The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched a 90-day public consultation from June 12 to September 10, 2021 to gather feedback on the proposed changes to the Feeds Regulations.
As the current Feeds Regulations were published in 1983, amendments are required to establish a feed framework that includes hazard analysis, preventive controls, traceability, increased record-keeping requirements, licensing and increased international and domestic regulatory alignment.
The Feeds Act and Regulations only apply to on-farm feed mills if the feed is sold off the farm,
if the feed is medicated, or if the feed contains any substance that presents a risk of harm.
However, adding a whole grain to a medicated commercial feed is considered on-farm feed mixing as part of the Feeds Regulations.
The main changes for on-farm feed mills will be the requirements around preventive control plans and traceability. See the factsheet prepared by CFIA on the impact of the new regulations for on-farm feed mills.
Benefits of these new regulations to the industry include allowing the use of veterinary health products in feed, the publishing of a publicly available list of veterinary health products and other products that have been approved for use in feed, using incorporation by reference to update documents with more ease and greater frequency, reducing the need for approval and registration of feeds, increased labeling and flexibility around the claims that can be made, and better use of resources to focus on innovation, technology, and harmonization across jurisdictions.
The full text of the new regulations were published in Canada Gazette I and more information can be found on CFIA’s Feed Regulatory Modernization webpage.
