Notice to industry: Amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations (Hatcheries and supply flocks) – reminder to comply and transition to new licensing system by November 9, 2023

June 23, 2023

By November 9, 2023, all hatcheries with permits issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) must transition to the new licensing system as required under recent amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations (HAR) relating to hatcheries and supply flocks.

The amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part II on November 9, 2022, with a one-year transition period to allow hatchery and supply flock operators time to prepare and comply before the CFIA begins enforcing the new requirements.

Complying with the new requirements

Hatcheries and supply flocks are required to follow new requirements to comply with the amendments by November 9, 2023, including:

• developing and implementing a written preventive control plan (PCP), which describes operational hazards and how to mitigate these risks
• obtaining eggs from supply flocks that test for bacteria (such as Salmonella) to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses
• obtaining eggs and chicks from supply flock farms that maintain a written PCP describing the farm's operational hazards and how the farm is mitigating these risks; and
• obtaining eggs and chicks from supply flock farms that are following the Canadian Hatchery and Supply Flock Testing Standards