Current status: Closed
This consultation ran from July 11, 2026, to September 9, 2026.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was seeking comments on proposed regulatory changes to the Enhanced Feed Ban for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
These proposed changes reflect current science and Canada's very low risk of BSE today. They aim to reduce regulatory burden and better align with U.S. requirements, while maintaining strong safety protections for Canada's food supply.
About the consultation
BSE is a disease that affects cattle. It spreads when cattle eat feed containing infected animal protein.
To help stop the spread, Canada introduced the Enhanced Feed Ban in 2007. This included banning most mammalian proteins from being fed to cattle and other ruminants, and prohibiting certain high‑risk cattle materials, known as specified risk material (SRM), from being used in animal feed, fertilizer and pet food. These measures played a key role in reducing the main sources of exposure and bringing the epidemic to an end in Canada and globally.
Why we proposed changes
Today, the risk of BSE is very low in Canada and around the world. However, the measures Canada has in place to prevent its spread have not been updated to reflect this lower risk. Since 2021, Canada has been recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as having a negligible risk status. Despite this, Canada's rules remain stricter than those in the United States, which also has negligible risk status.
Canada's stricter regulations make costs higher for some Canadian businesses compared to businesses in the United States and limits how some SRM can be reused safely.
This consultation sought feedback on proposed updates that:
- reflect today's lower risk
- align more closely with U.S. requirements
- continue to protect human and animal health
What we are proposing
We proposed changes that would allow certain SRM (called eligible SRM) to be used in:
- feed for animals that are not cattle or other ruminants
- pet food
- fertilizer
Eligible SRM would include these tissues from cattle aged 30 months or older:
- skull
- eyes
- parts of the nervous system (trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia)
- tonsils
- a portion of the small intestine (distal ileum)
- Distal ileum from cattle (under 30 months of age)
What will not change
Key protections would remain in place.
- All SRM would continue to be banned from human food
- High-risk SRM (brain and spinal cord from cattle aged 30 months or older) would still be banned for all uses
- All SRM, as well as most mammalian proteins, would still be banned in feed for cattle and other ruminants
How this would work
Businesses such as abattoirs and beef processors could choose to separate and use eligible SRM in certain products.
To do this, they would need a CFIA permit. Before a permit is issued, businesses would need to show they can safely separate eligible SRM from high-risk SRM and manage it under defined conditions.
A permit would be required for eligible SRM from cattle aged 30 months and older. A permit would not be required for distal ileum from cattle under 30 months of age.
Businesses that do not wish to divert eligible SRM would continue to dispose of the tissues as SRM as they do today.
Who was the focus of this consultation
This consultation targeted:
- livestock producer associations
- abattoirs and meat processors
- renderers
- livestock feed manufacturers
- fertilizer manufacturers
- pet food manufacturers
- producers
- transporters
- compost and waste disposal industry
- veterinarian associations
- governments
- the public
Key questions for discussion
We welcomed your ideas and thoughts on these themes in relation to the enhanced feed ban proposed amendments:
- protecting animal and human health
- reducing red tape and improving competitiveness of Canada's agri-food sector
- alignment with trading partners, market access and international approaches
- feasibility of implementation
Your feedback will be used to inform any changes to the proposed regulations. Final regulations will be published in Canada Gazette, Part II.
Related information
- Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
- Health of Animals Regulations
- Feeds Regulations, 2024
- Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
- Fertilizers Regulations
- Food and Drug Regulations
- CFIA's Progress Report on Red Tape Reduction
Contact us
You can send questions by email to cfia.BSE_EFB_consult-ESB_IRAB_consulter.acia@inspection.gc.ca and reference "Proposed changes to the EFB" in the subject line.