Virginia pet food registration

Firm license
$50
annual, due Dec 31

Per product
$50
packages ≤10 lb · annual, due Dec 31

Tonnage
none for small packages
annual, due Feb 1

How to file
paper
Pay by check

You sign, pay and submit We fill the forms, compute the fee and tell you where it goes.

Details

Firm license fee	$50 $50 flat per manufacturer or guarantor (name on label); one license per manufacturing facility distributing in VA. Each manufacturer AND guarantor must hold their own license. No pro-ration.
License late fee	$50 in addition to the license fee for late renewal, or for a new applicant who fails to license within 15 working days of notification
Product fee	$50 $50 per product per year for 'small package commercial feed' = packages of 10 lb or less (incl. all canned pet food in any size), in lieu of the inspection fee for that size. Specialty pet food (caged/tank pets — NOT dogs/cats) ≤1 lb: $35/product capped at $700. Products >10 lb (non-canned) are tonnage products, not registered.
Product late fee	$50 per product in addition to the registration fee for late renewal or failure to register within 15 working days of a nonregistration notice
Renewal window	Registration year Jan 1 – Dec 31; renewals mailed by VDACS; valid through Jan 31 if renewal filed by Dec 31
Exempt	Additional package sizes of the same brand/product name do not need separate registration Loose/unpackaged (bulk) treats are not registered — license + tonnage ($0.07/ton, $35 min) instead Non-medicated feed in packages >10 lb (tonnage instead)
Tonnage note	The $50 small-package registration fee is 'in lieu of an inspection fee for this size package' (Va. Code § 3.2-4804(D)). Tonnage ($0.07/ton, $35 minimum, Jan 1–Dec 31 reported by Feb 1; late fee 10% or $50) applies only to packages >10 lb or bulk; §3.2-4805(D): same product name sold in >10 lb packages must be reported.
Third-party filing	agent_signature: “'APPLICANT (Contact information for the entity that is completing this application) ... Representative Name ... Tax ID (of paying party)' separate from 'GUARANTOR (Individual whose name/address is listed on the product label) Check if same as applicant' and 'MANFACTURER (Responsible party for safety and formulation of product)'; the packet has no signature or officer-attestation block at all — Virginia Feed License Application and New Product Registration pages, reg-feed.pdf (rev. Nov 2024), re-read 2026-10-08”
Before you file	License must be obtained (or applied for in the same packet) before products can be registered Complete original or legible copy of every label (paper, CD or drive), numbered 'No. - Product Name' Guaranteed analysis must come from a laboratory analysis (booklet)
Check payable to	Treasurer of Virginia
Mail to	Checks, labels and applications: Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, P.O. Box 526, Richmond, VA 23218. Overnight: Office of Plant Industry Services, 102 Governor Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Forms

License and Product Registration Packet for Commercial Feed (reg-feed.pdf, revised November 2024)
VDACS OPIS guidance booklet: license, registration examples, labeling guidelines, guaranteed analysis
Instructions for Annual Commercial Animal Feed Tonnage Reporting and Payment Agreements

Good to know

The packet's APPLICANT block is explicitly 'the entity that is completing this application', separate from GUARANTOR and MANUFACTURER, with a 'Tax ID (of paying party)' field — built for third-party filers.
Each flavor = separate $50 registration; putting a size word in the brand name (Small/Medium/Large) multiplies registrations (booklet example: 9 vs 3 products).
The $700 cap applies ONLY to specialty pet food ≤1 lb ($35 each) — hamsters, birds, fish, reptiles. Dog/cat treats have no cap.
Canned pet food is registered at $50 regardless of can size.
Both manufacturer (co-packer) and guarantor need their own $50 license.
No kitchen inspection before sale for home-manufactured treats; GMPs expected; inspectors may sample at any time.
No pro-rated fees; a product registered in December owes again Jan 1.
Label guidance: species in words on the front; net weight with metric; calorie content shown in example label.

Agency

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Office of Plant Industry Services (OPIS), Agricultural Commodities Program
https://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-frequently-asked-questions.shtml
804-371-2667; fax 804-371-7793

Sources: Virginia Feed Packet - License Application and New Product Registration (rev. Nov 2024) · VDACS Plant Industry Services FAQ · Home Manufactured Pet Foods/Treats — What You Need To Know · Va. Code § 3.2-4804 Product registration · Va. Code § 3.2-4803 Licensing · Va. Code § 3.2-4805 Report and inspection fees · VDACS Services / Forms. Verified 2026-10-08. Not legal advice; confirm with the state before paying.