What Act 36 of 1947 Means for Your Pet's Supplement Safety
Most people never read the fine print on a pet supplement label. They look at the front. The promise, the picture, maybe the price. The rest is decoration.
But there's one small line on a properly registered pet supplement in South Africa that tells you something the marketing cannot. It usually reads something like "Reg. No. V##### Act 36 of 1947". That line is the closest thing you have to a state-issued receipt for what's inside the tub.
This article explains what Act 36 of 1947 actually is, what a V-number proves (and what it doesn't), why some pet products on shop shelves don't have one and how to read a South African pet supplement label the way a regulator would. By the end, you'll know what to check before you scoop anything into your pet's bowl every day.
What Act 36 of 1947 Actually Is
The full name is the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, 1947 (Act 36 of 1947). It has been on the South African statute books for nearly 80 years and remains the main legal framework for anything fed to, used on or applied to animals or crops in South Africa.
It's administered by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD). The Act covers a broad family of products: fertilisers, farm feeds for livestock, agricultural remedies like pesticides, and stock remedies, which is the category most pet supplements fall into.
For pet parents, the practical takeaway is short. If you're buying something to feed your dog or cat daily, or something intended to support their health, South African law requires that the product be officially registered before it goes on the shelf.
What a V-Number on a Pet Supplement Tells You
The V-number is the registration number issued by DALRRD once a pet food or stock remedy meets the requirements of Act 36. It appears on the label, usually near the bottom of the pack, next to the words "Act 36 of 1947" or "Act 36/1947".
It looks small. It does quite a lot of work.
The formulation has been reviewed
To obtain a V-number, a manufacturer must submit the full product formulation. DALRRD's technical reviewers check it against the product category's minimum and maximum requirements. Nutrient profile, dosage and active compound concentration. Everything on paper, before anything reaches a tub.
The facility and manufacturer are traceable
Registration ties the product to a named manufacturer or importer with a verifiable address and contact details. If something goes wrong, the regulator knows who to talk to. Not glamorous, but it's the foundation of accountability.
It's renewed every three years
A V-number isn't given once and forgotten. Registered products must go through the renewal process at set intervals, which means outdated, changed or quietly tweaked formulations have to go back through review. The system is built to flag drift.
Where to find it on the pack
Look for "Reg. No. V" followed by digits, alongside the words "Act 36 of 1947". It's usually printed in small text on the back or side panel. If you cannot find it on the physical pack, that's information in itself.
Why Some Pet Products Don't Have a V-Number
Not every pet product on a South African shelf is registered. There are a few reasons.
The first is the grey area for treats and "no-claim" products. If a product makes no nutritional, therapeutic or health claim, it may fall outside the registration requirement. A plain biltong strip with no claim attached is treated differently from a "joint support" chew.
The second is imports. Imported pet supplements aren't automatically allowed here. They still have to be registered locally before they can legally be sold. Some products slip through informal channels, especially online marketplaces, without that step being completed.
The third is enforcement. South Africa has the rules. Enforcement is uneven. Some unregistered products sell quietly for years before anyone notices.
This matters more for daily-use supplements than for occasional treats. A product you scoop into your pet's food every morning is one your pet is repeatedly exposed. The bar for that exposure should be higher, not lower.
Is a V-Number the Same as "Vet-Approved"?
No. A V-number is a regulatory registration issued by DALRRD under Act 36 of 1947. It confirms the product has been reviewed and meets the requirements for its category. It's a compliance fact, not a clinical endorsement.
"Vet-approved" is marketing language. It can mean a vet has reviewed the product. It can also mean a brand paid a vet to put their face next to it. It isn't regulated.
There are three different oversight bodies in this space and they're easy to confuse. DALRRD oversees stock remedies and pet food under Act 36 of 1947, which is where the V-number comes from. SAHPRA registers veterinary medicines under separate legislation, and stronger pharmaceutical claims fall under its remit. The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) regulates vets, not products.
A V-number doesn't prove a product works. It proves the product is what the label says it is, made by a traceable manufacturer, and reviewed against a set legal standard. That's a different kind of trust signal, and it's the one most pet supplements need to clear first.
How to Read a South African Pet Supplement Label
Once you know where to look, the label tells you more than the front of the pack ever will. There's a DALRRD labelling guideline for stock remedies that explains what should be there. The short version is below.
The V-number and Act 36 statement
This is the first thing to find. "Reg. No. V##### Act 36 of 1947". No V-number, no registration. It isn't an oversight. It's a fact about the product.
Ingredients listed by descending weight
The first ingredient contributes the greatest mass. If a product claims "kelp formula" but kelp is fourth on the list behind a binder, a filler and a flavouring, the claim and the formulation aren't telling the same story.
Dosage, species and instructions
A registered supplement specifies who it's for (dog, cat, both), how much to give based on weight, and clear directions for use. Vague dosing is a red flag.
Manufacturer and contact details
A real address. A working contact number or email. Country of origin if imported. If the only address is a PO Box or a brand website, that's worth pausing on.
What This Means When You're Choosing a Daily Supplement
The bar is higher for anything used every day.
A once-off treat may not need a registration number. A daily dental powder fed to a dog or cat for years should have one, alongside a clear ingredient list, a sensible dose and a manufacturer you can actually find.
NutriFlex® DentaMax™ is registered under Act 36/1947 with the registration number V35342. It contains one active ingredient: organic Ascophyllum nodosum, a North Atlantic brown seaweed studied for its effect on plaque and tartar. It's produced in South Africa by NutriFlex® in a human-grade, FSA-accredited facility.
This isn't a product pitch. It's a worked example of what the label of a registered daily-use pet supplement should look like. Single ingredient. Named manufacturer. Registration number on the pack. Renewal cycle on record.
When you're comparing daily dental products, use the same checklist on whatever you pick up next.
Common Questions About Pet Supplement Regulation in SA
Is every supplement on shop shelves in SA actually registered?
On the shelf of a legitimate South African pet retailer or veterinary practice, the answer should be yes. Established retailers (the major pet chains, independent stockists and vet clinics) won't list an unregistered stock remedy. Buyers check for the V-number before a product is brought in, because selling a non-compliant product carries real legal risk for the retailer, too.
The risk sits outside that conventional retail line. Online marketplaces with international sellers, direct-to-consumer brands shipped from abroad and certain "no-claim" treat categories are less consistent. If you're buying through one of those channels, the V-number test still belongs in your decision.
Are imported pet supplements automatically allowed here?
No. An imported product must still be registered with DALRRD before it can be legally sold. Compliance with an overseas regulator doesn't transfer. If you're buying an imported supplement, the V-number test still applies.
Does a V-number guarantee a product works?
It's closer than people often assume, but it isn't a blank cheque. To register a stock remedy under Act 36 of 1947, a manufacturer must submit a complete technical dossier, including the data behind any claim printed on the label. DALRRD reviews that evidence before the V-number is issued. Vague or unsupported claims don't make it through.
That's a meaningful step up from a product with no registration. But it isn't the same as a long body of independent, peer-reviewed research on the active ingredient in the species you're feeding. Registration confirms the claim has been verified against submitted evidence. Published clinical studies tell you how strong that evidence actually is.
The most reassuring picture is when both line up. A registered product, with claims backed by a technical dossier, built around an ingredient that has its own published research behind it.
What should I do if a product I'm using has no V-number?
Check the pack carefully first. It may be on a side panel in small print. If you've looked and there's no Act 36 statement, look at the manufacturer. Reach out and ask. A legitimate manufacturer answers in plain language. If the answer is vague, evasive or non-existent, that's your answer. You can also browse our frequently asked questions about DentaMax for a sense of what straightforward, registered-product transparency looks like.
The Bottom Line
Three things to hold onto.
Act 36 of 1947 is the rulebook for what goes into your pet's bowl in South Africa. It's broad, dated in places, but still the legal backbone.
The V-number is the receipt. It confirms that a product has been reviewed, registered and tied to a traceable manufacturer. It isn't a guarantee of effectiveness, but it's a baseline of accountability that any daily-use product should clear.
The daily-use bar is the highest bar. Anything you give your pet every day deserves closer scrutiny than a once-off treat.
If you'd like to see what a registered, single-ingredient daily dental powder looks like in practice, NutriFlex® DentaMax™ is V35342 under Act 36/1947, manufactured in South Africa, and built around a single clinically studied active ingredient. The label is the proof.