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RG-1 Regulatory Guidance:
Chapter 4 – Labelling and guarantees

4.0 General guidance on labelling

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This guidance provides useful information under the Feeds Regulations, 1983 and is complementary to the template labels available in Chapter 4 4.1 Labelling of livestock feed.

Table 1: General guidance on labelling
Labelling requirements General guidance
Language
  • any labels having other language then English and/or French required registration
  • refer to Chapter 4 4.11 international/multilingual labels
  • any information required on the label must:
    • be printed conspicuously and legibly
    • appear on the main panel of the package label or, where the package contains less than 5 kg, on the surface of the package
Brand name
  • optional
  • shall not tend to deceive or mislead a purchaser with respect to the feed composition, purpose or usefulness
  • brand names including the use of acronyms, are acceptable unless they imply a claim which may require to submit an application for feed registration or approval
Feed name
  • shall be appropriate for the intended use of the feed
  • shall not be misleading or imply a claim unless approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
  • must reflect the intended end-use of the product (for example, complete feed, supplement, micro premix, mineral, processing aids, gut modifier, mycotoxin detoxification agent, odor control agent, flavouring agent, etc.)
  • refer to the Chapter 4 - 4.13 Labelling for livestock species (coming soon)
    • intended species must be identified in the feed name (for example for swine, beef cattle, dairy cattle, poultry, horses, livestock etc.)
    • if the feed is for all livestock, the feed must be suitable for all livestock species
    • intended classes of the species should be added in the name for the product when applicable (for example, grower, finisher, breeder, lactating, layers, calves, etc.)
    • for a medicated feed, the feed name must include the name and actual amount of the medicating ingredient
  • for a single feed ingredient (SIF), the name must be as listed in the Schedule IV or V of the Feeds Regulations
Form of feed
  • mandatory if the feed contains a medicating ingredient and is in a form other than mash
  • mandatory for liquid feed
  • optional for dry non-medicated feed
Medicating ingredients
  • the label must bear the name and actual amount of the medicating ingredient present in the feed, the approved claim and required notes as listed in the Compendium of medicating ingredient brochures
  • for veterinary prescription feed, the label must include the name of the medicating ingredient, the level and any claims (if 1 is indicated) on the veterinary prescription
  • the medicating ingredient guarantee statement must follow the template below
    "This product is medicated with name of the medicating ingredient at a level in the unit expressed in the Compendium of Medicating Ingredients Brochures (CMIB) (with few exceptions, most are expressed in mg/kg of product) to (add the appropriate claim as per the CMIB or the veterinary prescription, when applicable)"
  • claim is not required for a veterinary prescription feed, unless indicated on the veterinary prescription
Registration number active registration number, if applicable
Claim
  • optional
  • only claims and logos implying claims that have been supported, evaluated and approved by the CFIA can appear on a label
  • for organic claims, refer to Chapter 3 3.24 Organic label claims
For mixed feed containing added selenium
  • the complete statement "This feed contains added selenium at X mg/kg" must appear above the guaranteed analysis (not required on the label for customer formula feeds)
  • do not repeat the selenium level in the guaranteed analysis
Guaranteed analysis for nutrients
  • guaranteed analysis should appear as a header and should be in bold characters
  • single ingredient feed: the required guarantees are set in Schedules IV and V of the Feeds Regulations
  • mixed feeds
    • guarantees are not required on the label for customer formula feeds
    • the required guarantees and the unit to express nutrient concentrations are set by specific feed types in table 3 of the Schedule I of the Feeds Regulations.
    • if guarantees other than the ones allowed in table 3 appear on the label, the feed must be registered
    • the feed nutrient concentrations when fed as per the directions for use must be in the range as prescribed for the specific species in table 4 of the Schedule I of the Feeds Regulations
      • if the guarantees are outside the range as prescribed for the specific species in table 4, the feed must be registered or be subject to other exemption from registration criteria (for example, customer formula feeds)
Other guarantees
  • for other guarantees appearing on the label and not prescribed in tables 3 and 4 of Schedule I of the Feeds Regulations, an application must be made to the CFIA for feed approval or registration
  • examples of extra guarantees: viable microbial strain, enzymes, phytase, bound minerals, etc.
  • for specific registration requirements to support a new guarantee, refer to Chapter 3 - specific registration information by feed type
Ingredients
  • the list of ingredients is required on labels for all specialty feeds
  • for specialty feed examples, refer to RG1- Chapter 3 - specific registration information by feed type
  • non-specialty feeds, imported and domestic, must have either the complete list of ingredients or the following statement on the label
    "a list of ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or registrant"
  • for a customer formula feed, the list of ingredients or the generic statement is not required on the label
  • for imported mixed feeds, which must be registered by the CFIA, if the list of ingredients is not on the label, a separate document with the list of ingredients is required to accompany the application for feed registration
  • for mixed feeds, if the list of ingredients appears on the label, the ingredients must be identified as per their approved names in the Schedule IV or V.
  • When registered feeds are included within the mixed feed, the registered feed must be identified by its registration number and approved brand name or name
    • for feeds manufactured in Canada, the embedded vitamins D and E can be identified in the list of ingredients on the label as vitamin D registered source and vitamin E registered source. The registration number of these vitamins must be provided with the list of ingredients provided with the feed application
    • for imported feeds, the embedded vitamins D and E must be indicated by the registration numbers on the label or if the list of ingredients is not on the label, the registration number must be included with the list of ingredients provided with the feed application.
  • for single ingredient feeds (SIF), the names of antioxidant(s)/preservatives or processing aids used in the manufacture of the SIF must appear on the label when required by the ingredient definition listed in the Schedule IV or V of the Feeds Regulations
Directions for use
  • directions for use on the label must include sufficient detail to permit the safe and effective use of the feed for its intended purpose by users with no special knowledge of the purpose and use of the feed
  • directions for use may be written/indicated on the label or may refer to an insert containing detailed directions for use if such an insert is enclosed within the package that bears the label
  • for feeds containing selenium that are intended for dairy and dry cows, a table of maximum allowable daily intakes for the feed must appear on the label as per RG-1 Chapter 4 4.6 Selenium supplementation of livestock feeds
  • for medicated feeds (other than veterinary prescription feeds), including medicated customer formula feeds, complete directions for use must be as prescribed in the Compendium of medicating ingredient brochures
  • for veterinary prescription feeds, directions for use of the feed must be as indicated on the veterinary prescription and must include the period of medication during which the feed is to be fed to the livestock
  • for non-medicated customer formula feeds, directions for use are not required on the label
Warning
  • "warning" means a statement concerning human health hazards

the warnings must be preceded by the term "Warning" printed in bold

  • for a single ingredient feed (SIF), the label must include any warning statement as set out for that SIF in the Schedules IV and V of the Feeds Regulations
  • for a mixed feed, the label may include any warning statement as set out in the Schedules IV and V of the Feeds Regulations for each SIF used in the formulation of that mixed feed
  • for a medicated feed, when manufactured according to the CMIB, the label must include the warning statement(s) as set out in the Compendium of medicating ingredient brochures for each medicating ingredient present in the feed
  • for a feed with more than 1 medicating ingredient with a warning statement that contains different withdrawal times, the warning statement containing the longest withdrawal time must appear immediately after the heading "Warning" and be clearly separated from other information shown on the label
  • for veterinary prescription feeds, the label must only include the warning statements as indicated on the veterinary prescription
Caution
  • "caution" means a statement concerning animal health hazards or safe product handling or storage
  • the cautions must be precede by the term "Caution" printed in bold
  • for a single ingredient feed (SIF), the label must include any caution statement as set out for that SIF in the Schedules IV and V
  • for a mixed feed, the label may include any caution statement as set out in the Schedules IV and V for each single ingredient feed used in the formulation of that feed
  • for a medicated feed, when manufactured according to the CMIB, the label must include the caution statement(s) as set out in the Compendium of medicating ingredient brochures for each medicating ingredient present in the feed
  • any caution statement applicable to the medicating ingredient must be immediately after the heading "Caution" and be clearly separated from other information shown on the label
  • for veterinary prescription feeds, the label must only include the caution statements as indicated on the veterinary prescription
Selenium caution statement(s) if selenium is added to the mixed feed
BSE statement
  • if the feed is or contains prohibited material, as defined in subsection 162(1) of the Health of Animals Regulations, the following statement must be written legibly, indelibly and conspicuously
    "Feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
Name and address
  • for registered feeds
    • registrant's name and address are required
    • when there are optional multiple names and addresses, "Registered by" must precede the name and address of the registrant
  • for non-registered feeds, the name and address of the manufacturer or the person who caused it to be manufactured are required
  • for consultant formula feed, the name and address of the specific purchaser for whom the feed was manufactured are required
  • for a non-medicated customer formula feed are required
    • if shipped in bags, the name of the producer/customer supplying the formula or
    • if shipped in bulk, the name and address of the producer/customer supplying the formula
  • for a medicated customer formula feed are required
    • the name and address of the person who caused it to be manufactured (producer/customer) and
    • the name of the manufacturer of the feed
  • for veterinary prescription feeds are required
    • name of the veterinarian who issued the prescription and
    • name and address of the feed manufacturer and
    • name of the person (producer/end-user) for whom the feed was manufactured
Country of origin
  • mandatory for imported feed
  • the label must indicate
    • country of origin/produced in, or
    • the identity and principal place of business of that person, business or company in Canada for whom the feed was manufactured or produced for resale
    • these indications shall be preceded by the words "imported by" or by the words "imported for"
Density for liquid mixed feeds, the density must be included on the label as per Chapter 4 - 4.2 Liquid feed standards
Net weight (kg)
  • net weight is required on all labels and shall be expressed in metric units
  • imperial units can be added in brackets
  • for a customer formula feed, are required
    • if shipped in bags, the net mass of individual packages of feed and number of packages in the lot or
    • if shipped in bulk, the net weight of feed in shipment
Lot number or identification code mandatory for micro-premix feed and for milk replacer
Global Harmonized System (GHS)
  • optional
  • the information cannot be in contradiction with the Feeds Act and regulations
  • if there is ambiguity, supporting data may be required such as the list of ingredients and /or the product formulation
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