3. Compositional Aspects

Animal Feed
Canada

This section provides the compositional requirements for the feed category and/or feed products in scope and information on permitted nutrients, ingredients, and additives.

3.1 Composition Requirements

Not in scope.

3.2 Raw Material Requirements

3.2.1 Raw Material Compliance

Not in scope.

3.2.2 GMO Regulatory Requirements

General feed

GMO: a food that is derived from a plant, animal, or microorganism that has been genetically modified such that the plant, animal, or microorganism exhibits characteristics that were not previously observed in that plant, animal, or microorganism, the plant, animal or microorganism no longer exhibits characteristics that were previously observed in that plant, animal or microorganism, or one or more characteristics of the plant, animal or microorganism no longer fall within the anticipated range for that plant, animal or microorganism is considered novel (aliment nouveau). [1]

The authority responsible for handling GMO regulatory requirements is Health Canada if the plant is also consumed by humans. The authority will be CFIA if it is used solely for the purpose of animal feed. 

Canada has a positive list of "novel" foods that is a searchable database. [2]

Category

The category of “Mixed Livestock Feed” should comply with the above regulations for “General Feed” under Section 3.2.2. 

Additionally, once a plant has been reviewed and found safe, the ingredients derived from that plant do not need to undergo any further safety review.

Product

A “Mixed Livestock Feed - Supplement" product should comply with Section 3.2.2 on “General Feed” and "Category" above.

3.2.2.1 GMO Status

General feed

Canada does approve GMOs through its novel review process. GMO crops are permitted for use in feed IF they have succeeded with a safety review by Health Canada for crops that are consumed by humans OR by CFIA if the crop is solely intended for use in animal feed [1]. 

Canada has a positive list of "novel" foods that is a searchable database [2,3]. First, check on the list if the novel trait (plant, animal, microorganism) has been already reviewed. If the organism has not been reviewed, there is a complex review process detailed in the guidance [1].  

Category

The category of “Mixed Livestock Feed” should comply with Section 3.2.2.1 on “General Feed”  above.

Product

A “Mixed Livestock Feed - Supplement" product should comply with Section 3.2.2.1 on “General Feed”  above.

3.3 Fortification

Not in scope.

3.4 Other Permitted Ingredients

Not in scope.

3.5 Permitted Additives

Not in scope.

3.6 Permitted Flavors and Colors 

Not in scope.

3.7 Permitted Processing Aids 

Not in scope.

3.8 Additional Notes 

General feed

Regarding the production of L-Lysine on a carbohydrate substrate using a GE fermentation strain:

Microorganisms that are novel (genetically engineered) must undergo a novel review before being used to produce food for human consumption by Health Canada, or the CFIA if the organism is being used to solely produce an ingredient used only in animal feed (Chapter 3 in this reference).

That being said, for GMO-free claims, Under the GMO claims standard, processing aids, enzymes below 0.01% by weight in a food as offered for sale (exception, see par. 6.2.7 a.), veterinary biologics, animal feeds, and substrates for micro-organisms (where the substrate itself is not present in the finished food product) do not affect whether a food or ingredient is considered to be or not to be a product of genetic engineering [4].

Canada has a positive list of "novel" foods that is a searchable database. However, if you are unsure if a food or food ingredient is novel, you can ask Health Canada for a novelty determination. This applies whether you are a food manufacturer, a food importer, or their representative [5].

Category

The category of “Mixed Livestock Feed ”should comply with Section 3.8 on “General Feed” above.

Product

A “Mixed Livestock Feed - Supplement" product should comply with Section 3.8 on “General Feed” above.

3.9 References

1. Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/legislation-guidelines/guidance-documents/guidelines-safety-assessment-novel-foods-derived-plants-microorganisms/guidelines-safety-assessment-novel-foods-2006.html#a1

2. Database of Plants with novel traits (PNT) and novel feeds from plant sources approved in Canada 

https://inspection.canada.ca/active/netapp/plantnoveltraitpnt-vegecarnouvcn/pntvcne.aspx

3. Completed safety assessments of novel foods including genetically modified (GM) foods

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/genetically-modified-foods-other-novel-foods/approved-products.html

4. Voluntary Labelling and Advertising of Foods that are and are not Products of Genetic Engineering 

https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2021/ongc-cgsb/P29-32-315-2021-eng.pdf

5. Novel foods: Requesting a novelty determination

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/genetically-modified-foods-other-novel-foods/requesting-novelty-determination.html