Association of American Feed Control Officials

What Association of American Feed Control Officials does

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a non-profit membership association founded in 1906 and headquartered in Champaign, Illinois, that sets ingredient definitions, label standards, and laboratory standards for animal feeds and pet foods in the United States. Its members — charged by local, state, federal, and international law to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds — include representatives from all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories (including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia), Canada, and Costa Rica, alongside FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. AAFCO operates through a committee-driven governance model spanning ingredient definitions, pet food, laboratory methods, inspection and sampling, model bills and regulations, and 15+ other working committees that convene at twice-yearly Annual and Midyear Meetings.

AAFCO's core products are regulatory standards rather than technology products: the Official Publication containing 900+ ingredient definitions, the new Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food (the first major label update in over 40 years), training curricula (Basic Inspector Training, Advanced Inspector Training, Feed Administrators Seminars), and the Pet Food Labeling Guide. Revenue is generated through tiered event registration fees ($450-$525 for state-regulator members, $575-$675 for industry, $250 for consumers), publication and merchandise sales ($150-$200 for guides, additional items via shop.aafco.org), and seminar/workshop fees. Day-to-day operations are administered by FASS Inc., an association management firm. AAFCO recently launched the AAFCO Virtual Assistant — an Agentic AI knowledge-retrieval tool built on SWARM Engineering's platform — to modernize regulatory information access for the animal food industry.

Name

Association of American Feed Control Officials

Legal name

Association of American Feed Control Officials

Website

https://aafco.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) is a 110-year-old U.S. non-profit membership association that sets ingredient definitions, label standards, and laboratory standards for animal feeds and pet foods, serving state and federal regulators, industry manufacturers, and consumers across all 50 states and international partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Animal Feed Regulatory Standards

akta.pro primary industry

Regulatory & Labeling Compliance for Custom Feeds (AAFCO/FDA/FSMA, claims) (AFADAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animal Feed Safety & Feed Additives Regulation (HLAJAEAK), Animal Health Policy, Standards & International Coordination (e.g., WOAH/FAO) (HLAMAJAO), Natural/Organic & Limited-Ingredient Diets (CRADAFAH), Specialty Small Animal Feed (Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Ferrets, etc.) (AFADAFAI), Animal Welfare Auditing, Compliance & Certification Services (Non-testing Lab) (AFAEALAN)

Keywords

• Animal feed regulation
• Pet food standards
• Feed ingredient definitions
• Label compliance
• Regulatory standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Champaign

