AUSTRALIA’s pet food industry would be forced to obey mandatory labelling and testing standards if a Senate committee gets the federal government to roll over.

The upper house’s regional affairs committee has recommended a pet food safety review focus on ways to mandate pet food standards and labelling requirements.

Serious consideration should be given to tightening laws around food standards to include what pets eat, the report released on Tuesday found.

Centre Alliance senator Stirling Griff said the status quo had to be changed, urging the government to implement the report’s recommendations.

“Pet food should be regulated to the same standards as human foods. I can’t see why we can’t replicate that process,” Senator Griff told parliament on Tuesday.

The report calls for the consumer watchdog to establish a reporting system so pet owners can dob in concerns with dodgy animal food.

A review of pet food standards should look at requirements for feeding trials and other testing prior to sale as well as mandatory labelling standards detailing ingredients including preservatives and additives.

The senators also want the federal government to work with state and territory counterparts to develop an education campaign to raise awareness of pet food’s reporting, investigation and recall regime.

The Labor-chaired inquiry was established after more than 70 dogs have fallen ill and several have died earlier in the year from megaesophagus, believed to be related to an issue with pet food.

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