Guide to timelines for complying with the Feeds Regulations, 2024

The Feeds Regulations, 2024 were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II (CGII) on July 3, 2024. To provide industry with time to make the necessary changes to comply with the new regulations, a combination of delayed coming into force dates and transition periods are being used. This guidance will help stakeholders navigate these timelines.

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Summary of timelines for new and amended requirements

While the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into effect on July 3, 2024, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has chosen a staggered coming into force approach. This provides greater flexibility for stakeholders to meet the new and updated requirements over a period of 18 months.

Coming into force immediately:

  • livestock feeds exempt from the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024
  • approval and registration requirements
  • content of livestock feed
  • livestock feed intended for export
  • investigation of risk of harm
  • record-keeping requirements
  • labelling requirements*
  • compositional and safety standards*

*Came into effect, but has a 12-month transition period.

Note that feeds for mink and fox are no longer regulated by the Feeds Act and these regulations at the time of CGII publication.

Coming into force after 12 months (June 17, 2025):

  • hazard analysis, preventive controls and preventive control plans
  • complaint procedures
  • recall procedures
  • packaging requirements
  • imported livestock feeds
  • traceability requirements

Coming into force after 18 months (December 17, 2025):

  • expanded scope of livestock species
  • licencing requirements
  • export certificates or documents
  • import of a non-compliant feed

Regulated parties must be aware of these dates and ensure they are following the correct regulatory requirements.

Requirements coming into force immediately

The following sections of the regulations came into effect upon CGII publication.

Livestock feeds exempt from the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations, 2024

The list of livestock feeds that are exempt from the act and regulations are found in section 4 of the Feeds Act and section 3 of the Feeds Regulations, 2024. These exemptions include:

  • livestock feeds manufactured on farm that do not contain medicating ingredients, or unapproved single ingredient feeds (SIFs) and are not sold off-farm
  • livestock feeds that are being imported for analytical testing or non-commercial purposes (for example, trade shows, exhibitions, etc.)
  • livestock feeds that accompany livestock that are temporarily in Canada
  • livestock feeds, other than novel feeds, that are manufactured in Canada for research if they are safely disposed of

Under the Feeds Regulations, 2024, the list of livestock feeds that are exempt has expanded. Some livestock feeds are exempt with no conditions, while others are exempt provided certain conditions have been met.

Approval and registration requirements

Livestock feed approval and registration requirements came into effect immediately and includes:

  • which livestock feeds require approval (subsection 5(1))
  • which livestock feeds require registration (subsection 6(1))
  • which livestock feeds are exempt from approval (subsection 5(2)) and registration (subsection 6(2))
  • application requirements (subsection 7(1))
  • data and information requirements (subsections 7(2) to 7(6))
  • the process for approval (sections 8 and 9) and registration (sections 8 and 11)
  • the process for cancellation of an approval (section 10) or registration (section 15)

Under the Feeds Regulations, 2024, SIFs will continue to require approval before they can be used in livestock feeds, however, fewer mixed feeds will require registration.

Refer to RG-1 Regulatory Guidance for more information.

Content of livestock feed

The requirements that set out what a mixed feed may or may not contain came into effect immediately (section 37). Mixed feeds may only include:

  • approved single ingredient feeds
  • non-feed products (for example, veterinary biologics and veterinary health products)
  • medicating ingredients
  • pest control products

The Feeds Regulations, 2024 provide more flexibility by allowing for other things to be added to livestock feed, such as veterinary health products and veterinary biologics, in addition to SIFs and medicating ingredients.

Livestock feed intended for export

A new provision that will allow a livestock feed that does not meet Canadian standards to be exported came into effect immediately. Certain conditions must be met in order for this provision to apply, and the livestock feed needs to meet the requirements of the importing country (section 69).

Investigation of risk of harm

A new provision that requires stakeholders to promptly investigate a matter if it is suspected that a livestock feed presents a risk of harm to human or animal health or the environment, or does not meet the requirements in the Feeds Act and the Feeds Regulations, 2024, came into effect immediately. If the investigation establishes that the livestock feed presents a risk of harm to human or animal health or the environment, stakeholders must immediately notify the Minister (via their local inspector) and take action to mitigate the risk (section 61).

Record-keeping requirements

The updated record keeping requirements that apply to all livestock feeds came into effect immediately. Any livestock feed that is manufactured on or after the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into effect, must follow the new requirements for retention of documents of 2 years (section 64).

This includes copies of:

  • mix sheets and mix formulations for all mixed feeds
  • veterinary prescriptions for custom medicated feeds
  • customer formulas for customer formula feeds
  • the name, identification code (lot number), date of manufacture, quantity manufactured and mix formulation for any single ingredient feed (SIFs)

Note that under the Health of Animals Regulations, the record-keeping requirements for animal food, as defined under those regulations, still applies. The retention period for documents relating to animal food continues to be 10 years.

