Planet Dog, a developer of premium dog products, announced receiving an Editor's Choice Award from Yankee Magazine.

David Fairfield of the NGFA shared with the Pet Food Institute answers to questions he raised with FDA regarding the GRAS notification program for animal feed announced earlier this year.

The Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry stripped L.D. 964 of the language that would have established an additional 1% retail sales tax on petfood in Maine and then voted the bill out of committee, reported the Pet Food Institute.

Beaphar recently built a new plant where they manufacture petfood and pet veterinary products.

PetSmart is reported to have increased its net sales by 9.5% to US$1.3 billion in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the same period last year.

The Pet Food Institute, along with the PIJAC, NE Ag and Feed Alliance, Maine Merchants Association, the Maine Association of Grocers, Hannaford Supermarkets, Wal-Mart and the Maine Oil Dealers Association, is campaigning against a proposed 6% tax on petfood in Maine.

Nutro Products announced a voluntary recall of select varieties of Natural Choice Complete Care Dry Cat Foods and Max Cat Dry Foods with “Best If Used By" dates between May 12, 2010 and August 22, 2010, according to a statement on the Nutro website.

NürnbergMesse, a Germany-based trade show organizer, announced the expansion of the company with the opening of NürnbergMesse North America in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, according to the company.

Despite the recession, the American Pet Products Assn. estimates Americans will spend US$45.4 billion on pets in 2009, up 5.1% from last year, according to an article from BusinessWeek.

A rice-based food edible by pets and humans alike has been gaining popularity in Japan, according to an article from the Mainichi Daily News.