Current status: Closed
This consultation ran from November 28, 2025, to December 29, 2025
About the consultation
We were seeking comments on the following proposed new single ingredient feed (SIF) description for micro-algae fermentation oil.
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 approval of a new SIF: micro-algae fermentation oil
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 micro-algae fermentation oil for its intended purpose as a food modifying ingredient in feeds for broiler chickens and laying hens as a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to enrich the DHA content of foods of animal origin.
Therefore, we recommend that micro-algae fermentation oil be approved as a new SIF and added to the CFIT, accordingly.
Proposed SIF description
We intend to add micro-algae fermentation oil under subclass 6.16.2 (Food modifying ingredients – Microbial) of class 6 (Non-nutritive ingredients) in part 2 of the CFIT with the following description:
Micro-algae fermentation oil (or docosahexaenoic acid micro-algal oil or DHA micro-algal oil)
is the oil obtained from the fermentation of micro-algae. This fermentation shall be conducted in accordance with good manufacturing practices using a non-pathogenic strain of micro-algae, which does not contain a novel trait. The name of the micro-algae (for example, Aurantiochytrium limacinum) shall be indicated on the label.
This ingredient is approved for use in feeds for broiler chickens and laying hens as a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to enrich the DHA content of foods of animal origin.
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.
If an anticaking or flow agent 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 the following statements:
"This ingredient is approved for use in feeds for broiler chickens and laying hens as a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to enrich the DHA content of foods of animal origin."
"This ingredient is free of antimicrobial activity and is not a source of viable microbial cells."
Warning/Mise en garde:
"This ingredient contains canthaxanthin and should be used in feeds for laying hens or broiler chickens at a rate not to exceed 30 grams of canthaxanthin per tonne of the complete feed. If canthaxanthin from micro-algae fermentation oil is used in combination with other sources of canthaxanthin in feeds for laying hens or broiler chickens, then the combined rate of canthaxanthin from all sources shall not exceed 30 grams per tonne of the complete feed. / Cet ingrédient contient aussi de la canthaxanthine et doit être utilisé dans les aliments destinés aux poules pondeuses ou aux poulets à griller en quantité ne devant pas dépasser 30 grammes de canthaxanthine par tonne de l'aliment complet. Si la canthaxanthine provenant d'huile de fermentation de microalgues est utilisée en conjonction avec d'autres sources de canthaxanthine dans les aliments destinés aux poules pondeuses ou aux poulets à griller, la quantité totale de canthaxanthine utilisée ne doit pas dépasser 30 grammes par tonne de l'aliment complet."
For mixed feed labels:
Warning/Mise en garde:
"This product contains canthaxanthin and should be used in feeds for laying hens or broiler chickens at a rate not to exceed 30 grams of canthaxanthin per tonne of the complete feed. If canthaxanthin from micro-algae fermentation oil is used in combination with other sources of canthaxanthin in feeds for laying hens or broiler chickens, then the combined rate of canthaxanthin from all sources shall not exceed 30 grams per tonne of the complete feed. / Ce produit contient de la canthaxanthine et doit être utilisé dans les aliments destinés aux poules pondeuses ou aux poulets à griller en quantité ne devant pas dépasser 30 grammes de canthaxanthine par tonne de l'aliment complet. Si la canthaxanthine provenant d'huile de fermentation de microalgues est utilisée en conjonction avec d'autres sources de canthaxanthine dans les aliments destinés aux poules pondeuses ou aux poulets à griller, la quantité totale de canthaxanthine utilisée ne doit pas dépasser 30 grammes par tonne de l'aliment complet."
To address worker safety concerns, it shall be labelled with the following statement:
"This ingredient may cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation and/or sensitization. Appropriate protective equipment must be worn during handling. / Cet ingrédient peut causer une irritation et/ou une sensibilisation des yeux, de la peau et des voies respiratoires. Un équipement de protection approprié doit être porté lors de la manipulation."
It shall be labelled with guarantees for minimum percent crude fat, minimum percent total fatty acids, minimum percent docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), maximum percent docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), maximum percent sodium, maximum percent crude fibre, maximum percent ash, maximum percent moisture and maximum milligrams of canthaxanthin per kilogram.
An ingredient number will be assigned at the time the SIF is added to the CFIT.
Additional information
Micro-algae fermentation oil will be placed into part 2 of the CFIT as the description is not species-specific for the production organism and the composition of the final product, including pigments and potential contaminants and/or toxins, can vary between the species and strain of the production organism. In addition, the fatty acids profile can be different between and within species and therefore must be evaluated. Since micro-algae fermentation oil is intended to modify foods of animal origin (that is enrich the DHA content of foods of animal origin from broiler chickens and laying hens), the directions for use and the fatty acid composition must be appropriate to modify the foods of animal origin.
Micro-algae fermentation oil is similar to dried micro-algae fermentation product (2-616-010), however the proposed new description is an oil-based ingredient and not a dried product. This ingredient is also similar to omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil (2-505-001), however it has a different approved purpose. Micro-algae fermentation oil is approved as a source of DHA to modify foods of animal origin from broiler chickens and laying hens and therefore will be placed into subclass 6.16.2 (Food modifying ingredients – Microbial) of part 2 of the CFIT. Since DHA is not an essential nutrient (that is, fatty acid) for broiler chickens and laying hens, micro-algae fermentation oil will not be placed under subclass 5.5 (Essential fatty acids) in class 5 (Nutritional ingredients) in the CFIT. Since the form and composition and approved purpose do not meet the existing descriptions for dried micro-algae fermentation product and to omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil, respectively, a new description was created. The proposed new description for micro-algae fermentation oil is a combination of the descriptions for dried micro-algae fermentation product and omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil.
Micro-algae fermentation oil is approved for use in feeds for broiler chickens and laying hens as a source of DHA to enrich the DHA content of foods of animal origin (that is, to enrich the DHA content in meat/tissues and eggs).
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 approval of micro-algae fermentation oil and issue the approval to the applicant. If significant concerns are raised, we will evaluate the additional information and may, subject to the commenters' consent, forward the comments to the applicant for their response.
This SIF will be added to the CFIT at the next update.
Related information
Contact us
Animal Feed Program (AFP)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Email: cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca