My Cat Grass - UK & Europe's Only Legally Complaint Producer Of Cat Grass
Producing safe cat grass in the UK means following strict rules designed to protect pets and consumers and ensure legal compliance. Producers must be licensed seed operators and registered feed businesses, meeting hygiene, traceability and labelling standards set by APHA, DEFRA and the Food Standards Agency. APHA oversees seed licensing and phytosanitary checks, while the FSA ensures correct pet-food labelling and safety controls. Local Trading Standards enforce consumer protection, accurate information and proper registration. Regulators also expect strong safety systems, including track-and-trace and rapid recall processes. If a supplier isn’t compliant, their cat grass isn’t safe. My Cat Grass is the only fully legally compliant cat-grass producer in the UK and Europe.
APHA
APHA stands for the Animal and Plant Health Agency, which is an executive agency of the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. It is responsible for protecting animal, plant, and bee health by identifying and controlling diseases and pests, conducting scientific research, and facilitating international trade.Under UK legislation all Cat Grass product producers are required to register and gain license to operate as seed processors.
If you wish to check if your current cat grass provider is registered, inspected and licensed to sell cat grass seed or to include them in their cat grass products, you can check the APHA seed processor database of licensed companies
Ask your Cat Grass seed, Kit or Ready Grown Provider to show you evidence of their APHA License and legal compliance.
Seed processors are required to register with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) primarily under the Plant Varieties and Seeds Act 1964 and associated specific Seed Marketing Regulations for England. The key secondary legislation that mandates registration is derived from the Act.
The specific regulations for England include:
The Seed (Registration, Licensing and Enforcement) (England) Regulations 2002 (which consolidated and replaced earlier regulations).
Specific commodity regulations, such as the Cereal Seeds Regulations, the Fodder Plant Seeds Regulations, (all dating from the early 1990s and subsequently updated).
These legislative instruments work together to ensure that anyone engaged in commercial seed activities, including processing, is registered and that the seed marketed is officially certified and meets specific quality standards, such as varietal purity and germination rates. APHA is the designated national regulator responsible for implementing and enforcing these policies in England (and Wales, on behalf of the Welsh Government). In Scotland, the regulatory framework has transitioned to a licensing system for Professional Seed Operators under separate legislation.
Companies can apply for a license for seed marketing operations, which includes processing and re/packaging, through the relevant government guidance on the GOV.UK website.
The Seed Marketing Regulations 2011, a piece of UK secondary legislation that governs the marketing of seeds in England. These regulations set standards for seed quality, requiring it to be officially certified and from a variety on the UK National List or the EU Common Catalogue to protect consumers and ensure varietal identity and quality. The regulations cover aspects like crop inspections, re/packaging, labeling, and licensing for businesses involved in seed marketing – including cat grass producers.
Key aspects of the Seed Marketing Regulations 2011:
Quality control: The regulations ensure the quality of marketed seed through a statutory certification framework.
Varietal identity: They guarantee that seeds are true to their variety and protect the rights of plant breeders.
Certification and licensing: Seed can only be marketed if it is officially certified and from an approved variety. Businesses involved in marketing seeds are required to be licensed, and the Secretary of State licenses inspectors and testing stations.
Marketing standards: The regulations specify standards for things like crop inspections, the standard of seed at the time of marketing, and its packaging and labeling.
Scope: The regulations apply in England and came into force on April 1, 2011. They implement EU directives on the marketing of various types of seed, such as cereal* and vegetable seeds. *seed mainly used in cat grass products.
Ultimately the Key Legislative requirements include:
Licensing: Any business that processes, packs, seals, labels, or markets seeds covered by the regulations must have a licence from APHA.
Official Certification: For most agricultural and vegetable species, only certified seed may be marketed. Certification ensures the seed meets national and international standards for varietal identity, purity, germination, and health.
Record Keeping: Licensed operators must keep detailed records of all seed transactions, processing, and inspection reports for at least three years to ensure traceability, and these records must be produced for APHA officers on demand.
Official Controls Regulation (EU) 2017/625: This assimilated EU law (now GB law) provides the framework for competent authorities (like APHA) to perform official controls and audits to ensure compliance with food and feed law, including plant health rules.
Mandatory Inspections: The certification process requires both growing crops and processed seed lots to be inspected.
Crop Inspections: Crops must be inspected by an official or licensed crop inspector at the appropriate stage of growth to assess varietal purity and health.
Seed Lot Sampling and Testing: After harvesting and processing, a representative sample of the seed must be taken by a licensed seed sampler and tested at an official or licensed seed testing station.
Ensuring your cat grass product producer is APHA registered is essential to ensure the prevention of Mycotoxins from entering the pet food chain.
My Cat Grass is Registered as a Seed Processor under our Parent company – Indoor Cat Ltd – License Number A8009.
