Proposed amended livestock feed ingredient – Vitamin E acetate: Closed consultation

Current status: Closed

This consultation ran from July 9, 2025 to August 8, 2025

About the consultation

We were seeking comments on the following amended single ingredient feed (SIF) description for vitamin E acetate.

Background

The Feeds Regulations, 2024 require a proponent to submit a pre-market application for new feed ingredients or SIFs that have been modified such that they differ from an approved SIF or SIFs that are for a new purpose. We evaluate the information in the application to establish that the SIF is safe, effective and labelled correctly.

Approved SIFs are listed and described in the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT), which is incorporated by reference (IBR) into the Feeds Regulations, 2024. Our Incorporation by Reference Policy requires that a consultation be conducted before changes to IBR documents are made. Refer to Documents incorporated by reference under the Feeds Regulations, 2024 for additional information.

About the evaluation

Our Animal Feed Program (AFP) has completed a detailed evaluation of an application for the amendment of an existing SIF description: vitamin E acetate.

The evaluation considered information related to:

  • the safety of feeding this SIF to livestock with respect to animal health
  • the safety of foods derived from livestock that eat this SIF
  • the safety of workers/bystanders exposed to this SIF
  • environmental safety
  • the fit-for-purpose and efficacy of this SIF for the intended livestock species

The results of our evaluation of available scientific data supports the safety and efficacy of vitamin E acetate and its intended purpose as a source of vitamin E for all livestock species.

Therefore, we recommend that the description for vitamin E acetate be amended and the amended SIF description replace the current SIF description in the CFIT, accordingly.

Amended SIF description

We intend to amend the existing SIF description for vitamin E acetate (2-504-007) under subclass 5.4.2 (Vitamins excluding those from fermentation processes) of class 5 (Nutritional ingredients) in part 2 of the CFIT. The only amendment to this description is adding the natural form (D-alpha tocopherol) of vitamin E to the existing description. The amended description is:

Vitamin E acetate (or vitamin E oil)

is the acetate ester of D-alpha tocopherol or DL-alpha tocopherol.

If an antioxidant 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 a guarantee for minimum International Units of vitamin E per kilogram.

Additional information

Vitamin E acetate will remain in part 2 of the CFIT due to the variability in the source of the raw materials and that the manufacturing processes may have an impact on the specifications and composition of the final product.

The only amendment to this existing description was including the natural form (D-alpha tocopherol) of vitamin E. The synthetic form (DL-alpha tocopherol) of vitamin E is already included in the existing description. There are no maximum use rates or restrictions on the intended livestock species for this SIF.

The purpose of this SIF is a source of vitamin E for all livestock species.

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 were welcome from industry, governments, the public or other organizations or individuals.

Next steps

We will review all of the comments received. If no significant scientifically valid concerns are raised, we will finalize the amended description for vitamin E acetate.

If significant concerns are raised, we will evaluate the additional information. A what we heard report that summarizes the feedback received will be published.

This amended SIF description will be added to the CFIT at the next update.

Related information

Contact us

Animal Feed Program (AFP)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Dr
Ottawa ON K1A 0Y9
Email: cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca