Pet and Specialty Pet Program

The South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources is responsible for ensuring that pet and specialty food manufactured and sold in South Dakota is safe and unadulterated. State law requires that any person within South Dakota or who distributes in South Dakota a pet/specialty pet food or treat must first get a Commercial Feed License.

Pet food and treats that are sold ONLY in 10lbs or less will be registered in the small package registration.

Who Needs a Commercial Feed License?

Anyone in South Dakota who is making animal food including Pet and Specialty Pet food and treats if they intend to distribute and sell to others.

Anyone whose name is on the label as the manufacturer or guarantor.

Each location that is in South Dakota or who distributes into the State. A feed license is needed for each location with a different physical address.

How much does a Commercial Feed License Cost? How long does the license last?

The license fee cost is $50 per physical location.

If the license is not renewed by January 31st after the month of expiration, a $50 late fee will be applied.

The license is bi-annual and will expire December 31st the following year.

How do I get a Commercial Feed License?

All renewals, tonnage, and small package registration will be done online at https://apps.sd.gov/doa/fdft/login.aspx.

For a first time license registration, a PDF version of the feed license application can be downloaded here Commercial Feed Application.

Questions can be directed to Kylie.Good@state.sd.us.

How much is small package registration? Does pet food require tonnage?

Any product that is sold in packages that are only 10lbs or less will register the product with a copy of the label. The fee is $99 per product and those are renewed annually.

For pet and specialty pet that is sold in various size packages including over and under 10 lbs a small package registration will need to be submitted with a label for the packages under 10 lbs and the remaining product that is over 10 lbs will be reported in tonnage. The tonnage fee is 10 cents/ton or $20 inspection fee, whichever is greater.

Small package registration and tonnage reporting will be done online at https://apps.sd.gov/doa/fdft/login.aspx. We will not accept mailed/emailed copies of label starting January 2024.

Questions can be directed to Kylie Good.

For labeling information please review the labeling requirements link under the program information. Per SDAR 12:53:01 South Dakota follows the Association of American Feed Control officials Chapter 4: Model Bill and Regulations for licensing and labeling of pet and specialty pet products.