The General Requirements for Complete Prescription Pet Food (NY/T4838) officially took effect on May 1. For the first time, it sets precise nutritional standards for 19 categories of prescription pet food, and clarifies that such products must be used under the guidance of licensed veterinarians. This means low-quality products that once relied on concept marketing to occupy the prescription pet food market will be rapidly phased out. The industry has officially stepped into a standardized era with clear rules and guidelines to follow.
For raw material suppliers, this is a clear signal: prescription pet food brands will drastically raise the bar for raw material efficacy verification and compliance. The era of extensive, rudimentary raw material supply has come to an end.
Plant Extracts: A Core Driver for Functional Prescription Pet Food
A notable underlying trend has emerged in domestic and international prescription pet food this year: plant extracts are evolving from an optional additive to a core pillar that enables product functionality.
At Interzoo 2026, plant ingredients such as turmeric, goji berry and cranberry were widely incorporated into functional pet foods. The concept of "human-pet shared superfood standards" has been fully validated by the market. Domestically, alongside tightening regulations and growing consumer preference for natural ingredients, plant extracts are gaining wider application in prescription pet food for gastrointestinal conditioning, immune support, liver protection and detoxification. Their strengths include natural low toxicity, verifiable efficacy and excellent compatibility with various formulas.
In short, the functional positioning of prescription pet food is shifting from simple nutrient stacking to targeted intervention with plant active ingredients.
Artichoke Extract: Dual Benefits for Liver and Gastrointestinal Health
Amid the booming adoption of plant extracts in prescription pet food, artichoke extract is an underrated yet highly promising ingredient.
Its key active compounds are cynarin and chlorogenic acid, which deliver dual health benefits. On one hand, they stimulate bile secretion and accelerate the metabolism of toxins in the liver, acting as a natural agent for liver protection and detoxification. On the other hand, increased bile flow improves the digestion and absorption of fats, delivering effective support for gastrointestinal health. This dual mechanism - protecting the liver while nourishing the gut - perfectly addresses the common clinical issue where liver diseases and gastrointestinal disorders frequently occur together in pets.
Overseas brands have already launched mature products based on this formula. Animal Necessity has rolled out a liver support tablet combining artichoke and milk thistle, with each tablet containing 350mg of artichoke extract. Polish brand Cosset has launched a dual-artichoke formula for liver protection and digestive health, which achieves simultaneous detoxification and tissue repair. Both are positioned as clinical-grade solutions for liver and digestive care in cats and dogs.
In the domestic market, milk thistle has long been the mainstream ingredient for liver-care prescription pet food. However, milk thistle primarily focuses on liver tissue repair and offers limited support for bile secretion and digestion. Artichoke extract makes up for this deficiency, creating a complete liver protection system featuring "repair + detoxification & excretion".
Artichoke extract is just one example. Plant extracts are opening up tremendous new opportunities across major segments of prescription pet food, including liver care, immune regulation, intestinal health and urinary care.