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership and Event Registrations: AAFCO generates revenue through membership fees and event registration fees. Members (state regulators/FDA) pay lower registration rates ($450-$525) while industry participants pay higher rates ($575-$675). Consumer registrations are available at reduced rates ($250).
2. Publications and Guides Sales: Sale of official publications including the Pet Food Labeling Guide ($150 for members, $200 for non-members), Official Publication, and other regulatory guides and manuals.
3. Training Programs and Workshops: Revenue from training seminars including Basic Inspector Training Seminars, Advanced Inspector Training Seminars, Feed Administrators Seminars, and specialty workshops like the Pet Food Labeling Workshop.
4. Shop and Online Store: Sale of AAFCO merchandise and publications through the online shop at shop.aafco.org.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AAFCO is a non-profit membership association that sets standards for animal feeds and pet foods in the United States. The organization develops and maintains ingredient definitions, model regulations for pet food and specialty pet food labeling, laboratory methods, and proficiency testing programs, while providing training, seminars, and publications to guide state, federal (FDA), and international feed regulators.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Official Publication The definitive annual reference containing all AAFCO ingredient definitions, terms, and standards, used by state and federal feed regulators, industry, and laboratories for legal animal feed distribution and labeling compliance.
• Pet Food Labeling Guide Printed and digital guide explaining pet food labeling requirements and model regulations; used by regulators, manufacturers, and startups to ensure label compliance and consumer transparency.
• Annual Meeting Registration Paid registration for AAFCO's Annual Meeting held in varying U.S. cities, providing committee meetings, training, and networking for state, federal, and international feed regulators, industry advisors, and consumers.
• Midyear Meeting Registration Paid registration for AAFCO's Midyear Meeting held in varying U.S. cities, providing committee work and regulatory sessions for state and federal regulators, industry, and consumer attendees.
• Basic Inspector Training Seminar Foundational training seminar for new feed inspectors covering regulatory fundamentals, sampling, and inspection techniques, offered with paid registration at various locations.
• Advanced Inspector Training Seminar Advanced-level training for experienced feed inspectors covering complex regulatory scenarios, enforcement, and specialized inspection topics, offered with paid registration.
• Feed Administrators Seminar Annual seminar for feed program administrators covering leadership, program management, and regulatory updates, with paid registration.
• AAFCO Virtual Assistant Agentic AI-powered conversational assistant that retrieves and synthesizes AAFCO regulatory information for animal food industry professionals, regulators, and other users navigating ingredient definitions, label standards, and laboratory methods.
• Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS) Scientific review service for new animal food ingredient submissions, delivered in partnership with Kansas State University Olathe Innovation Campus, providing an accelerated pathway for ingredient definitions after the expiration of AAFCO's MOU with the FDA.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 110 years of continuous operation guiding feed regulation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• National Animal Supplement Council (NASC)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2025Collaboration for the Pet Food Labeling Workshop in August 2025, presented by industry and regulatory experts covering current and new pet food labeling requirements.
• Kansas State University Olathe Innovation Campus (K-State Olathe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Collaborative partnership for the Scientific Review of Ingredient Submissions (SRIS) program, a new regulatory pathway for animal food ingredients. SRIS offers accelerated scientific review for new ingredient submissions, replacing AAFCO's former Ingredient Definition Request process after the expiration of its MOU with the FDA. Garret Ashabranner was named program manager. SRIS began accepting applications in October 2025.
• National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 February 2024NASDA unanimously voted to support AAFCO's revised Model Regulations for Pet Food and Specialty Pet Food. NASDA encourages state feed regulatory programs to adopt the new regulations while respecting individual state legal authorities and regulatory processes. AAFCO is an affiliate of NASDA.
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)coreOthers · 9 February 2023Longstanding partnership under Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the AAFCO ingredient review process. MOU expired in 2024. FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine continues to participate in ingredient definitions. FDA issued final guidance in October 2024 allowing animal feed and pet food manufacturers to continue using ingredients published in the 2024 Official Publication for products sold in interstate commerce.
• National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 August 2022Co-hosted the 'Hemp as a Feed Ingredient: A National Discussion' webinar in August 2022, bringing together 18 industry experts and nearly 600 attendees to discuss challenges and solutions for gaining approval for hemp seed and hempseed by-products as ingredients in animal feed.
• FASS Inc.coreOthersAssociation management organization that handles day-to-day business operations for AAFCO. FASS processes payments (as noted in privacy policy) and provides organizational support. AAFCO transitioned from single-person support to hiring FASS to manage the organization.
• State Departments of AgriculturecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMembers from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Canada serve as AAFCO members. State officials are charged by their local, state or federal laws to regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remedies. State programs review pet food labels, conduct inspections, and enforce feed regulations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Pet Food Institute (PFI): PFI is the trade association representing U.S. pet food manufacturers, partnering with AAFCO on labeling standards and pet food regulations. While PFI represents industry and AAFCO represents regulators, they collaborate on the Pet Food Labeling Workshop and must engage on every new model regulation.
• Codex Alimentarius Commission: Codex Alimentarius is the international food standards body jointly run by FAO and WHO, setting global standards for food and feed safety. AAFCO's work on ingredient definitions and labeling intersects with Codex's international guidelines, particularly for U.S. exporters and Canadian trade alignment.
• National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA): NASDA is AAFCO's parent affiliate and represents all state departments of agriculture, offering a broader policy and advocacy umbrella. Both coordinate on model regulations adoption and federal-state regulatory alignment for animal feed and food safety.
• American Feed Industry Association (AFIA): AFIA is the largest trade association for the U.S. animal feed industry, working closely with AAFCO on feed ingredient definitions, safety standards, and regulatory policy. AFIA members participate in AAFCO committees as industry advisors, making it a primary counterpart organization.
• FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM): FDA-CVM is the federal regulatory body that previously operated under MOU with AAFCO for ingredient definitions and continues to engage on feed safety. AAFCO's regulatory authority is partly derived from FDA's recognition of its ingredient definitions in interstate commerce.

Direct peers

• Association of American Plant Food Control Officials (AAPFCO): AAPFCO is the most direct structural peer to AAFCO, serving as a non-profit association of state regulators that sets standards and model regulations for commercial fertilizers, lime, and soil amendments. Both organizations use the same membership/committee model to develop ingredient definitions and model regulations adopted by states.
• Association of American Pesticide Control Officials (AAPCO): AAPCO is a peer state regulatory association for pesticide control, following the same organizational model as AAFCO with state agency membership, committee-based standard setting, and model legislation. Both associations work alongside FDA and EPA to coordinate state-level regulatory implementation.

Emerging players

• AOAC International: AOAC International develops analytical laboratory methods and standards for food safety, including feed testing protocols relevant to AAFCO's Laboratory Methods & Services Committee. Both organizations collaborate on proficiency testing programs and laboratory standards for feed and food analysis.
• National Animal Supplement Council (NASC): NASC is a trade association for animal supplement manufacturers that collaborates with AAFCO on Pet Food Labeling Workshops and label compliance. NASC members navigate AAFCO's regulatory frameworks for supplements and treats, making it a direct industry partner.

Regional players

• International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF): IFIF is the global feed industry federation that represents feed manufacturers worldwide and works with international bodies like FAO and WOAH. As AAFCO engages more internationally including Canada and Costa Rica, IFIF represents a global counterpart for international feed standards alignment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/a-aafko-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of American Feed Control Officials