If you wish to check if your current cat grass provider is registered. inspected by and licensed to sell cat grass seed, either as seed or in cat grass kits, you can check the APHA seed processor database of licensed companies
DEFRA
DEFRA stands for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Its role is to protect the environment, improve air and water quality, support food and farming, and sustain rural communities in the UK. It works on policies and regulations for the environment, animal health and welfare, food production, and rural development. As Cat Grass is classified as an Animal Feed Material in the UK, DEFRA defines policy on Cat Grass in formats such as Seed, Grow Your Own Kits and Ready Grown Cat Grass.
Cat grass is legally classified as an animal feed material in the UK. Businesses that produce and sell cat grass are subject to legislation under the Animal Feed (England) Regulations 2010 (and parallel legislation in other UK nations), which enforces the safety and hygiene standards derived from EU regulations such as (EC) No 183/2005 on feed hygiene. Alongside the FSA and Trading standards, DEFRA defines policy on Cat Grass in formats such as Seed, Grow Your Own Kits and Ready Grown Cat Grass.
Key aspects of the legislation applicable to commercial production/sale include:
Registration as a Feed Business: Any business producing or selling cat grass must be registered as a feed business with their local authority (Trading Standards) or the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), depending on the specific activities involved.
Safety and Hygiene Standards: Producers must adhere to specific safety and hygiene standards throughout the production process to ensure the product is safe for animal consumption.
Plant Health Controls: Legislation controls the import and movement of plants, seeds, and organic matter to prevent the spread of harmful plant pests and diseases. This includes needing the correct certification (e.g., phytosanitary certificates) if importing or moving certain seeds or plants.
Organic Certification (if applicable): If cat grass is sold as “organic,” the business must comply with the Soil Association Organic Standards (or another approved control body) and be appropriately certified and registered.
Pesticide Use Records: All food and feed producers are legally required to record their pesticide and biocide use – My Cat Grass does not use pesticide, biocide or pesticides as we are Organic Certified and under such regulations the use is banned. My Cat Grass does not agree with the use of pesticides, biocides or fertilizers by other cat grass producers.
For individuals growing cat grass at home for their own pets, these commercial regulations do not apply – however most commercial seed and grow your own kit products do not meet the legislative standards. Please purchase wisely. The primary relevant law for pet owners is the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which requires owners to meet their cat’s welfare needs and protect them from unnecessary suffering, injury, and disease. Providing safe, non-toxic cat grass can contribute to a cat’s healthy diet and stimulating environment.
My Cat Grass is regularly inspected by DEFRA under our Seed Processor license – Indoor Cat Ltd – License Number A8009.
Food Standards Agency (FSA)
The Food Standards Agency(FSA) is an independent, non-ministerial government department responsible for food safety and hygiene in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.The FSA’s primary goal is to protect public health and the interests of consumers in relation to food, pet food and Animal Feed Materials – including Ready Grown Cat Grass
Setting standards and providing guidance on all food safety, hygiene, and nutrition labeling.
Overseeing enforcement of food laws, often working with local authorities who conduct inspections of most food businesses including producers of Ready Grown Cat Grass.
Ask your Ready Grown Cat Grass provider for evidence of their Animal Feed Material License.
Under UK & European Law Ready Grown Cat Grass is considered an animal feed material (one of the three categories of pet food):
Complete Pet Food – delivers all the pets nutritional requirements in a single product
Complimentary Pet Food – delivers some of a pets nutritional requirements in a single product
Animal Feed Material – Vegetable or plant form product of a single ingredient that delivers one or more nutritional requirements
Grasses can be found on the Animal Feed Material Catalogue as:
Agricultural plants or seeds
Cereal seeds
Fodder seeds
Grasses
Complying with animal feed legislation is crucial for protecting both human and animal health by ensuring feed is safe, preventing the spread of disease, and enabling traceability in case of a safety incident. Adherence to these regulations helps safeguard the quality of food products like meat, milk, and eggs, and is necessary to prevent risks from contaminants, bacteria, and chemicals.
Key reasons for compliance
Protecting human health: The quality of animal feed ensures that contaminants or hazards in animal feed do not pose a risk to public health.
Ensuring animal health and welfare: Regulations help prevent animals from suffering illness or injury from unsafe feed, contributing to their overall well-being.
Preventing disease transmission: Many diseases can be transmitted through the food chain. By ensuring feed is safe, legislation helps break this chain and reduces the risk of spreading contagious diseases.
Ensuring traceability: Legislation requires record-keeping that allows for the tracing of feed from its source to the final product. This is vital for quickly identifying the cause of a safety issue and taking action to prevent further harm.
Maintaining food quality: Feed that meets regulatory standards helps ensure that the final animal products are of high quality, which benefits both the producer and the consumer.
Legal and financial consequences: Non-compliance can lead to severe penalties, including court action, large fines, and loss of payments under schemes like the Single Payment Scheme (SPS).
Environmental protection: Regulations also ensure that animal feed does not have a direct adverse effect on the environment.
2020/354 establishing a list of intended uses of feed intended for particular nutritional purpose
Other important considerations
Registration: Businesses must be registered with the appropriate enforcement authority to comply with feed hygiene regulations.
