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Our partnership with Kelly Registration Systems has concluded. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture will now be managing licensing, commercial feed, and pet food product registrations internally to enhance efficiency and provide a more streamlined experience.

What This Means for You:

  • All services previously handled by Kelly Registration Systems will now be managed directly through the department using the License Application & Renewal Services (LARS).
  • While your existing account data has been preserved, a new login is required to access the system.
  • You can expect continued excellence in service with responsiveness and support.

We appreciate your understanding and support during this transition. ‘How to’ guides are available to help you get started, and as always should you have any questions, feel free to contact Jamie Good at jgood@nd.gov / 701-226-7337 or Angela Rittmiller at arittmiller@nd.gov / 701-328-1497.

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The North Dakota Department of Agriculture regulates the registration, distribution, sale, and labeling of commercial feed and pet food products through the authority provided by Chapter 4.1-41 of the North Dakota Century Code (N.D.C.C). The department requires all commercial feed and pet food product labels be reviewed as part of the registration process. This ensures compliance with regulations and safety requirements before granting approval for distribution and maintains product integrity and consumer protection.

Licensing of manufacturers and retailers enables a standardized approach to inspection and sampling activities across industry locations. This ensures consistency, compliance, and efficiency in regulatory oversight.

The Department’s focus is to ensure:

  1. The health and wellbeing of livestock, wildlife and companion animals
  2. The safety of foods derived from animals
  3. Consumer protection through truth in labeling
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Pursuant to N.D.C.C. Chapter 4.1-41, each person (company) who manufactures commercial feed* or whose name appears on the label of a commercial feed, other than pet foods, must obtain a feed manufacturer’s license for each location.

  • If a manufacturer is also a retailer of feed, the retail license requirement is waived.
  • Feed Manufacturer License Details:
    • Feed manufacturer licenses are $120 per license.
    • The license cycle is a designated two-year period beginning January 1st of every even-numbered year and ending December 31st of the following odd-numbered year.
    • Renewal notices will be emailed a month before expiration.
    • The license renewal fee is $100 and is due by January 31st (the month after expiration).
    • Any license not renewed by January 31st will be cancelled and require re-application.
    • New license applications & license renewals must be submitted online by going to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s License Application & Renewal Services (LARS)
      • After the Department approves the application and the fee has been paid, a license card will be available for you to print from your LARS account.
      • This license should be posted at the facility in a conspicuous place.

*(“Commercial feed” means all materials, except whole seeds unmixed or physically altered entire unmixed seeds, which are distributed for use as feed or for mixing in feed for livestock or wildlife.)

Pursuant to N.D.C.C. Chapter 4.1-41, each person whose name appears on the label of a commercial feed shall register and maintain a current label on file of all feeds distributed in the state with the exception of customer formula feeds*. Persons must have an active Commercial Feed Manufacturers License to register commercial feed products.

  • Commercial Feed Registration Details:
    • Commercial Feed Product Registration is free of charge.
    • An annual confirmation notice of renewal or cancellation is requested and serves as a reminder to submit any updates to labels.
    • Each product registration must be submitted online by going to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s License Application & Renewal Services (LARS).
    • Product labels must be submitted as part of the registration process.
      • Product label review may also include evaluating product documentation such as, but not limited to, spec sheets, facility permits/licenses or inspection reports.
        • Label submissions will be reviewed to ensure they meet all requirements, and any discrepancies will be addressed as needed.
        • Label review ensures that product labels and labeling are compliant with regulations and safety requirements to maintain product integrity and consumer protection.

*(“Customer formula feed” means a mixture of commercial feeds or feed ingredients each batch of which is mixed according to the specific instructions of the final purchaser or contract feeder.)
 

Pursuant to N.D.C.C. Chapter 4.1-41, persons distributing non-exempt commercial feeds* and non-exempt customer-formula feeds* must submit an annual inspection (tonnage) fee report detailing the tonnage of formula feeds and ingredients distributed in North Dakota during the previous year.

  • Inspection fees are owed for each active feed manufacturer license
  • Inspection fee details:
    • Inspection fees paid at the rate of $.20 per ton [907.18 kilograms].
      • Minimum fee of $10.
    • The annual report must be received by the Department by February 15th of the following year.
    • Reports received after February 15th will be assessed a penalty of 10% of the amount owed,
      • Minimum of $10 and maximum of $250.
    • No fee is required for customer-formula feeds if the inspection fee is paid on the commercial feeds they contain.
    • Commercial feeds distributed to manufacturers are also exempted if they are used solely in manufacture of registered feeds.
    • The person whose name appears on the label as the manufacturer, guarantor, or distributor shall assume the liability for reporting and paying the inspection fee.
    • Commercial Feed Manufacturer license holders will be notified each December when annual feed tonnage reporting for that year can be submitted.

Pursuant to N.D.C.C. Chapter 4.1-41, each person (company) who sells commercial feed, other than Pet Food or Specialty Pet Food, at retail must obtain a feed retailer license. A feed retailer license must be obtained for each location used by the retailer. If a person holds a commercial feed manufacturer license for a location that also retails, the requirement for a retailer license is waived for that location.

  • Feed Retailer License Details:
    • Feed retailer licenses are $60 per location
    • The license cycle is a designated two-year period beginning January 1st of every even-numbered year and ending December 31st of the following odd-numbered year.
    • Renewal notices will be emailed a month before expirations.
    • The retailer license renewal fee is $50 and is due by January 31st (the month after expiration).
    • Any license not renewed by January 31st will be cancelled and require re- application.
    • New license applications & license renewals must be submitted online by going to the North Dakota Department of Agriculture’s License Application & Renewal Services (LARS).
      • After the Department approves the application and the fee has been paid, a license card will be available for you to print from your LARS account.
      • This license should be posted at the facility in a conspicuous place.

For more information about the department's pet food program, visit the Pet Food Program page.

Feed Program Contacts

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Feed Program Contacts

Jamie Good
Feed Specialist
701-226-7337
jgood@nd.gov

Angela Rittmiller
Feed Administrative Officer
701-328-1497
arittmiller@nd.gov