4. Labeling Requirements
- 6 Mins to read
- DarkLight
4. Labeling Requirements
- 6 Mins to read
- DarkLight
Article summary
Did you find this summary helpful?
Thank you for your feedback
Animal Feed
Canada
This section provides information on labeling requirements and the label approval process.
4.1 Mandatory Labeling Parameters
General Feed
The general feed label must contain [1]:
- In the case of a feed not required to be registered, the name and address of the person who manufactured the feed or caused it to be manufactured;
- In the case of a feed required to be registered, the name and address of the registrant;
- The name of the feed in accordance with section 32;
- The brand of the feed, if any;
- The registration number, where applicable;
- The net amount
- expressed as the number of units in a package, in the case of a package of feed containing individual feeding forms, or
- expressed as the mass or volume in the package or shipment, in the case of any other package or bulk shipment of feed;
- An accurate statement of the guaranteed analysis in respect of the feed;
- Subject to subsection 27(3), directions for use in sufficient detail to permit the safe and effective use of the feed for its intended purpose by users with no special knowledge of the purpose and use of the feed;
- A warning statement if the feed is or contains prohibited material
- in the case of a feed that is required to comply with the guarantees set out in item 7 of Table 3 of Schedule I, the name of each ingredient in the feed;
- in the case of a feed, other than a feed referred to in paragraph (10), the name of each ingredient in the feed or the statement “A list of the ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or registrant./La liste des ingrédients de cet aliment peut être obtenue du fabricant ou du titulaire de l’enregistrement.”;
For a detailed explanation of each of these elements, please refer to the "Labelling Guidance for the Proposed Feeds Regulations, 2022" [2].
Note: this product is unlikely to have a prohibited material statement as the feed doesn't contain ingredients that could be harmful to other species.
Note on GMO labeling: Health Canada is of the opinion that once a novel trait has been reviewed and deemed safe, there is no need for GMO declarations.
Category
The category of “Mixed Livestock Feed” should comply with the mandatory labeling parameters listed in Section 4.1 under “General Feed” above.
Additionally, the label must also contain, in the case of a mixed feed [1,2]:
- The name of each single ingredient feed used in the feed or, except in the case of a feed that is registered and is labeled with a claim that is not set out in the Tables of Permissible Claims for Feed Labels, the following statement: “A list of the ingredients used in this feed may be obtained from the manufacturer or the registrant. / La liste des ingrédients de cet aliment peut être obtenue du fabricant ou du titulaire de l'enregistrement.”, and
- Any caution statement or warning statement set out in the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table in respect of each single ingredient feed used in the formulation of that feed.
Product
A “Mixed Livestock Feed - Supplement" product should comply with the mandatory labeling parameters listed in Section 4.1 on “General Feed” and "Category" above.
4.2 Languages
Any information required to be shown on the label of a feed shall be printed conspicuously, legibly, and indelibly in English, French, or both languages [1].
4.3 Mandatory Information on Stickers
Subject to subsection (3) of the Feeds Regulations [1], and unless otherwise authorized by the Director of Animal Feed Division at CFIA, any information that is required to be shown on a label shall appear on the main panel of the package label or, where the package contains less than 5 kg, on the surface of the package.
"(3) Any directions for use required to be shown on a label may refer to an insert containing detailed directions for use if such an insert is enclosed within the package that bears the label". [1]
4.4 Product Legal Name
There is no product legal name for the overall category of "General Feed". Refer to the below section for info on product legal names for specific products.
Product
Feed name: the name of the feed must be suitable for the intended use of the feed and must not be misleading. The feed name must contain the purpose of the feed (e.g., premix, supplement, anticaking agent, energy source, flavoring agent, etc.) and the intended livestock species (e.g., swine) or class of livestock (e.g., finisher swine, laying hens, lactating dairy cattle, etc.) [2].
Mixed feeds must have a name that accurately reflects the composition of the feed. For example, feeds that are labeled as complete feeds must provide all of the daily nutrient requirements for the intended livestock species. In addition, the regulations specify that certain feeds must include the feed type (or purpose) as part of the name. Premixes, supplements, and customer formula feeds must include their respective feed type in the name of the feed [2].
4.5 Product-specific Labeling Statements
There are no product-specific labeling statements for the overall category of “General Feed”. Refer to the below category and product-specific labeling statements.
Category
Where a feed is a premix or supplement formulated for a unique species but may be used for more than one purpose, the feed name shall indicate each purpose for which the feed is intended or the feed name shall include the word “Multipurpose” or the words “à usages multiples” and the directions for use of the feed shall indicate each purpose for which the feed is promoted or intended to be used [1].
"(8) Where a feed is a micro-premix or a macro-premix, the word “premix” or “prémélange” shall form part of the name of the feed, and, where a feed is a supplement, the word “supplement” or “supplément” shall form part of the name of the feed." [1]
Product
A “Mixed Livestock Feed - Supplement" product should comply with the above requirements in Section 4.5 on Product-Specific Labeling Statements for “Category”.
4.6 Authority Approval
General Feed
The product label needs to be approved by the authority - CFIA- during the registration process (please refer to Section 6 on Registration Requirements). Label assessment will be part of the registration process if registration is required [3].
- Cost: not applicable as this is parked under the registration process.
- Timeline: not applicable as this is parked under the registration process.
If a business operator is not certain whether its feed is subject to registration, he may request a review of the feed label. An email with the subject line "Label Review", a copy of the proposed label, and a description of the product should be sent to the AFP at: cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca [3].
Category
The category of “Mixed Livestock Feed” should comply with the above requirements in Section 4.6 on authority approval for “General Feed”.
Product
A “Mixed Livestock Feed - Supplement" product should comply with the above requirements in Section 4.6 on authority approval for “General Feed”.
4.7 Additional Notes on Labeling
Any feed that is manufactured, sold, or imported must have a label affixed to it or to a package containing it or, if the feed is shipped in bulk, attached to or printed on any document, including the invoice, shipping bill, or statement of account delivered with the shipment [1].
If a feed that is manufactured in a foreign state bears a label that shows the name and principal place of business of the person in Canada for whom the feed was manufactured for resale, the name and principal place of business of that person must be preceded by the words “imported by” or “importé par” or by the words “imported for” or “importé pour” unless the geographic origin of the product is stated on the label.
4.8 References
1. Feeds Regulations, 1983 (SOR/83-593)
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-83-593/page-4.html#h-879233
2. Labelling guidance for the proposed Feeds Regulations, 2022
3. RG-1 Regulatory Guidance: Feed Registration Procedures and Labelling Standards
Was this article helpful?