Notice of intent: Repeal and replace of the Feeds Regulations
This notice of intent is to inform stakeholders that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) intends to propose regulatory changes to the Feeds Regulations, 1983. The proposed regulatory changes would repeal and replace the Feeds Regulations, 1983 and would provide more clarity, flexibility and transparency to affected regulated parties.
Drivers for change
The Feed Regulations, 1983 have become outdated. Feed and livestock production sectors in Canada and abroad have evolved considerably since 1983, operating in an environment influenced by several changing factors such as:
- nutritional awareness
- feed manufacturing and distribution
- globalization of trade
- recognition that feed is an integral component that underpins food production
- heightened consumer awareness of food safety
- emergence of new pathogens and disease agents (for example, bovine spongiform encephalopathy)
Canada's principal feed industry association, the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada, signalled a need for regulatory change some time ago.
In addition, a number of other domestic and international drivers (for example, Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), Codex Alimentarius' Code of Practice on Good Animal Feeding and United States (U.S.) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)) have increased the need for a comprehensive review of the current regulatory framework.
CFIA is proposing to modernize the Feeds Regulations, 1983 in order to:
- safeguard feeds and the food production continuum
- reduce overlap and redundancy in regulatory requirements
- increase regulatory responsiveness to industry changes
- address regulatory gaps, weaknesses and inconsistencies
- align Canadian feed requirements with those of our trading partners (for example, United States and European Union)
CFIA completed cross-country consultations in spring 2016 with affected stakeholders such as suppliers of feed ingredients, commercial feed mills, feed distributors and feed retailers, livestock producers, industry associations, other government departments and international trading partners. Since then, CFIA conducted further targeted online consultations with stakeholders regarding subject-specific proposals.
The Feed Regulatory Renewal - Consolidated Modernized Framework formed the basis for the regulatory proposal and consultations to date. The Agency is also moving forward on 5 strategic priorities (that is, modern regulatory toolkit, integrated risk management, consistent efficient inspections, digital-first, and global leader) to help safeguard food, animals and plants in order to enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy. The proposed regulations would take these priorities into account in order to benefit the collective Canadian feed industry.
In addition to aligning with other international feed standards, modernization proposes to maintain the objective of ensuring the regulations are as risk-based, outcome-based, efficient and flexible to the extent possible. Safe feeds also contribute to the production of healthy livestock and safe foods of animal origin for human consumption.
Our proposed changes to the Feeds Regulations and expected outcomes of proposed regulatory changes
The proposed regulations would move towards an approach that is less prescriptive and more focused on the overall health and safety outcomes.
Licensing requirements would be created for individuals engaged in activities associated with feeds that are to be sent or conveyed inter-provincially, have been imported for sale or are intended for export. Licensing would not be required for individuals that are importing a feed that is not intended to be sold.
Under this proposed approach, feed operators would be required to conduct hazard identification, and put in place preventive controls and preventive control plans to address risks (for example, human and animal health) posed by identified hazards.
It would introduce a strong, more transparent feed ingredient assessment and authorization process to support a safe and competitive feed supply chain.
Feed registration requirements and exemptions would be updated, including the reduction in the number of feeds requiring mandatory registration.
Labelling requirements would be updated to reduce prescriptiveness and rigidity, provide better information to purchasers. Health and safety labelling requirements would appear in both official languages.
Traceability requirements would require more detailed record keeping requirements to better support risk management along the feed supply chain, especially where timely responses to incidents of risks to public or animal health are involved.
The proposed changes and expected outcomes are also available in the Agency's Forward Regulatory Plan (FRP). The anticipated timeline for pre-publication in Canada Gazette, Part I has been revised, from spring 2019 to winter 2020.
Future opportunities to comment
This notice of intent serves to inform and/or update Canadians, members of the public and stakeholders.
On the basis of feedback received from previous consultations, the CFIA is currently finalizing the regulatory proposal and is proposing to bring it forward for comment through pre-publication in the Canada Gazette, Part I in winter 2020.
A public comment period of 75 days will be available for Canadians and other interested parties to provide feedback on the regulatory proposal, once it is pre-published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.
Related information
- Consultations on Proposed Regulatory and Policy Changes
- Feed Regulatory Renewal – Consolidated Modernized Framework - Supplementary CFIA Responses
- Feed Regulatory Renewal Consolidated Modernized Framework Proposal
Contact us
If you wish to provide any comments or have questions related to this Notice, please submit them to:
Laura Scott
National Manager – Feed Program Coordination and Outreach Section
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0Y9
Canada
Telephone: 613-773-7527
E-mail: laura.scott@inspection.gc.ca
- Date modified: