For pet brands, retailers and private-label buyers, material compliance is one of the most important questions before developing silicone or rubber pet products. Buyers often ask for REACH, FDA or LFGB test reports, especially for products such as silicone slow feeder bowls, lick mats, feeding mats, pet bowls and natural rubber dog toys.

However, these terms are often misunderstood.

REACH, FDA and LFGB do not mean the same thing. They are used for different markets, different product risks and different types of material evaluation. For pet products, buyers should understand what each standard is actually used for, what documents they should request, and how compliance should be confirmed before mass production.

This guide explains the practical differences between REACH, FDA and LFGB for silicone and rubber pet products.

Why Compliance Matters for Pet Products

Pet products are not only decorative consumer goods. Many of them are used in direct contact with food, water, saliva, mouths, skin or chewing behavior.

For example:

• Silicone slow feeder bowls contact pet food.
• Silicone lick mats are used with wet food, treats, yogurt-style spreads or peanut butter.
• Pet feeding mats may contact spilled food and water.
• Natural rubber dog toys are chewed, licked and carried in the mouth.
• Silicone grooming tools may contact skin and coat.
• Travel bowls may be folded, washed and reused frequently.

Because of these use cases, buyers need to consider material safety, chemical restrictions, odor control, migration risk, colorant safety, durability and cleaning performance.

A professional pet product supplier should not simply say “the material is safe.” The supplier should help buyers understand which test reports or compliance documents are relevant for the target product and market.

Quick Comparison: REACH vs FDA vs LFGB

REACH is broader and focuses on chemical safety in the EU. FDA and LFGB are more commonly connected with food-contact material expectations. For pet feeding products, buyers often use FDA or LFGB testing as a material safety reference, even though pet products are not always regulated in the same way as human food-contact products.

What Is REACH?

REACH stands for Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. It is the main European Union chemical regulation system. The European Chemicals Agency, known as ECHA, is responsible for implementing EU chemical legislation and helping companies comply with REACH and other chemical rules.

For pet product buyers, REACH is mainly relevant when products are sold in the EU market. It can apply to finished articles such as silicone pet bowls, rubber dog toys, plastic components, packaging parts, coatings, colorants, labels and accessories.

In practical terms, REACH helps buyers check whether a product contains restricted chemicals or substances of very high concern.

For pet products, REACH may be relevant to:

• Silicone feeding products
• Natural rubber dog toys
• Nylon chew toys
• Plastic inserts or parts
• Printed logos
• Pigments and colorants
• Coatings
• Packaging materials
• Metal accessories
• Adhesives or bonding materials

A REACH test report is especially important when the buyer plans to sell pet products in the EU.

What Buyers Should Understand About REACH

REACH is not a single simple “certificate.” It is a regulatory system. A test report may only cover certain substances, materials, colors or components.

For example, a silicone slow feeder bowl may include:

• Silicone base material
• Color masterbatch
• Printed logo
• Packaging label
• Adhesive sticker
• Carton or retail packaging

If only the silicone material is tested, that does not automatically mean every part of the final product is fully evaluated.

Buyers should confirm:

1. Which material was tested
2. Which color was tested
3. Which product or component was tested
4. Which version of the restricted substance list was used
5. Whether the report matches the final production material
6. Whether additional components need separate review

For EU product programs, buyers should also understand SVHC communication duties. ECHA’s Candidate List identifies substances of very high concern, and the listed obligations use a 0.1% weight-by-weight threshold for articles.

This matters because pet products with multiple components may need component-level review, not only finished-product-level assumptions.

What Is FDA for Silicone Pet Products?

When buyers mention “FDA” for silicone pet products, they usually refer to U.S. food-contact material requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations.

For silicone and rubber-like materials used in repeated food-contact applications, buyers often refer to 21 CFR 177.2600, which covers rubber articles intended for repeated use. The eCFR text includes requirements for repeated-use rubber articles in contact with aqueous and fatty foods, including extractives limits under specified test conditions.