Labelling requirements

The new and updated labelling requirements came into effect immediately. However, the Feeds Regulations, 2024 provide a transitional provision for a 12-month period. This means that for the first 12 months (until June 17, 2025), stakeholders can use the previous labelling requirements or the new labelling requirements. The same label cannot have a mixture of previous and new labelling requirements. After the 12-month transitional period ends on June 17, 2025, all labels must comply with the new and updated labelling requirements (sections 44 to 54).

Refer to the Labelling of Livestock Feeds for more detailed information.

Compositional and safety standards

The new and updated compositional and safety standards came into effect immediately. However, the Feeds Regulations, 2024 provide a 12-month transition period. This means that for the first 12 months (until June 17, 2025), livestock feeds can meet the previous compositional and safety standards or the new compositional and safety standards. After the 12-month transitional period ends on June 17, 2025, all livestock feeds must meet the new and updated compositional and safety standards.

Compositional standards include the content of mixed feeds, such as SIFs or medicating ingredients, and any standards that define a type of mixed feed, such as the crude ash specification of mineral feeds. Safety standards include maximum levels for contaminants and nutrients, as well as standards such as not containing mould or presenting heat damage. Note, customer formula feeds will no longer be exempt from the nutrient standards and will have to meet all of the compositional and safety standards for livestock feeds.

Refer to the Transitional provision section or to the Compositional and Safety Standards for Livestock Feeds for more detailed information.

Transitional provisions

Transitional provisions allow for a smooth transition from the previous regulations to the new regulations. There are transitional provisions that address activities such as applications, registrations, authorizations, and record-keeping requirements, when the activity occurred under the Feeds Regulations, 1983. Other provisions set a period of time where a stakeholder can choose to follow either the previous or the new regulations. This will give stakeholders additional time to use up existing labels, for example, and meet the new compositional and safety standards for livestock feed.

Transitional provisions include:

  • record-keeping requirements
  • certificate of registration
  • cancellation of certificate of registration
  • application for feed registration
  • application for research exemptions
  • authorization for the release of a novel feed
  • labelling requirements
  • compositional and safety standards

Record-keeping requirements

If a livestock feed was manufactured before the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into force, the requirements for retention of documents outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 (Sections 15(1) and 15(4)) will continue to apply. If the livestock feed is manufactured on or after the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into force, the requirements for retention of documents outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 apply. Note that the record-keeping requirements for animal food outlined in the Health of Animals Regulations must still be met with a retention period of 10 years.

Certificate of registration

If a registration certificate was issued under the Feeds Regulations, 1983, the certificate will continue to be valid under the Feeds Regulations, 2024. Registrations will remain valid until the date indicated on the registration certificate.

Cancellation of a certificate of registration

If a notice was sent for the cancellation of a registration certificate before the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into force, the process for the cancellation outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 (section 12) will continue to apply. If the notice for cancellation is sent on or after the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into force, the requirements for cancellation that are outlined in the Feeds Regulation, 2024 apply.

Application for feed registration

If an application for registration was submitted, and the evaluation and the outcome of the assessment was not finalized on the day the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into force, the process outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 will be followed.

Application for research exemptions

If an application for a research exemption under section 3(c.1) of the Feeds Regulations, 1983 was submitted, and the evaluation and outcome of the assessment was not finalized on the day the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into force, the process outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 will be followed.

Authorization for the release of a novel feed

If the authorization for the release of a novel feed was submitted and the evaluation and outcome of the assessment was not finalized on the day the Feeds Regulations, 2024 came into force, the information requirements will follow the Feeds Regulations, 1983, and if found acceptable, would follow the approval process in the Feeds Regulations, 2024.

Labelling requirements

The labelling requirements under the Feeds Regulations, 2024 come into effect immediately with a 12-month transition period. During this time, a livestock feed can be labelled following either the previous labelling requirements (sections 24 and 26 to 33) in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 or the new labelling requirements (sections 44 to 54) outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 2024. This provides time for existing labels to be used in the marketplace and for stakeholders to transition from the Feed Regulations, 1983 to the Feeds Regulations, 2024. A livestock feed label cannot contain a combination of new and previous labelling requirements on the same label.

After the 12-month transition period, the labelling requirements described in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 must be met.

Compositional and safety standards

The compositional and safety standards under the Feeds Regulations, 2024 come into effect immediately with a 12-month transition period. During this time, livestock feeds may meet the compositional standards outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 (sections 2(1), 14, 17, 18(2) to 18(5), 20, 21(1) and 21(2), 22(2), 24(1), and table 3 of Schedule I) or the compositional standards outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 (sections 1(1), 36 to 42, and certain incorporated by reference (IBR) documents). The compositional standards for livestock feeds include the definitions and standards set out for various livestock feed types as well as the nutrient maximum values and guarantees.

In addition, there is a 12-month transitional period during which a SIF can meet the definition found in Schedules IV and V or the SIF description found in the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT). Note that a SIF label cannot have parts of the definition from the Schedules and parts of the description from the CFIT. It must meet the definition in the Schedules or the description in the CFIT, including any labelling requirements, not a combination of both.

