Current status: Open
Opened on January 12, 2026, and will close to input on February 11, 2026.
About the consultation
- We issue licences to authorize businesses to carry out activities related to interprovincial trade or export in compliance with regulatory requirements.
- These licences ensure that businesses adhere to specific criteria, including the implementation of preventative management plans tailored to effective risk mitigation. Through these licensing requirements, we protect the health, safety and security of Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector.
- The licensing service delivery model used for food establishments under the Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) Regulations applies to hatchery and feed establishments, following regulatory updates to the Health of Animals Regulations (2022) and the Feeds Regulations (2024), respectively.
- Updated legislation requires a new license renewal fee for hatcheries and licensing fees for feeds, as identified in the CFIA's 2025-2027 Forward Regulatory Plan.
- We propose to apply the existing SFC license and renewal fees to all current and future hatchery and feed establishments' licensing services.
- The change is planned to take effect on March 31, 2026. At that time, the licence fee would be $307.96. This amount is based on the current SFC fee of $299.86, plus an annual adjustment for inflation. The adjustment uses the April Consumer Price Index for Canada published by Statistics Canada and is required under the Service Fees Act. The amendment is planned to be published as final in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on March 28, 2026.
- We intend to adopt the same cost recovery approach across all other similar future licenses.
- This fee proposal is part of our wider, transformative service fee modernization initiative, which aims to uphold the Government's commitment to modernize its cost recovery and deliver value to Canadians
How to participate
- We are seeking feedback on the proposed changes to the licensing cost recovery for hatcheries and feeds.
- Stakeholders are encouraged to share comments if there are concerns about the cost recovery approach or about the fee level being proposed.
- Read the fee proposal document: CFIA's Fee Proposal: Proposed licensing fees for hatcheries and feeds establishments
- Email your feedback to Cost-Recovery@inspection.gc.ca by February 11, 2026.
- Use "Proposed Changes to Licensing Cost Recovery" in the subject line of the email.
Who is the focus of this consultation
This consultation is targeting:
- hatcheries establishments subject to licensing requirements under the Health of Animals Regulations, including:
- hatchery operators
- supply flock operators
- importers
- distributors
- retailers
- poultry meat associations
- egg producers associations
- Livestock feeds establishments subject to licensing requirements of the Feeds Regulations, 2024 that conduct a prescribed activity as indicated in Licensing guidance: General overview Feeds Regulations, 2024, including:
- livestock feed manufacturers
- feed ingredient manufacturers
- feed retailers
- livestock owners and producers
- producer association groups
- veterinary associations
Comments are also welcome from:
- agriculture and agri-food stakeholders such as:
- suppliers of ingredients
- commercial manufacturers
- importers
- distributors
- retailers
- industry associations
- governments
- other federal government departments or agencies
- other organizations
- the public
Related information
- Service Fees Act
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act
- Safe Food for Canadians Act
- Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
- Feeds Act
- Feeds Regulations
- Health of Animals Act
- Health of Animals Regulations
- Canada Gazette, Part 1, Volume 156, Number 46: COMMISSIONS
Contact us
If you have any questions or comments about this consultation, send an email to Cost-Recovery@inspection.gc.ca