The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong officially released the “Pet Food Safety Guidelines” in June 2026, providing advice specifically for pet food manufacturers, sellers, and pet owners. For Hong Kong owners of cats and dogs, this guideline is like an official textbook on ‘selecting, buying, and storing food.’ BC Pets breaks down the key points and includes practical tips so your pet can eat safely and healthily.
1. What counts as ‘safe’ pet food?
According to the guidelines, safe pet food should be of good quality and consistent, generally cooked or heated to a high enough temperature to kill bacteria and prevent pet food poisoning. If it is a staple food, it should provide all the nutrition your pet needs.
👉 When choosing staple foods, pay attention to whether the packaging displays words like “Complete & Balanced,” which is an important indicator of meeting nutritional standards.
2. Dry Food, Wet Food, Fresh Food, Raw Meat Grain—How to Score?
There are many types of pet foods on the market. The guide uses cats and dogs as examples to introduce their characteristics:
- Dry food: Formed and dried after cooking, usually with moisture below 14%. Easy to store, convenient, can be stored for a long time, and generally provides balanced nutrition.
- Canned/wet food: vacuum-sealed and heat-treated, with moisture content exceeding 60%, offering better nutrition and moisture, and usually more expensive than dry food.
⚠️ Staple Food Cans vs. Complementary Food Cans: Staple food cans must meet nutritional standards, be complete and balanced, and can be used as a staple food for a long time; Supplementary food cans (snack cans) can only serve as snacks; as staple food, they can cause nutritional imbalance and illness in pets. - Fresh food: Meats and fruits and vegetables are simply cooked and mostly prepared by the owner, allowing better control over raw materials; However, it is more difficult to accurately control the nutritional ratios (especially micronutrients like vitamins). If you want fresh food as your main diet, consult a veterinarian or nutrition specialist veterinarian to design a menu.
- Raw meat food: contains raw meat ingredients (some dry foods may also be coated or mixed with raw meat), classified as “raw meat pet food.” Precautions are detailed in Section 7 below.
3. How to choose? Identify the brand, certification, and life stage
The guidelines recommend choosing well-known, reputable and certified brands, and prioritizing manufacturers who can provide the following information:
- Reliable contact information;
- Prepared by a professional team (possibly including veterinarians, animal nutritionists, food safety experts);
- Scientific product research or trials have been conducted;
- The manufacturing plant holds professional certifications, such as: HACCP、ISO 22000、ISO 9001。
Tailored to life stage: Choose formulas according to your pet’s age—growing period (puppies/kittens), adult/cat, advanced age, etc. Long-term feeding of unsuitable formulas (such as puppy food to adult dogs) may lead to uneven nutrition or overnutrition.
Nutritional standards: When choosing cat or dog staple food, it is recommended to select products that meet international standards, such as the American Feed Management Organization (AAFCO), the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), or the nutrition standards adopted by origin management agencies. If in doubt, consult a veterinarian.
4. Where can you buy safely and reliably?
The guidelines clearly recommend: Buy pet food from reputable and reliable sources, such as familiar pet stores, official websites, authorized distributors or retailers, Hong Kong official suppliers, and veterinary clinics, and avoid buying from unknown online platforms or sales channels. At the same time, you should:
- Only buy products in good condition; do not buy packaging with dents, tears, holes, or discoloration;
- Read the packaging information before purchase to confirm the right breed and stage for your pet, and check the expiration date (“Eat on or before this date” / “Best Before”);
- Avoid overbuying to prevent spoilage before use.
🐾 BC Pets has consistently met the guideline requirements
Providing safe and high-quality pet food to pet owners in Hong Kong has always been the mission of BC Pets Pet Supplies Center. We are exactly the “reputable and reliable retailers” described in the guidelines:
- Guaranteed authentic Hong Kong products—only genuine products are sold, with clear and reliable sources, so you don’t have to worry about unclear sources;
- Carefully selected well-known certified brands—both natural grains and canned staple foods come from brands that meet nutritional standards (AAFCO/FEDIAF) and are certified by our facilities;
- Provides comprehensive product information to help you choose according to your pet’s life stage and needs;
- One-stop service for ordering at stores, online stores, or by phone—free shipping across Hong Kong for orders over HK$350.
Visit BC Pets to shop for safe, high-quality food:
🐶 Natural Dog Food
🐱 Natural Cat Food
5. Proper use, handling, and storage
Use and handling
- Carefully read labels: ingredients, nutritional information, weight, manufacturing date and shelf life, manufacturer information, storage/usage instructions, etc. Provide appropriate portions and frequencies according to feeding instructions or veterinary advice.
- Handwashing: Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after handling pet food.
- Dedicated tableware: Do not share tableware with pets. Use a dedicated and clean spoon or measuring cup to scoop it up. After each use, wash and dry with soapy water.
- Gradual food changes: Sudden food changes can easily lead to vomiting and diarrhea. A 7-day transition is recommended—
Days 1–2: 75% old grain / 25% new grain
Days 3–4: 50% each
Days 5–6: Old grain 25% / New grain 75%
Day 7: 100% new grain.
Storage
- Follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions, generally store in a cool, dry, and ventilated place, avoiding high temperatures, direct sunlight, and high humidity.
- Refrigerated products should be kept at 0 to 4 degrees Celsius; Frozen products should be kept at -18°C or below.
- Dry food should be placed in a sealed container with its original packaging for easier reference (in case of recall); Consume as soon as possible after opening.
- Opened wet food/canned food should not be left at room temperature for extended periods; any leftover items should be refrigerated or discarded immediately.
6. What to do if food is abnormal?
If the food has an unusual odor, discoloration, mold, abnormal texture, or damaged packaging, stop using it immediately. Keep receipts or proof of purchase; If a product is recalled or quality issues are found, discontinue use and contact the seller for follow-up.
7. Pay special attention to raw food
Raw pet food mainly consists of uncooked meat, bones, and organs, processed only by flash freezing or freezing for dehydration. Since it has not been heat-sterilized, special attention should be paid to:
- Bacterial risk: Prone to carrying Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, posing a higher risk of contamination for pets and high-risk households (infants, elderly, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals).
- Consult a veterinarian first: Before considering feeding raw meat food, ask your vet to assess the risks; Unless directed by a veterinarian, avoid feeding puppies/kittens, elderly, pregnant, or immunocompromised pets.
- Avian Influenza Alert: According to recommendations from the World Organisation for Animal Health, the virus can be transmitted to cats, so avoid feeding raw poultry food to cats, especially those from areas where avian flu is prevalent.
- Hygiene handling: Do not leave raw meat at room temperature for extended periods; Use specialized cutting boards, knives, and preparation areas; Thoroughly clean and disinfect touched surfaces and utensils; Do not rinse raw meat (to prevent bacteria from splashing out); Do not freeze again after thawing; Wash your hands thoroughly after handling.
- Interactive hygiene: After eating raw meat, avoid kissing your pet or having your pet lick your face; Closely monitor your health; if you experience vomiting, diarrhea, or loss of appetite, seek medical attention as soon as possible.
8. 5 Tips from BC Pets for Cat and Dog Owners in Hong Kong
- Look for ‘complete and balanced’ labels when choosing staple foods, and distinguish between main food cans and snack cans.
- Choose certified brands (HACCP/ISO, AAFCO/FEDIAF standards) and match the pet’s life stage.
- When buying official products from reliable retailers, check the packaging is intact, pay attention to the expiration date, and avoid unfamiliar sources.
- Proper storage: Dry food should be sealed to prevent moisture, wet food should be refrigerated immediately upon opening, and temperature requirements must be met.
- Replace rations sequentially, pay attention to any abnormalities, immediately stop using them, and keep receipts.
Safe food, and your pet is healthy first
This guidance from the AFCD aligns perfectly with BC Pets’ long-standing mission—to provide safe and high-quality pet food for pet owners in Hong Kong. From selecting and buying food to storing it, doing every step well is the most genuine care for your furry child.
🐾 Shop safe and high-quality food now: Natural Dog Food | Natural Cat Food | BC Pets Pets Center (Free delivery across Hong Kong for orders over HK$350 · Official product guarantee)
👉 Further reading: Buying cat and dog food in Hong Kong: Official goods vs. parallel imports vs. mainland online shopping (Taobao/Pinduoduo) — which is best?
Source: Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department ‘Pet Food Safety Guidelines (Pet Owners)’ and summary version, June 2026. This article is for general reference only. For individual pet dietary needs, you can consult your veterinarian.
