Burdock prohibited in pet food: what manufacturers must do

Key data

Pet food manufacturers who have incorporated or planned to incorporate burdock extract obtained from Arctium lappa L. in their formulations for cats and dogs must act now. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/548, in force since 13 March 2026, definitively closes the door to this ingredient as an authorized additive in the EU for these two species.

The decision is not administrative: it is the result of a scientific evaluation by the EFSA that could not establish either the safety or efficacy of the extract for canines and felines. Without that backing, the Commission has no scope to authorize its use.

What does this regulation establish?

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/548 formally denies the authorization request for burdock extract obtained from Arctium lappa L. as an additive for feed intended for cats and dogs.

The reasons for the denial are two, both derived from EFSA's evaluation:

• Safety not confirmed: EFSA could not establish that the extract is safe for the target species (cats and dogs).
• Efficacy not demonstrated: Nor was it established that the ingredient fulfills a useful or effective function in feed for these species.

The practical consequence is direct: this extract cannot be used as an additive in feed for cats and dogs in any EU Member State. Any product containing it must be withdrawn from the market or reformulated.

The regulation does not establish an explicit transitional period in the available data: entry into force is 13 March 2026, a date even before its official publication on 16 March 2026.

Economic and operational impact

The impact varies depending on whether the manufacturer already has products on the market with this ingredient or was in the phase of developing formulations that included it.

• Already commercialized products: Obligation to withdraw from the market or reformulate. This implies costs for stock withdrawal, labeling review, formula redesign, and possible inventory losses.
• Formulations under development: Need to replace burdock extract with another authorized ingredient, with the consequent reformulation cost and, where applicable, new evaluation or notification process.
• Supply chain: Additive suppliers that supplied this extract to pet food manufacturers are also affected, losing a sales channel for this specific use.
• Regulatory risk: Keeping products with this unauthorized additive on the market exposes the manufacturer to enforcement actions by the competent authorities of each Member State.

No data is available on the volume of affected market or specific penalties in the data of this regulation.

Who does it affect?

• Pet food manufacturers for cats and dogs that have incorporated or planned to incorporate burdock extract (Arctium lappa L.) in their formulations.
• Pet feed additive manufacturers that market this extract for use in canine and feline feed.
• R&D and formulation departments of animal nutrition companies working with botanical ingredients or natural extracts.
• Compliance and regulatory affairs managers in pet food companies with presence in the EU.
• Importers and distributors of pet food that market in the EU products manufactured outside it that could contain this extract.

Practical example

A Spanish manufacturer of natural dog food launched in 2025 a range of products with burdock extract (Arctium lappa L.) as a functional additive, with the expectation that European authorization would be formalized. Following the publication of Regulation (EU) 2026/548, that scenario is ruled out.

The company must now:

• Withdraw from the market the batches in circulation that contain this extract in its dog food formulation.
• Review whether any of its cat food lines also incorporate it and apply the same criteria.
• Replace the ingredient in the formula with another additive that has current authorization in the EU for these species.
• Update the labeling and technical documentation of reformulated products before returning them to market.

If the manufacturer also produces feed for other species (rabbits, poultry, etc.), this regulation does not affect those products, as the denial is exclusive to cats and dogs.

What should companies do now?

1. Audit the product catalog: Review all feed formulations for cats and dogs to identify whether any contain burdock extract (Arctium lappa L.) as an additive.
2. Halt new production: Immediately stop any batch in production that incorporates this extract in feed for the affected species.
3. Manage existing stock: Evaluate the inventory of finished products with this ingredient and plan their withdrawal from the market or destruction in accordance with applicable procedures.
4. Reformulate where necessary: Identify EU-authorized alternatives to replace burdock extract in affected formulations, with support from the R&D team or a regulatory consultant specialized in animal nutrition.
5. Update documentation and labeling: Once products are reformulated, update technical sheets, declarations of conformity, and labels before reintroducing them to the market.
6. Communicate with the distribution chain: Inform distributors and customers about the withdrawal of affected products and the expected timelines for the availability of reformulated versions.
7. Review contracts with additive suppliers: If there were supply agreements for this extract for use in cat or dog feed, evaluate their validity and the contractual implications of the denial.