SECTION 63.5. Ingredients

(a) The maximum moisture in all pet foods shall be guaranteed and shall not exceed 78% or the natural moisture content of the constituent ingredients of the product, whichever is greater. Pet foods such as those consisting principally of stew, gravy, sauce, broth, juice or a milk replacer which are so labeled, may contain moisture in excess of 78%.

(b) Each ingredient of the pet food shall be listed in the ingredient statement, and names of all ingredients in the ingredient statement must be shown in letters or type of the same size. The failure to list the ingredients of a pet food in descending order by their predominance by weight in nonquantitative terms may be misleading. Any ingredient for which the Association of American Feed Control Officials has established a name and definition shall be identified by the name so established. Any ingredient for which no name and definition has been so established shall be identified by the common or usual name of the ingredient. Brand or trade names shall not be used in the ingredient statement.

(c) The term "dehydrated" may precede the name of any ingredient in the ingredient list that has been artificially dried.

(d) No reference to quality or grade of an ingredient shall appear in the ingredient statement of a pet food.

(e) A reference to the quality, nature, form, or other attribute of an ingredient shall not be made unless such designation is accurate and unless the ingredient imparts a distinctive characteristic to the pet food because it possesses that attribute.

Source Note: The provisions of this §63.5 adopted to be effective January 1, 1976; amended to be effective October 7, 1983, 8 TexReg 3811.