California commercial feed license

For horse, livestock, poultry and wild-bird feed in California: CDFA commercial feed license, $500 per location/yr; no per-product fee; tonnage report: yes. Pet food and treats: Pet Food Processor Registration, $190 per facility/yr; no per-product fee; tonnage report: no.

Calculate California feed fees California pet food registration

Who needs a California commercial feed license or registration?

Yes, a license or firm registration. CDFA commercial feed license ($500/yr per location) One license for each location that makes, distributes or stores feed, and wherever your name is on the label (Food & Agricultural Code 15051).Source: cdfa.ca.gov

Feed differs from pet food Different agency and fees. Feed for horses, livestock and poultry is regulated by CDFA's Commercial Feed Regulatory Program, not CDPH: a commercial feed license of $500 per location per year and quarterly tonnage reports. No product registration. CDPH's pet food registration doesn't apply.Source: cdfa.ca.gov · Food & Agricultural Code 14925 excludes feed for domestic pets "such as dogs, cats, and birds" from commercial feed; 3 CCR 2751(b) sets the $500 license. CDFA's license guide lists horses, poultry, laying hens, gamebirds and rabbits as licensed species.

	Horse, livestock, poultry and wild-bird feed	Pet food and treats
Agency	California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Commercial Feed Regulatory ProgramSource: cdfa.ca.gov	California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Food and Drug BranchSource: cdph.ca.gov
Who needs it	Per location: a commercial feed license for each location that manufactures, distributes or stores feed, and wherever your name is on the label. No product registration.Source: cdfa.ca.gov	Per facility: a Pet Food Processor License (in California) or Registration (out of state) for each facility that manufactures, packs, labels or warehouses processed pet food. No per-product registration.Source: cdph.ca.gov

California commercial feed license fee and product registration

	Horse, livestock, poultry and wild-bird feed	Pet food and treats
License or firm fee	$500 per location per year; not prorated. Renewing more than a month late adds $100.Source: cdfa.ca.gov	$190 per facility per yearSource: cdph.ca.gov
Per-product registration fee	None per productSource: cdfa.ca.gov	None (labels are submitted with the facility application)Source: cdph.ca.gov
Package-size rule	No package-size ruleSource: cdfa.ca.gov	No package-size ruleSource: cdph.ca.gov

Summary for other animal feed: CDFA commercial feed license, $500 per location/yr; no per-product fee. The calculator applies these rules to your own products and package sizes. Rules from: cdfa.ca.gov.

Renewal and tonnage reports

	Horse, livestock, poultry and wild-bird feed	Pet food and treats
Renewal due	July 1 each year (licenses expire June 30)Source: cdfa.ca.gov	Annually, by the expiration date on your license (no fixed statewide date)Source: cdph.ca.gov
Tonnage report required?	Yes. The licensee named on the label of packaged feed reports every quarter, including zero reports.Source: cdfa.ca.gov	No. CDFA's commercial feed program, which collects feed tonnage, does not regulate food for domestic pets.Source: cdfa.ca.gov
Tonnage report frequency	Quarterly (calendar quarters)Source: cdfa.ca.gov	Not applicableSource: cdfa.ca.gov
Tonnage report due	April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31, for the quarter just endedSource: cdfa.ca.gov	Not applicableSource: cdfa.ca.gov

Fee depends on tonnage; see the agency. We show how often the report is filed and when it is due, but don't calculate tonnage fees.

Due dates for other animal feed

July 1: California CDFA commercial feed license renewal due ($500 per location; licenses expire June 30)Source: cdfa.ca.gov
April 30, July 31, October 31, January 31: California quarterly feed tonnage report due (previous quarter; zero reports required). Fee depends on tonnage; see the agency.Source: cdfa.ca.gov

Pet food has a due date of its own: see California pet food registration.

Forms and how to apply

	Horse, livestock, poultry and wild-bird feed	Pet food and treats
Form or portal	https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/CommercialFeedReg.htmlSource: cdfa.ca.gov	https://www.cdph.ca.gov/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ControlledForms/cdph8676.pdfSource: cdph.ca.gov
License form	https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs/docs/commercial_feed_license_application_guide.pdfSource: cdfa.ca.gov	https://www.cdph.ca.gov/CDPH%20Document%20Library/ControlledForms/cdph8676.pdfSource: cdph.ca.gov

What to send with each application, for pet food: California pet food registration. For other animal feed: A commercial feed license application in CDFA's ExtraView online database (paper applications are available if you have no internet access), with the $500 fee for each locationSource: cdfa.ca.gov

Good to know for feed sellers in California

California's commercial feed law excludes feed for domestic pets such as dogs, cats and birds; pet food goes to CDPH instead.Source: cdfa.ca.gov · Food & Agricultural Code 14925.
A retail store that only sells packaged feed labeled by a licensed manufacturer doesn't need a license.Source: cdfa.ca.gov
If a feed mill makes your product with your name on the label, CDFA requires a license at your headquarters and at the mill.Source: cdfa.ca.gov
Late quarterly reports cost $100 (zero tons) or $200 (under 10,000 tons); late payments add 15% of the amount due.Source: cdfa.ca.gov · 3 CCR 2750(b).
California: food for dogs, cats, exotic birds and rodents that is labeled as pet food needs no CDFA feed license (it goes to CDPH). Feed for horses, poultry, laying hens, gamebirds and rabbits needs the CDFA license.Source: cdfa.ca.gov

More for California

California pet food & treat registration: every pet food fact, what to send and due dates.
Free fee calculator for California feed, or for California pet food. The $49 Registration Pack adds a per-product checklist and renewal calendar.
Horse, poultry and wild-bird feed rules in all 50 states and DC.
Also selling pet food or treats? The Pet Nutrition Facts box generator formats AAFCO's new label box from your own numbers.

Nearby states: Oregon commercial feed license · Nevada commercial feed license · Arizona commercial feed license

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