How to assess a supplier

First identify what the business actually does

A manufacturer, importer, distributor and pet-food retailer may have different regulatory responsibilities. Do not assume that every shop selling raw food manufactured it, or that retail status proves how the product was produced.

Ask for the legal business name, physical business location, contact details and its role in the supply chain. The product label should identify the responsible feed business.

Check registration and approval carefully

GOV.UK states that businesses making, selling or using animal feed generally need to register with the relevant local Trading Standards office, although some retail activities are exempt. A site manufacturing pet food from animal by-products requires APHA approval, and production cannot begin until the necessary APHA and local-authority requirements are satisfied.

Ask a manufacturer for its relevant approval or registration details and which authority issued them. Where needed, verify information with the authority or current official premises lists. Registration is an important threshold, but it is not a BarfDiet quality award.

Examine the product, not only the brand

• Is it labelled complete or complementary?
• Which species and life stage is it intended for?
• Are composition, analytical constituents and feeding directions supplied?
• Are batch or lot identification and date information clear?
• Are storage, defrosting and safe-handling instructions prominent?
• Is the packaging clean, sealed, leak-proof and suitable for frozen transport?

Ask who formulates the food

Request a clear explanation of the expertise behind formulation and the nutritional guidelines used. “Vet approved,” “nutritionist designed” and similar phrases need context: ask who, what qualifications they hold, what they reviewed and whether the claim applies to every product.

For complementary products, ask exactly how the supplier expects the total daily diet to become nutritionally adequate. Avoid relying on informal percentages or universal recipes without an individual assessment.

Ask about safety controls and traceability

A responsible manufacturer should be able to explain ingredient sourcing, supplier approval, temperature control, microbiological controls, sampling, batch traceability, complaints and recall procedures in understandable terms. They may not disclose commercially sensitive detail, but they should not dismiss reasonable safety questions.

Ask how customers would be contacted during a withdrawal or recall and whether current notices are easy to find. Keep packaging or a record of the batch information while using the product.

Assess delivery before ordering

• How is the frozen state protected in transit?
• What should you do if a parcel arrives late, damaged, leaking or partially thawed?
• Are delivery areas, dispatch days and missed-delivery arrangements clear?
• Is there an accessible complaints and refund process?

Warning signs

Be cautious when a supplier will not identify the responsible business, avoids direct questions about registration or formulation, gives no batch information, provides vague handling instructions, treats complementary food as automatically complete, promises to prevent or cure disease, or suggests that professional advice is unnecessary.

The BarfDiet directory standard

Future directory entries will distinguish manufacturer, retailer, distributor and professional roles. Factual fields will be kept separate from promotional descriptions. Free, enhanced and sponsored listings will be labelled, and payment will not be presented as verification or endorsement.

Initially, suppliers will be asked for their own declarations and supporting information. Visitors will still be advised to conduct current checks because business status, products and approvals can change.

Please note: This guide supports general consumer checks. It does not certify any supplier, guarantee a product or determine whether a diet is appropriate for an individual animal.