<h1>Harmonize pet food rules, adopt BIS standards, rationalize 18% GST, expand testing and unified labeling to boost growth</h1> India's pet food sector, valued at about USD 720 million in 2024 and projected to reach USD 2 billion by 2035, faces regulatory gaps and a high 18% GST that industry participants say treats pet nutrition as discretionary. A paper released at a national food event urges a harmonized, science-backed regulatory framework, enforceable BIS standards, GST rationalization to align with essential nutrition, a single-window compliance system, expanded accredited testing infrastructure, and uniform labelling across channels to build consumer trust, improve nutrition standards, and enable domestic growth and exports.