Current status: Closed
This consultation ran from May 12, 2026, to June 12, 2026
About the consultation
We were seeking comments on the following amended single ingredient feed (SIF) description for guanidinoacetic acid.
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: guanidinoacetic acid.
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 and 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 guanidinoacetic acid and its intended purpose as an agent to spare arginine and as a precursor of creatine.
Therefore, we recommend that the amended description for guanidinoacetic acid be approved 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 guanidinoacetic acid (1-501-021) under subclass 5.1.2 (Amino acids excluding those from fermentation processes) of class 5 (Nutritional ingredients) in part 1 of the CFIT. The amendment to this description consists of the expansion of species to include poultry and swine and the removal of the worker safety statement.
The amended description is:
1-501-021 Guanidinoacetic acid
is the product resulting from the reaction of glycine with cyanamide in an aqueous solution. It contains a minimum of 97% (w/w) guanidinoacetic acid, and has the CAS# 352-97-6. This ingredient must also meet the following specifications: dicyandiamide in an amount not to exceed 0.5%, cyanamide in an amount not to exceed 0.01%, melamine in an amount not to exceed 15 ppm; the combined total of ammeline, ammelide, and cyanuric acid in an amount not to exceed 35 ppm; and water in an amount not to exceed 1%.
This ingredient is approved for use as an agent to spare arginine and as a precursor of creatine in an amount not to exceed 0.12% of the complete feed for poultry and swine.
It shall be labelled with the following statement:
"This ingredient is approved for use as an agent to spare arginine and as a precursor of creatine in an amount not to exceed 0.12% of the complete feed for poultry and swine."
It shall be labelled with guarantees for minimum percent guanidinoacetic acid, maximum percent moisture, maximum percent cyanamide, maximum percent dicyandiamide, maximum milligrams melamine per kilogram, and maximum milligrams combined total of ammeline, ammelide, and cyanuric acid per kilogram.
Additional information
An application was submitted to our AFP to expand the list of livestock species for which guanidinoacetic acid is approved for use as an agent to spare arginine and as a precursor of creatine. The application was a significant change to add swine to the already approved species, broiler chickens and turkeys. Based on the information available, we have determined that this SIF can be used as an agent to spare arginine and as a precursor of creatine in an amount not to exceed 0.12% of the complete feeds for poultry and swine.
The worker safety statement on respiratory irritation and/or sensitization was removed because additional data was submitted to demonstrate that this SIF is not toxic by inhalation.
This SIF is imported as a dried and ground powder.
Who was the focus of this consultation
Animal feed stakeholders are the focus of this consultation, including:
- suppliers of feed ingredients
- commercial feed manufacturers
- feed importers, distributors and retailers
- industry associations
- other government departments
- international trading partners
- veterinarians
All comments from industry, governments, the public, or other organizations or individuals, were welcome.
Next steps
We will review all the comments received. If no significant scientifically valid concerns are raised, we will finalize the approval of the amended description for guanidinoacetic acid and issue the approval to the applicant.
If significant concerns are raised, we will evaluate the additional information.
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
Email: cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca