A scientific and transparent approach was followed in the development of the model, positioning the CFIA as global leader in feed safety. Six steps were followed and are/will be described in peer-reviewed scientific papers.
- Identification of Canadian experts
- Identification and selection of risk factors associated with feed safety
- Assessment criteria weighting
- Design of the ERA-Feed Mill model
- Test the model with pilot project
- Performance assessment of the model
- Next steps
Identification of Canadian experts
- A Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) with 11 Canadian experts from academia (Université de Montréal, University of Saskatchewan, University of Dalhousie, University of Manitoba), industry, and government (CFIA) was created to provide advice for the duration of the model development, and to work with a CFIA technical working group
Identification and selection of risk factors associated with feed safety
- Based on literature review and advice from the SAC, 34 feed safety‐related risk factors were identified and selected to be included in this risk assessment model for commercial and on-farm feed mills
- Criteria for assessing each risk factor were defined based on common practices used in the Canadian feed industry
- Risk factors and criteria are grouped into 3 clusters: inherent risks factors, mitigation factors and compliance factors
- Article available for reference: Identification and selection of risk factors
Assessment criteria weighting
- In 2019, 28 Canadian experts participated in an expert elicitation to estimate the relative risk (RR) of the 203 assessment criteria based on their expected impact on animal and human health
- The median RR value estimated by the experts for each criterion is being used to build this new model
- Article available for reference: Quantification of Risk Factors
Design of the Establishment-based Risk Assessment model for feed mills
- The risk assessment of a feed mill is calculated based on the production volume and adjusted considering the presence or absence of the applicable assessment criteria and their impacts (RR)
Test the model with pilot project
- In 2019, a pilot project was performed with 31 randomly selected commercial feed mills
- Information sessions were held with selected feed mills and CFIA inspectors to be involved in the pilot project
- Data collection tools and supporting documents were validated
- In 2020, a pilot project was performed with on-farm feed mills to further test the applicability of the model
Performance assessment of the model
- Using data collected during the pilot project, the outputs of the ERA-Feed Mill model will be assessed by correlating them with the results obtained from the assessment of senior CFIA inspectors
- Correlation obtained will confirm the applicability of the ERA-Feed Mill model
Next steps
- Once the applicability of the ERA-Feed Mill model is confirmed, refinements are applied as needed
- The ERA-Feed Mill model is flexible and adaptable to be able to evolve, as risk change and new information becomes available, for example:
- innovative practices in the feed industry
- new scientific knowledge
- new risks such as emerging pathogens
- trends in specific feed safety issues, etc.