp_petfood_safety_act_prohibition) | Seizure/detention (s.17); import penalties — partial (CFIA_SOR_V3_SECTIONS_017) |
Honest gaps (no in-site topic, per jurisdiction)
- Allergen declaration: covered only for 🇺🇸 US; missing for EU (claim rules only) / CN / KR / JP / CA.
- Organic / natural / GMO claims: dedicated topic only for 🇨🇳 CN (characteristic claims) & 🇰🇷 KR; gap/partial elsewhere.
- Country of origin: mandatory only in 🇯🇵 JP; "not mandated" in 🇪🇺 EU & 🇨🇦 CA; gap/partial in 🇺🇸 US / 🇨🇳 CN / 🇰🇷 KR.
- Lot/batch number: solid only in 🇪🇺 EU; partial/gap elsewhere.
- EU penalty: no dedicated EU pet-label penalty topic (enforced via general feed-law infringements) — gap.
- JP/KR/CA guaranteed analysis: JP & KR list GA as voluntary / no dedicated format topic; CA has a format.
Cross-jurisdiction references
- Therapeutic / veterinary prescription diets (vet-directed, all jurisdictions):
PRESCRIPTION_DIET_WSAVA_GUIDANCE - US↔EU nutrient-standard evolution:
AAFCO_FEDIAF_2013_2025_nutrient_standard_evolution - Existing SA/KR/JP/CA/UK/FR verbatim clause matrix (overlaps KR/JP/CA):
CROSS_BORDER_LABEL_COMPLIANCE_MATRIX
Data status
Derived aggregation of 57 existing in-site first-hand topics (all C1-verified). No new primary source. Cells citing a topic_id are traceable to that topic's first-hand text. Gaps are marked, not fabricated.