Russia Cracks Down on Illegal Pet Food Trade with Mandatory Labeling and Export Expansion Plans

Employees of Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor agency have uncovered illegal sales of pet food, including banned brands like Hill’s, Acana, and Orijen. Belarusian companies were found distributing these products without the necessary veterinary documents. As part of efforts to combat counterfeit pet food, Russia introduced mandatory labeling for pet food starting September 2024, with dry food requiring labels by October and wet food by March 2025. The Russian government hopes to improve supply chain traceability and boost pet food exports, aiming to double exports to 150,000 tonnes by 2030, targeting post-Soviet and Asian markets.