Traceability: The legislation emphasizes the importance of traceability to ensure that in the event of a contamination incident, products can be quickly traced and recalled.
Labelling: Clear, accurate, and non-misleading labels are required, with specific information needed for different types of feed and additives.
producers offering ready grown cat grass must be:
registered with the FSA
registered with and inspected by Trading standards
Meet the legislative requirements
Must scientifically prove the nutritional values of their product – following the FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs
Must scientifically prove any product claims via the FSA
My Cat Grass is registered as an Animal Feed Material with the Food Standards Agency: License Number GB 708 19/03818 and regularly inspected by Local Authorities.
Organic Certification
Unfortunately many cat grass producers claim their Cat Grass Seeds, Kits and Ready Grown Cat Grass are organic when they are not. All Organic products should be labelled with one of the UK’s organic registration bodies logos, but there are many other requirements which must be met to renew the Organic license annually. Organic products often attract a premium fee due to additional processes, limited organic supply chain and additional administration and controls – why not make sure you get what you pay for and Ask your cat grass producer for their Organic Certificate and Trading Schedule.
Unfortunately many cat grass producers claim their Cat Grass Seeds, Kits and Ready Grown Cat Grass are organic when they are not. Some companies make the assumption that if they source organic ingredients, their products will be organic too. Sadly this is not the case.
“Organic” product claims have significant legal protection and are strictly regulated, particularly in the food and drink sectors. To use the term “organic” legally in labelling and advertising, a product must meet specific government-mandated standards and be certified by an approved control body.
Legal Framework for Organic Claims
The legal protection for “organic” claims stems from consumer protection law, which prohibits misleading consumers and ensures a level playing field for businesses making genuine claims.
Strict Regulation for Food/Feed Products: In the UK, the use of “organic” in the labelling, advertising, or commercial documents of food, feed, and seed products is controlled by specific legislation, which retains certain EU regulations. Products labelled simply as “organic” must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients. Any product marketed as “organic” must be inspected and certified by an approved UK organic control body.
Certification and Inspection: Manufacturers, processors, and importers must register with an approved certification body (such as the Soil Association or others listed by the government) and adhere to a strict set of guidelines. These operations are subject to annual and random inspections to ensure compliance.
Enforcement and Penalties: Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to significant penalties, including fines and legal action. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) also investigates and bans misleading non-broadcast advertisements.
To ensure your product is organic, the company should be registered with a UK organic registry body such as the soil Association or the Organic Farmers and Growers. They should also:
Ensure all products must are labelled with their organic registration bodies logo and GB-ORG XX – (xx is the organic bodies code to identify who the company is registered as organic with)
The company should be able and willing to share their Organic Certificate and Trading Schedule showing all the products the company is licensed to sell as organic
Without any one the three items, your product is probably not organic and the producer is not only making false product claims but is also breaking the law.
Name law they are breaking if they do not have organic certification
Ask your cat grass producer for copies of their Organic Certificate and Trading Schedule. In addition the Organic Registry bodies logo should appear on all products and display the org code GB-ORG-XX (where xx is the code for the registry body). My Cat Grass is registered with the Soil Association.
My Cat Grass is Registered with the Soil Association License number: AP31530 and AL31530. You can download our:
The UK’s 2005 General Product Safety Regulations still apply in Great Britain, ensuring only safe products reach consumers. Both the UK’s 2005 and Europe’s 2024 GPSR legislation share the goal of ensuring product safety. In the case of Cat Grass Kits, My Cat Grass deems the inclusion of vermiculite in Cat Grass Kits to breach these rules as vermiculite is: Harmful to cats if ingested, an Inert growing medium which prevents healthy plant growth, Promotes mold growth and is designated an industrial annoyance dust in the UK.
Join My Cat Grass in calling for a ban on the use of Vermiculite in Cat Grass Kits.
The UK’s 2005 General Product Safety Regulations still apply in Great Britain, ensuring only safe products reach consumers. Northern Ireland and the rest of the EEC follows the EU’s new 2023/988 regulation from December 2024. Both pieces of legislation share the goal of ensuring product safety. In the case of Cat Grass Kits, My Cat Grass deems the inclusion of vermiculite in Cat Grass Kits to breach these rules as vermiculite is: Harmful to cats if ingested, an Inert growing medium which prevents healthy plant growth, promotes mold growth dangerous to cats.
My Cat Grass deems Vermiculite to breach the UK GPRS Regulations 2005 as:
GPSR rules state products must not cause harm to end users – in this case cats
Vermiculite is classed as an Industrial annoyance dust under UK legislation – and therefore not safe in cat grass products
Vermiculite is an inert growing medium and does not support healthy grass growth
Vermiculite retains water and promotes mold growth – not safe for cats
Join My Cat Grass in calling for a ban on the use of Vermiculite in Cat Grass Kits.
You can support My Cat Grass’ call for a ban on vermiculite in cat grass kits by clicking the link below to email the heads of the UK’s authoritative bodies. Simply click on the link and a prefilled email will load ready for you to send.
