US Pet Treat Import Rules: FDA, USDA & Customs

Do you need to import pet treats to sell them in the US?

No — and for most small US retailers, importing directly is the hardest, most expensive way to source pet treats. Importing means navigating FDA rules, USDA requirements for animal by-products, customs brokers, duties and cold-chain or shelf-life risk. A US-based wholesaler does all of that once for a full container and sells to you in small quantities.

That said, understanding the rules is valuable whether you import or buy domestically. Here is how US pet treat import regulation actually works.

Three sets of rules apply to pet treats

1. FDA — food and labelling

The FDA regulates pet food and treats as animal food under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Key requirements for any pet treat sold in the US:

• Safe and wholesome ingredients with no adulteration.
• Proper labelling — product name, net quantity, ingredient list and responsible-party name and address.
• Facility registration for producers that manufacture, process or pack food for the US.
• Prior notice for each imported food shipment.

Labels must also follow industry naming and claims standards. See the AAFCO standards guide for how claims like "grain-free" and "limited ingredient" are defined.

2. USDA — animal-derived products

Many popular chews are animal products. Bully sticks, tendons, ears and hooves are animal by-products and may fall under USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) rules or Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) jurisdiction, depending on the ingredient and country of origin. Some origins require extra certification or are restricted entirely.

This is one of the most common reasons a first-time import fails or is delayed at the border.

3. Customs and Border Protection — clearance and duties

CBP handles entry, tariff classification and duty collection. Each commercial shipment needs:

• A tariff classification code (HTSUS) for the specific product.
• A customs entry, usually filed by a licensed broker.
• Payment of any applicable duty, plus fees.

Duty rates vary by product and country. Always check current rates rather than relying on outdated figures.

What small buyers underestimate

• Label compliance. A non-compliant label can hold a whole shipment or force rework.
• Country-of-origin restrictions. Not every country can export every animal product to the US.
• Freshness and shelf life. Long ocean transit can eat into a perishable product's usable life.
• Grouping and minimums. Factories sell by the container; partial-week shipping is not usually offered.
• Total landed cost. Freight, duties, brokerage and storage can add far more than buyers expect. See the landed-cost guide.

Why buying domestically avoids most of this

A US-based wholesaler imports or manufactures at scale and absorbs the regulatory, freight and storage burden. When you buy from a domestic supplier:

• The product is already cleared and in-country — no customs entry, no prior notice for you.
• Labels are already US-compliant.
• You can order small quantities and reorder quickly.
• Shelf life is preserved because there is no long import transit.

For a pet store, boutique or online seller, this is why domestic wholesale is usually the smarter first move. Compare real products on the Holaric catalogue.

If you do import: a compliance checklist

1. Confirm the origin is permitted for your specific ingredient.
2. Verify the producer's FDA facility registration.
3. Have labels reviewed against FDA naming and claim rules.
4. File prior notice before each shipment.
5. Work with a licensed customs broker experienced in animal products.
6. Budget duties, brokerage and any inspection costs into your landed cost.

Frequently asked questions

Do pet treats need FDA approval to be imported?

Pet treats do not receive a pre-market "approval" the way drugs do, but they must comply with FDA food-safety and labelling rules, and imported shipments require prior notice.

Are bully sticks subject to USDA rules?

Bully sticks and similar animal by-products can fall under USDA jurisdiction depending on origin and processing. Requirements vary, so verify the specific product and country before importing.

Can I sell imported pet treats without a license?

Reselling a properly imported, compliant product is different from importing it yourself. As a domestic reseller you are not filing customs entries — which is exactly why buying from a US wholesaler removes most of the regulatory work.

Next step

If you want pet treats without customs, duties or compliance headaches, buy from a US wholesaler that has already done the importing. Explore the Holaric wholesale program to see how ordering and fulfilment work for US businesses.