RG-1 Regulatory Guidance:
Chapter 4 – Labelling and guarantees
4.1 Labelling of livestock feed
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According to Section 26 of the Feeds Regulations all livestock feed (bagged or bulk) manufactured, sold or imported must be properly labelled. In the case of bulk feed it should be emphasized that a label must accompany the shipment.
The CFIA has exempted most categories of livestock feed from presale evaluation and registration. As a result of this, the responsibility for labelling of livestock feeds rests with the feed manufacturer.
CFIA inspectors routinely visit feed mills and verify labels for compliance with feed labelling standards. In this regard, particular attention is paid to the labelling of medicated feeds. Mislabelled medicated feed can adversely affect livestock health and livestock production, and lead to drug residues. Label violations for medicated products are considered serious and unacceptable.
This section provides a regulatory overview of the labelling of feed, set up as a series of commonly encountered labels. It should be emphasized that this is just an overview; to ensure compliance with prescribed labelling standards, you must obtain a copy of the Feeds Act, the Feeds Regulations, and the "Compendium of Medicating Ingredient Brochures", 8th Edition. These documents are available on the main Livestock Feeds web page.
Sample labels for common mixed feeds:
Medicated feed
- brand name (optional)
- feed name
- form of feed (if other than mash)
- medication, level and approved claim (per Medicating Ingredient Brochure [MIB])
- registration number (if required)
- this feed contains added selenium at ? mg/kg (if selenium is added)
- guaranteed analysis
- required guarantees per table 3 for the specific feed type
- either a complete list of ingredients (if required for that feed type) or the following statement: "a list of ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or registrant"
- directions for use (per MIB for medication level/claim)
- warnings (per MIB for medication level/claim)
- cautions (per MIB for medication level/claim)
selenium caution(s) if selenium added per (6): "Directions for use must be carefully followed" (all species) and "do not use in association with another feed containing supplemental selenium" (ruminants only) - notes (if required by the MIB for medication level/claim)
- BSE statement if feed contains "prohibited material": "feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
- registrant's name and address (if registered);
or
name and address of manufacturer or person who caused it to be manufactured (if not registered) - net weight (kg)
Medicated feed customer formula
- brand name (optional)
- feed name
- feed form (if other than mash)
- medication, level and approved claim (per MIB)
- name and address of the person who caused the feed to be manufactured
- directions for use (per MIB for medication level/claim)
- warnings (per MIB for medication level/claim)
- cautions (per MIB for medication level/claim)
- notes (if required by the MIB for medication level/claim)
- BSE statement if feed contains "prohibited material": "feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
- name and address of the supplier of the feed
- net weight (kg)
Medicated feed veterinary prescription
- brand name (optional)
- feed name (must include name and amount of medicating ingredient)
- medication and level (per vet prescription)
- medication claim (per vet prescription, if any)
- name and address of the person who caused the feed to be manufactured
- name of veterinarian who issued prescription
- form of feed (if other than mash)
- this feed contains added selenium at ? mg/kg (if selenium is added)
- guaranteed analysis
- required guarantees per table 3 for the specific feed type
- either a complete list of ingredients (if required for that feed type) or the following statement: "a list of ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or registrant"
- directions for use (including duration of use as per vet prescription)
- warnings (per vet prescription)
- cautions (per vet prescription)
selenium caution(s) if selenium added per (8): "directions for use must be carefully followed" (all species) and "do not use in association with another feed containing supplemental selenium" (ruminants only) - BSE statement if feed contains "prohibited material": "feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
- name and address of manufacturer
- net weight (kg)
Medicated feed consultant formula
- brand name (optional)
- feed name
- form of feed (if other than mash)
- medication, level and approved claim (as per MIB)
- name and address of purchaser of feed
- this feed contains added selenium at ? mg/kg (if selenium is added)
- guaranteed Analysis
- required guarantees per table 3 for the specific feed type
- either a complete list of ingredients (if required for that feed type) or the following statement: "a list of ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or registrant"
- directions for use (per MIB for medication level/claim)
- warnings (per MIB for medication level/claim)
- cautions (per MIB for medication level/claim)
selenium caution(s) if selenium added per (6): "directions for use must be carefully followed" (all species) and "do not use in association with another feed containing supplemental selenium" (ruminants only) - notes (if required by the MIB for medication level/claim)
- BSE statement if feed contains "prohibited material": "feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
- name and address of the manufacturer or person who caused it to be manufactured
- net weight (kg)
Non-medicated feed customer formula
- brand name (optional)
- feed name
- name of the supplier of the formula (if shipped in bags)
or
name and address of the supplier of the formula (if shipped in bulk) - BSE statement if feed contains "prohibited material": "feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
- net mass of individual packages of feed and number of packages in the lot (if shipped in bags);
or
net weight of feed in shipment (if shipped in bulk)
Non-medicated feed
- brand fame (optional)
- feed name
- registration number (if required)
- this feed contains added selenium at ? mg/kg (if selenium is added)
- guaranteed analysis
- required guarantees per table 3 for the specific feed type
- Either a complete list of ingredients (if required for that feed type) or the following statement: "a list of ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or registrant"
- directions for use
- selenium caution(s) if selenium added per (4): "directions for use must be carefully followed" (all species) "do not use in association with another feed containing supplemental selenium" (ruminants only)
- BSE statement if feed contains "prohibited material": "feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
- registrant's name and address (if registered);
or
name and address of the manufacturer or person who caused it to be manufactured (if not registered) - net weight (kg)
Non-medicated feed consultant formula
- brand name (optional)
- feed name
- name and address of purchaser of feed
- this feed contains added selenium at ? mg/kg (if selenium is added)
- guaranteed analysis
- required guarantees per table 3 for the specific feed type
- either a complete list of ingredients (if required for that feed type) or the following statement: "a list of ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or registrant"
- directions for use
- selenium caution(s) if selenium added per (4): "directions for use must be carefully followed" (all species) "do not use in association with another feed containing supplemental selenium" (ruminants only)
- BSE statement if feed contains "prohibited material": "feeding this product to cattle, sheep, deer or other ruminants is illegal and is subject to fines or other punishment under the Health of Animals Act."
- name and address of the manufacturer or person who caused it to be manufactured
- net weight (kg)
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