PSC implements a tool to track packaging regulations for the pet industry

On May 29, the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC) launched the Packaging Regulation Tracker, a new tool for the pet food industry designed to provide an accessible and responsive overview of the latest packaging requirements that may impact business decisions, all organized by regions for quick and relevant information.

The packaging regulations tracker provides easy access to key regulatory details, insight into how these regulations may impact the pet food business and directions to where to find additional information, said Ali Boden, senior packaging manager at PSC.

“This tool provides a comprehensive list of packaging regulations for the pet industry and can help you determine how they may apply to your pet business and the type of packaging you are working with,” she added. “This simplified approach means you spend less time on research and more time implementing strategic changes that help you reduce costs, stay ahead of compliance needs and identify sustainable growth opportunities.”

The tracker currently covers packaging regulations and policies affecting the pet industry in four key regions: the US, Canada, the UK and the European Union (EU). Future expansion of coverage to non-EU countries, Australia and New Zealand is planned. Each region can be sorted and filtered according to your needs.

Information updated every two years

The coverage reflects PSC’s thorough research, providing an overview of key laws, directives, policies and regulations, as well as resources for further research, Boden said.

“It’s important to remember that in this ever-changing landscape, some information may be out of date, but at least there are resources to find further information,” she explained. “We will update this every two years. The last update was in mid-April, and we aim to do our next major update in mid-October.”

Each region has its own tab in the tracker and provides a complete list of the types of legislation in force in those regions, broken down by state, province or country. It can be further divided by the type of governing body.

In each row, users can find out when the last update occurred, its enactment status, name of the law or act, description/purpose, current status, when it was enacted, when it will be enforced, and more. Boden also explained that there is a breakdown of the implications these bills could have on the pet industry.

“There is a whole section on the type of business likely to be affected by the legislation, broken down within the pet supply chain,” she noted.

There are many laws and regulations regarding packaging in the pet industry. “That’s a lot of information,” Boden said. “We have over 100 regulations in all four regions represented here. It can be very overwhelming, so I’m happy to share this tool in the hopes that it will help clarify some information for the pet industry.”