Archived - Notice to industry: Information concerning customer formula feeds
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2020-09-10
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, feed manufacturers, their suppliers, and their customers may be implementing temporary measures to reduce person-to-person interactions. Such measures may include transmitting customer formula feed requests electronically, instead of submitting hard copies with original signature.
The Feeds Regulations currently require the manufacturer of a customer formula feed to obtain a signed written order from the customer that outlines the kind and amount of each ingredient to be used in the manufacture of the feed.
Due to this extraordinary situation, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recognizes the need for flexibility to ensure that feed production and supply to the livestock sector is not compromised while maintaining key safeguards to protect animal health and food safety.
If feed manufacturers are using electronic documents to meet the requirements for obtaining a customer formula prior to the manufacture of a feed, they should maintain the appropriate documents that demonstrate that they have received the signed customer formula by electronic means for a period of at least 6 months from the last date of manufacture of that feed, as required by the Feeds Regulations. This could include copies of customer formulas received via email, or a faxed, scanned or photographed copy of a signed document. Additionally, an authenticated system for digitally signing documents may be implemented between the feed mill and the customer. Any customer formula must contain all of the required information, as outlined in the Feeds Regulations.
The CFIA expects that regulated parties will continue to act responsibly during this period in order to minimize the effects and duration of any non-compliance caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Further, if a customer formula feed is submitted electronically, it is recommended that the customer also maintain the original copy of the request for their records for a period of at least 6 months.
The CFIA's long-standing enforcement and compliance policy has always been to respond to non-compliance with fairness, impartiality and transparency. The CFIA will continue to do so with the additional considerations raised by COVID-19 in mind.
This notice is in effect until further notice and will be revisited as the COVID-19 situation evolves.
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