The FDA also maintains an inventory of food-contact substances listed in 21 CFR, including substances authorized for specific food-contact uses and conditions.

For pet product buyers, FDA-related testing is commonly requested for:

• Silicone slow feeder bowls
• Silicone lick mats
• Silicone feeding bowls
• Silicone feeding mats
• Silicone travel bowls
• Silicone treat molds
• Food-contact pet accessories

However, buyers should be careful with wording. It is more accurate to say:

• “Material tested according to FDA food-contact requirements”
• “Complies with applicable FDA food-contact material requirements”
• “Tested according to 21 CFR 177.2600”

It is less accurate to casually say “FDA certified,” because FDA does not simply certify every individual silicone pet product in the way many marketing descriptions imply.

What Buyers Should Understand About FDA Reports

An FDA-related test report usually does not mean every future product variation is automatically covered.

Buyers should check:

• Is the tested material the same as mass production material?
• Is the tested color the same as the ordered color?
• Does the report cover the final finished product or only raw material?
• Does the report cover repeated food-contact use?
• Does the report match the intended product application?
• Is the report from a recognized third-party laboratory?
• Is the report still acceptable for the buyer’s internal compliance requirements?

For example, if a buyer changes from natural silicone color to a dark Pantone custom color, the color masterbatch may change. In that case, the buyer may need to confirm whether the existing report is still acceptable.

For silicone pet feeding products, FDA testing is useful because the products may contact pet food or treats. But the buyer should still confirm the final market requirements with their compliance team or importer.

What Is LFGB?

LFGB refers to the German Food, Commodities and Feed Code. In pet product sourcing, buyers usually mention LFGB when they want a higher food-contact safety expectation, especially for silicone feeding products sold in Germany or wider European markets.

LFGB is often discussed together with EU food-contact principles and BfR recommendations. The BfR explains that food contact materials should be manufactured under good manufacturing practice and should not transfer substances to food in quantities that may endanger health, cause unacceptable changes in food composition or impair organoleptic properties.

For silicone specifically, BfR Recommendation XV covers silicones. The BfR recommendation states that there are no objections to the use of organopolysiloxanes in relevant commodities, provided they are suitable for the intended purpose and comply with the stated conditions.

In practical pet product sourcing, LFGB/BfR-related testing is often requested for:

• Silicone slow feeder bowls
• Silicone lick mats
• Silicone pet bowls
• Silicone feeding mats
• Silicone travel bowls
• Silicone treat accessories
• Silicone products promoted as food-contact safe

LFGB is often considered stricter or more premium by European buyers, especially for food-contact silicone products.

FDA vs LFGB: What Is the Difference?

FDA and LFGB are both often used for food-contact evaluation, but they are not the same.

For pet brands selling globally, both FDA and LFGB may be requested. For U.S.-only products, FDA-related testing may be more relevant. For Germany or EU retail channels, LFGB/BfR-related testing may be more important.

Which Pet Products Usually Need Which Test?

Not every pet product needs every report. The required testing depends on product use, material, target market and buyer policy.

For a silicone feeding product, FDA and LFGB are often relevant. For a rubber chew toy, REACH may be more relevant, while additional physical safety, bite resistance, odor and material-specific testing may also be needed.

Pet Feeding Products: Why FDA and LFGB Are Often Requested

Pet feeding products are used with food and water. Even though they are used for pets, buyers often apply food-contact material logic because the products may contact edible substances.

Common examples include:

• Slow feeder bowls
• Lick mats
• Feeding mats
• Travel bowls
• Pet food scoops
• Treat trays
• Silicone pet bowls
• 2-in-1 feeding and enrichment trays

For these products, buyers may ask for FDA or LFGB test reports because they want to reduce material safety risk and support retail compliance documentation.

For silicone feeding products, the most important points are:

• Use suitable food-contact-grade silicone
• Confirm colorant safety
• Avoid strong odor
• Control migration risk
• Review surface cleanliness
• Confirm whether post-curing is needed
• Keep batch traceability
• Match test samples with mass production material

A test report is useful, but production consistency is equally important.

Rubber Dog Toys: Why REACH Is Often More Relevant

For natural rubber dog toys, buyers are often more concerned about chemical restrictions, odor, durability and chewing safety.

REACH is commonly requested for EU market products because rubber formulations, pigments, processing aids and additives may need to be reviewed.

For rubber dog toys, buyers should consider:

• Natural rubber material source
• Pigments and colorants
• Odor control
• Heavy metals
• Restricted substances
• PAHs, depending on product and market requirement
• Physical durability
• Small part or squeaker safety
• Packaging and label claims

If a rubber dog toy is not intended for food contact, FDA or LFGB may not be the most relevant requirement. However, some buyers may still request additional testing based on their internal standards.

Why One Test Report May Not Cover All Variations

This is one of the most common misunderstandings in pet product sourcing.

A test report usually applies to the tested sample. If the material, color, formula, supplier, surface coating, logo ink or production process changes, the report may no longer fully represent the final product.

Examples:

• A transparent silicone lick mat report may not automatically cover a dark green custom color.
• A plain slow feeder bowl report may not cover printed logo ink.
• A silicone-only report may not cover plastic packaging, stickers or inserts.
• A rubber toy report may not cover a different rubber hardness or pigment system.
• A previous report may not match the current SVHC Candidate List update.

For private-label projects, buyers should confirm whether they need:

• Raw material test report
• Finished product test report
• Color-specific test report
• Component-level test report
• Packaging material report
• Batch-specific documentation

This should be discussed before sampling, not after mass production.

What Documents Should Buyers Request?

A professional pet product buyer should not only ask, “Do you have FDA or LFGB?”

A better question is:

“What documents can you provide for this material, this product, this color and this target market?”

Recommended documents may include:

The exact document list depends on product type, target market and buyer requirements.

How Compliance Affects Customization

Customization can affect compliance.

For pet products, common customization options include:

• Pantone color matching
• Logo printing
• Embossed or debossed logo
• Custom packaging
• Custom maze patterns
• Different silicone hardness
• Different rubber hardness
• Adding a squeaker
• Adding rope, plastic or metal components

Each change may introduce new compliance considerations.

For example:

• A new color may require pigment review.
• Printed logos may require ink safety review.
• A squeaker may require small part and material review.
• Rope or plastic parts may require separate testing.
• Retail packaging may need label and warning review.
• A different hardness may mean a different formulation.

For this reason, buyers should confirm compliance requirements before finalizing custom design details.

How to Prepare a Compliance-Focused RFQ

When asking for a quotation, buyers should provide clear information about product use and target market.

RFQ Checklist

If the buyer is not sure which test is needed, they should at least provide the target market and product application. The manufacturer can then suggest a practical document and testing plan.

Common Mistakes Buyers Should Avoid

Mistake 1: Asking Only “Do You Have FDA?”

This question is too general. Buyers should ask which material, product, color and test method the report covers.

Mistake 2: Treating REACH, FDA and LFGB as the Same Thing

They are different systems. REACH focuses on chemical restrictions in the EU. FDA and LFGB are more commonly connected with food-contact material expectations.

Mistake 3: Assuming One Report Covers Every Color

Color masterbatch can affect compliance. Custom colors should be reviewed carefully.

Mistake 4: Ignoring Logo Ink and Packaging

Printed logos, labels, stickers and packaging may introduce additional materials.

Mistake 5: Testing Too Late

Testing should be discussed before mass production. If a product fails after production, the cost and delay are much higher.

Mistake 6: Using Compliance Claims Too Casually

Marketing claims should match actual reports. Do not claim FDA, LFGB or REACH compliance unless the product and documentation support it.

How Newtop Pets Supports Compliance for Custom Pet Products

Newtop Pets supports silicone and natural rubber pet product development for global pet brands, wholesalers and private-label buyers.

Our main product categories include:

• Silicone slow feeder bowls
• Silicone lick mats
• Silicone feeding bowls
• Silicone placemats
• 2-in-1 enrichment feeding products
• Natural rubber dog toys
• Nylon chew toys
• Pet outdoor and accessory products

For compliance-related projects, we can support:

• Material selection
• Food-grade silicone options
• Natural rubber material review
• Color and logo customization review
• REACH-related document support
• FDA-related food-contact testing coordination
• LFGB/BfR-related testing coordination
• Third-party lab testing support
• Batch traceability
• Pre-shipment inspection
• Private-label packaging review

Compliance requirements should be confirmed early in the project. This helps avoid material changes, repeated testing, sampling delays and unclear marketing claims.

Conclusion

REACH, FDA and LFGB are important, but they serve different purposes.

REACH is mainly used for EU chemical safety and restricted substance control. FDA is commonly used for U.S. food-contact material evaluation. LFGB and BfR recommendations are often requested by European buyers, especially for silicone feeding products.

For pet products, the right compliance approach depends on product type, material, target market and actual use. Silicone slow feeder bowls and lick mats often need food-contact-related evaluation. Rubber dog toys may need stronger chemical restriction and physical safety review. Custom colors, logos, coatings, packaging and mixed materials may require additional checks.

Buyers should not treat compliance as a simple label. They should confirm which product, material, color, component and production batch the documents actually cover.

Newtop Pets helps pet brands develop custom silicone and rubber pet products with material selection, product design support, testing coordination, quality control and private-label production. If you are developing a pet feeding product, lick mat, slow feeder bowl or natural rubber dog toy, our team can help review the compliance documents needed for your target market.

FAQ

1. What does REACH mean for pet products?

REACH is the European Union chemical regulation system. For pet products, it is commonly used to check restricted substances and substances of very high concern in materials, colorants, coatings, plastic parts, rubber parts and packaging components.

2. Do silicone pet bowls need FDA testing?

FDA-related testing is often requested for silicone pet feeding products because they contact pet food or water. Buyers should confirm whether the report covers the final material, color and intended use.

3. What does LFGB mean for silicone pet products?

LFGB is commonly used by German and European buyers for food-contact safety expectations. For silicone pet products, LFGB/BfR-related testing is often requested for slow feeder bowls, lick mats, feeding bowls and travel bowls.

4. Is FDA the same as LFGB?

No. FDA is related to U.S. food-contact requirements. LFGB is connected with Germany and European food-contact safety expectations. They use different regulatory frameworks and test logic.

5. Does REACH replace FDA or LFGB?

No. REACH focuses on chemical restrictions and substances of concern in the EU. FDA and LFGB are more commonly used for food-contact material evaluation. They are not interchangeable.

6. Does one test report cover all product colors?

Not always. Different colors may use different pigments or masterbatch. Buyers should confirm whether a report covers the specific color used in mass production.

7. Do rubber dog toys need FDA or LFGB?

Usually, REACH and material safety testing are more relevant for rubber dog toys, especially in the EU market. FDA or LFGB may be requested only if the buyer applies food-contact logic or has internal testing requirements.

8. What documents should pet product buyers request?

Buyers may request REACH, FDA, LFGB/BfR, heavy metal, PAHs, SDS, COA, material declaration, batch traceability and pre-shipment inspection reports, depending on product type and market.

9. Can printed logos affect compliance?

Yes. Logo ink, labels, coatings and packaging can introduce additional materials. These should be reviewed if the buyer has strict compliance requirements.

10. When should testing requirements be confirmed?

Testing requirements should be confirmed before sampling or tooling. Late changes can cause delays, additional cost and repeated testing.