Current status: Open
Opened on April 19, 2025 and closes on May 19, 2025.
About the consultation
We are seeking comments on the following proposed new single ingredient feed (SIF) description for calcium butyrate.
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: calcium butyrate.
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 calcium butyrate and its intended purpose as a component of gut modifier products in complete feeds for pre-ruminant calves, swine, and poultry.
Therefore, we recommend that calcium butyrate be approved as a new SIF and added to the CFIT, accordingly.
Proposed SIF description
We intend to add calcium butyrate under subclass 6.19.3 (Gut modifier ingredients – Acids) of class 6 (Non-nutritive ingredients) in part 1 of the CFIT with the following description:
Calcium butyrate (or calcium butanoate)
is the calcium salt of butyric acid, generally expressed as C8H14CaO4, and having the CAS# 5743-36-2.
This ingredient is approved for use as a component of gut modifier products in an amount not to exceed 0.12% (1200 mg/kg) of the complete feed for pre-ruminant calves, swine, and poultry.
It shall be labelled with the following statement:
"This ingredient is approved for use as a component of gut modifier products in an amount not to exceed 0.12% (1200 mg/kg) of the compete feed for pre-ruminant calves, swine, and poultry."
It shall be labelled with a guarantee for minimum percent calcium butyrate.
An ingredient number will be assigned at the time the SIF is added to the CFIT.
Additional information
Calcium butyrate is a well-defined chemical substance with no source specific concerns, and therefore is to be placed into part 1 of the CFIT. This SIF is approved as a component of gut modifier products in complete feeds for pre-ruminant calves, swine, and poultry. The SIF description for calcium butyrate is similar to the descriptions for other acids (for example, sodium butyrate, butyric acid), that are approved for use as components of gut modifier products. Calcium butyrate is converted into butyric acid after ingestion, and butyric acid is already approved as a component of gut modifier products in the CFIT.
Calcium butyrate has a maximum inclusion rate (1200 mg/kg) that cannot be exceeded in complete feeds for pre-ruminant calves, swine and poultry. The maximum inclusion rate was set at 1200 mg/kg based on the maximum inclusion rate allowed for butyric acid (1000 mg/kg) and the conversion of calcium butyrate to butyric acid.
Who is 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 are welcome from industry, governments, the public, or other organizations or individuals.
How to participate
We are seeking feedback on the proposed description for calcium butyrate.
Stakeholders are encouraged to share comments if there are:
- concerns about the accuracy of the SIF description
- any scientific data that should be considered before the SIF is approved
Our evaluators will review scientific questions or information for consideration in the evaluation. They will also evaluate non-scientific input and explore appropriate ways of addressing it.
Comments can be sent by email to the AFP at cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca. Please use "calcium butyrate" in the subject line of the email. We are asking for comments and feedback by May 19, 2025 30 days from the date of this posting.
Next steps
We will review all of the comments received. If no significant scientifically valid concerns are raised, we will finalize the approval of calcium butyrate 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. A what we heard report that summarizes the feedback received will be published.
This SIF 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