Proposed amended livestock feed ingredient – Cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated: Closed Consultation
Current status: Closed
This consultation ran from February 21, 2024 to March 22, 2024
About the consultation
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was seeking comments on the reclassification and amendments to a single ingredient feed (SIF) description for cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated.
Background
The Feeds Regulations require a proponent to submit a pre-market application for SIFs that are new, have been modified such that they differ from an approved SIF, or are for a new purpose. The CFIA evaluates the information in the application to establish that the SIF is safe, effective, and labelled correctly.
Approved SIFs are currently listed and defined in Schedules IV and V of the Feeds Regulations, with appropriate guarantees, standards, and labelling requirements. The CFIA will be transitioning to the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT) that will be incorporated by reference into the proposed Feeds Regulations, 2024 when they come into effect. In preparation for this new approach, the CFIA is consulting on new or amended SIFs so they can be added to the CFIT once it comes into effect. More information on this is available in the Notice to industry: Consultations on new or amended single ingredient feed descriptions.
About the evaluation
The CFIA's Animal Feed Program received comments during the consultation on the Proposed changes to the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table ran from December 13, 2022 to January 14, 2023, that identified that this SIF, cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated, had been classified incorrectly in the CFIT. Currently, this SIF has been classified and listed in Subclass 3.1.3 (Protein products and by-products of animal origin – Dairy) in Class 3 (Protein feeds) of the CFIT indicating it is a source of protein even though the whey protein has been removed. As a result, this SIF would be better classified as a source of energy (Class 2 – Energy feeds) in the CFIT.
Therefore, the CFIA recommends cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated be moved from Subclass 3.1.3 (Protein products and by-products of animal origin – Dairy) in Class 3 (Protein feeds) to Subclass 2.7 (Sugars and starches) of Class 2 (Energy feeds) in the CFIT, which would better align with the purpose of this SIF. The CFIA also recommends adding a maximum percent guarantee for crude protein, given that the whey protein is removed, and replacing the maximum percent guarantee for lactose with a minimum percent guarantee for lactose.
Reclassified and amended SIF description
The CFIA intends to reclassify cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated and move this SIF from Subclass 3.1.3 (Protein products and by-products of animal origin - Dairy) in Class 3 (Protein feeds) to Subclass 2.7 (Sugars and starches) of Class 2 (Energy feeds) in part 1 of the CFIT. The CFIA also intends to amend the SIF description with regards to the required label guarantees with the following amended description:
Cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated (or dry whey solubles on carrier)
is the product obtained by combining the whey residue remaining after the removal of cattle whey protein, with or without partial removal of lactose, with a suitable carrier. It is then dried.
If a carrier is used, it must be approved for use in livestock feeds, it shall be used at the approved rate, and the common name or names shall be indicated on the label.
It shall be labelled with guarantees for minimum percent crude protein, maximum percent crude protein, minimum percent lactose, maximum percent ash, and maximum percent moisture.
The ingredient number will be amended to reflect that the SIF has been moved from Subclass 3.1.3 to Subclass 2.7 in the CFIT.
Additional information
Since most of the protein is removed from cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated, this SIF would be better classified as a source of energy instead of a source of protein. Therefore, this SIF should be reclassified as an energy feed and listed in Subclass 2.7 (Sugars and starches) of the CFIT. In addition, there should be a maximum percent guarantee for crude protein added to the required label guarantees, and the maximum percent guarantee for lactose replaced with a minimum percent guarantee for lactose. The minimum percent guarantee for crude protein should be kept as the feed industry has indicated that it is a useful measurement that contributes to the quality and valuation of the SIF.
Who was the focus of this consultation
Animal feed stakeholders, including:
- suppliers of feed ingredients
- commercial feed manufacturers
- feed importers, distributors and retailers
- industry associations
- other government departments
- international trading partners
- veterinarians
All comments are welcome from industry, governments, the public, or other organizations or individuals.
How to participate
The CFIA was seeking feedback on the reclassification and amended description for cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated.
Stakeholders were encouraged to share comments if there was:
- concerns about the accuracy of SIF description and the intended purpose
- any scientific data that should be considered before the SIF is reclassified and amended.
The CFIA evaluators will review scientific questions or information for consideration in the evaluation. They will also evaluate non-scientific input and explore appropriate ways of addressing it.
Comments can be sent by email to the Animal Feed Program (AFP) at cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca. Please use "cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated" in the subject line of the email. The CFIA was asking for comments and feedback by March 22, 2024, 30 days from the date of this posting.
Next steps
The CFIA will review all of the comments received, if no significant scientifically valid concerns are raised, the CFIA will finalize the reclassification and amendments of cattle whey solubles on carrier dehydrated. If significant concerns are raised, the CFIA will evaluate the additional information. A what we heard report that summarizes the feedback received will be published.
This SIF will be reclassified and amended in the CFIT at the next update, following publication of the proposed Feeds Regulations, 2024.
Related information
- Feeds Regulations
- Feeds Act
- Consultations on proposed regulatory and policy changes
- Notice to industry: Consultations on new or amended single ingredient feed descriptions
Contact us
Animal Feed Program (AFP)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9
Email: cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca
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