Current status: Open
Opened on October 30, 2026, and will close to the new input on November 30, 2026.
About the consultation
We are seeking comments on the following amended single ingredient feed (SIF) description for calcium gluconate.
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 amendment of an existing SIF description: calcium gluconate.
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 and 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 gluconate and its intended purpose as a gut modifier ingredient; approved as a component of gut modifier products for poultry, swine, and ruminants.
Therefore, we recommend that the amended description for calcium gluconate be approved and the amended SIF description replace the current SIF description in the CFIT, accordingly.
Amended SIF description
We intend to amend the existing SIF description for calcium gluconate (1-619-003) under subclass 6.19.6 (Gut modifier ingredients – Other) of class 6 (Non-nutritive ingredients) in part 1 of the CFIT.
The amendment to this description consists of adding ruminants as an additional livestock species that calcium gluconate is approved for.
The amended description is:
1-619-003 Calcium gluconate
is the calcium salt of gluconic acid and its hydrated forms.
This ingredient is approved for use as a component of gut modifier products for poultry, swine, and ruminants.
It shall be labelled with the following statement:
"This ingredient is approved for use as a component of gut modifier products for poultry, swine, and ruminants."
It shall be labelled with a guarantee for minimum percent calcium salt of gluconic acid.
Additional information
An application was submitted to our AFP to expand the list of livestock species for which calcium gluconate is approved for use as a component of gut modifier products. The application was a significant change to add ruminants to the already approved species, swine and poultry. Based on the information available, we have determined that this SIF can be used as a component of gut modifier products in feeds for poultry, swine, and ruminants. Gut modifier products are specialty feeds requiring registration and applicants are required to demonstrate efficacy of their gut modifier product in the species and classes of livestock for which it is intended.
Who is the focus of this consultation
Animal feed stakeholders are the focus of this consultation, including:
- suppliers of feed ingredients
- commercial feed manufacturers
- feed importers, distributors and retailers
- industry associations
- other government departments
- international trading partners
- veterinarians
All comments from industry, governments, the public, or other organizations or individuals, are welcome.
How to participate
We are seeking feedback on the amended description for calcium gluconate.
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 amended
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 gluconate" in the subject line of the email. We are asking for comments and feedback by November 30, 2026, 30 days from the date of this posting.
Next steps
We will review all the comments received. If no significant scientifically valid concerns are raised, we will finalize the approval of the amended description for calcium gluconate and issue the approval to the applicant.
If significant concerns are raised, we will evaluate the additional information.
This amended SIF description will be added to the CFIT at the next update.
Contact us
Animal Feed Program (AFP)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Email: cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca