If an animal feed preparation contains a drug substance intended to treat, prevent, or mitigate disease, it is regulated as a medicated feed under FDA's veterinary drug framework rather than solely as a feed ingredient. Such products require an approved New Animal Drug Application (NADA) or an index listing for minor species, and importers must confirm the regulatory status of any active pharmaceutical ingredient before shipment.

The guaranteed analysis (protein, fat, fiber, moisture), the list of ingredients, the target species, and any drug or supplement claims are the key data points. These determine whether the product is classified as a complete feed, a supplement, a premix, or a medicated preparation — distinctions that can place it under different HTS subheadings and trigger different agency review requirements. A licensed customs broker should review the label and formulation before the first shipment.