During the 12 month transitional period, livestock feeds may meet the safety standards outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 (sections 4 and 19, table 1 and table 2 of Schedule II, sections 1, 2 and 4 of RG-8, and RG-11) or the safety standards outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 (sections 4 and 35, section 1 of RG-8, RG-11, and certain IBR documents) or a combination of both. The safety standards include the maximum values for nutrients, maximum levels for contaminants as well as other items that are not allowed in livestock feeds (for example, mould, heat damage, etc.).

To coordinate with the transitional provisions for labelling, there will be a 12-month transition period where livestock feeds may continue to the meet the table 4 maximum nutrient values set out in the Feeds Regulations, 1983 even if they are in excess of the maximum nutrient values set out in the Tables of Maximum Nutrient Values for Feeds.

Please refer to Compositional and Safety Standards for Livestock Feeds which summarizes the standards under the previous regulations and the new regulations.

After the 12-month transition period, the compositional and safety standards described in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 must be met.

Requirements with a delayed enforcement

There are a number of new and amended regulatory requirements outlined in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 that have a delayed coming into force of 12 or 18 months. The delayed, or staggered, coming into force will provide stakeholders time to understand and implement these new and amended regulatory requirements.

Delayed coming into force of 12 months

The following provisions come into effect 12 months (on June 17, 2025) after the publication of the new regulations in CGII:

Hazard analysis, preventive controls, and preventive control plans

The requirement to conduct a hazard analysis, put in place preventive controls and to prepare, keep, maintain and implement a preventive control plan will come into effect on June 17, 2025. This will provide time for stakeholders to meet these new requirements (sections 55 to 60).

Complaint procedures

The requirement to prepare, keep, maintain and implement a procedure for receiving, investigating and responding to complaints will come into effect on June 17, 2025 (section 62).

Recall procedures

The requirement to prepare, keep, maintain and implement a recall procedure will come into effect on June 17, 2025 (section 63).

Imported livestock feeds

The new regulations outline what information is to be provided when importing livestock feeds into Canada. In addition, the regulations require importers to be able to demonstrate that the livestock feeds they import were made and handled in conditions that provide at least the same level of protection as a livestock feed made in Canada. The imported livestock feed requirements will come into effect 12 months on June 17, 2025 (sections 65 to 67).

Traceability requirements

The new regulations require regulated parties to prepare, keep and maintain records and documents to trace the movement of incoming raw materials, SIFs and mixed feeds one step back to the immediate supplier and one step forward to the immediate customer. In addition, the requirement to provide these records in the event of a feed safety investigation is included. These traceability requirements will come into effect 12 months on June 17, 2025 (sections 71 and 72).

Packaging requirements

The requirements for a package for livestock feed to be clean, of sound construction, suitable for its intended use, appropriate to protect the livestock feed against moisture, loss, damage, contamination and deterioration during handling, storing and conveying, and be in clean and sanitary condition will come into effect on June 17, 2025 (section 43).

Delayed coming into force of 18 months

The following provisions come into effect 18 months (on December 17, 2025) after the new regulations are published in CGII:

Expanded scope of livestock species

The expanded scope of livestock species comes into effect on December 17, 2025. Livestock feeds for the following additional livestock species will be regulated under the new regulations:

  • bison
  • water buffalo
  • cervids (for example, deer, elk)
  • llamas
  • alpacas
  • ratites (for example, emus)
  • pigeons
  • pheasants
  • partridges
  • quail
  • grouse
  • guinea fowl
  • pea fowl
  • bees
  • molluscs intended for human consumption
  • crustaceans intended for human consumption

The delayed coming into force of 18 months will provide more time for stakeholders who manufacture livestock feeds for these additional livestock species to bring their products and operations into compliance with the Feeds Regulations, 2024.

Note: for 18 months (until December 17, 2025), the regulations will continue to apply only to livestock feeds for the following species:

  • cattle
  • sheep
  • goats
  • poultry (includes, chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese)
  • swine
  • horses
  • rabbits
  • fish

Note: feeds for mink and fox are no longer regulated under the Feeds Act and these regulations.

Licensing

The requirement for stakeholders to have a license before they conduct certain feed-related activities with prescribed livestock feeds will come into force on December 17, 2025. Licenses will only be issued for livestock feeds that are imported for sale, exported, or sent or conveyed between provincial/territorial borders (sections 18 to 33).

Export certificates or documents

The Feeds Regulations, 2024 provides a new authority for the CFIA to issue certificates or other documents to facilitate livestock feed exports. As this is linked to the licensing requirements, the new regulations respecting the issuing of export certificates or documents will come into force on December 17, 2025. This will not have an impact on any other export-related documents that the CFIA currently issues (section 70).

Import of a non-compliant feed

The Feeds Regulations, 2024 include exceptions to allow the import of a livestock feed that does not meet certain Canadian standards if that livestock feed is intended to be stored, processed, packaged or labelled in Canada by a license holder and then exported. As this new requirement is linked to licensing requirements, it will come into force on December 17, 2025. There are some conditions for this exception including that the livestock feed must be labelled as "imported for export" (section 68).

Benefits

This range of provisions is intended to provide stakeholders with time to bring their operations into compliance with the published Feeds Regulations, 2024 while allowing them to take advantage of increased flexibilities as soon as possible.

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