Share your thoughts: Proposed new livestock feed ingredient – Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil

About the consultation

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on the following proposed new single ingredient feed (SIF) description for Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil.

Background

The Feeds Regulations require a proponent to submit a pre-market application for SIFs that are new, have been modified such that they differ significantly from a conventional SIF, or are for a new purpose. The CFIA evaluates the information in the application to establish that the SIF is safe, effective, and labelled correctly.

Approved SIFs are currently listed and defined in Schedules IV and V of the Feeds Regulations, with appropriate guarantees, standards, and label requirements. The CFIA will be transitioning to the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT) that will be incorporated by reference into the Feeds Regulations, 2023 when they come into effect. In preparation for this new approach, the CFIA is consulting on new or amended SIFs so they can be added to the CFIT, once it comes into effect. More information on this is available in the Notice to industry: Consultations on new or amended single ingredient feed descriptions.

About the assessment

The CFIA's Animal Feed Program has completed a detailed assessment of an application for the approval of a new SIF: Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil.

The assessment considered information related to:

• the safety of feeding this SIF to livestock with respect to animal health
• the safety of people who consume food derived from livestock that eat this SIF
• the safety of workers/bystanders exposed to this SIF
• environmental safety
• an assessment of the fit-for-purpose and efficacy for this SIF, for the intended livestock species

The results of the CFIA's evaluation of available scientific data supports the safety and efficacy of Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil for its intended purpose as a source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), in complete feeds for salmonid fish. Therefore, the CFIA recommends Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil be approved as a new SIF and added to the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT) accordingly.

Proposed SIF description

The CFIA intends to add Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil to the CFIT under a new Subclass (5.5 - Essential fatty acids) of Class 5 (Nutritional ingredients) in part 2 of the CFIT with the following description:

Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil (or long chain omega-3 micro-algal oil or n-3 LC–PUFAs micro-algal oil)

is the oil extracted from fermented micro-algae. This fermentation shall be conducted in accordance with good manufacturing practices using a non-pathogenic strain of micro-algae, which does not contain a novel trait. The name of the micro-algae (for example, Aurantiochytrium limanicum) shall be indicated on the label.

This ingredient is approved in an amount not to exceed 10 % of the complete feed for salmonid fish as a source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

If an antioxidant is used, it must be approved for use in livestock feeds, it shall be used at the approved rate, and the common name or names shall be indicated on the label.

It shall be labelled with the following statement:

"This ingredient is free of antimicrobial activity and is not a source of viable microbial cells."

Warning:

"This livestock feed contains canthaxanthin and should be used in feeds for salmonid fish at a rate not to exceed 50 grams of canthaxanthin per tonne of the complete feed. If canthaxanthin from omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil is used in combination with other sources of canthaxanthin in feeds for salmonid fish, then the combined rate of canthaxanthin from all sources shall not exceed 50 grams per tonne of the complete feed. The combined concentration of astaxanthin, canthaxanthin and adonirubin from all sources shall not exceed 80 grams per tonne of the complete feed. / Cet aliment pour animaux de ferme contient aussi de la canthaxanthine et doit être utilisé dans les aliments destinés aux poissons salmonidés en quantité ne devant pas dépasser 50 grammes de canthaxanthine par tonne de l'aliment complet. Si la canthaxanthine provenant des acides gras polyinsaturés à longue chaîne oméga-3 d'huile de micro-algues est utilisée en combinaison avec d'autres sources de canthaxanthine dans les aliments destinés aux poissons salmonidés, la quantité totale de canthaxanthine utilisée ne doit pas dépasser 50 grammes par tonne de l'aliment complet. La concentration totale de l'astaxanthine, la canthaxanthine et l'adonirubine provenant de toutes les sources ne doit pas dépasser 80 grammes par tonne de l'aliment complet. "

It shall be labelled with guarantees for minimum % eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), maximum % eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), minimum % docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), maximum % docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), minimum % total omega-3 fatty acids, maximum % total omega-3 fatty acids, maximum % moisture, maximum % insoluble matter, maximum % unsaponifiable matter, maximum % free fatty acids, and maximum milligrams of canthaxanthin per kilogram.

An ingredient number will be assigned at the time the SIFis added to the CFIT.

Additional information

Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil will be placed into part 2 of the CFIT because of the species and strain of the algae, the manufacturing process and its conditions, as well as the fatty acid profile of the final product of other sources will be variable.

This SIF is approved as a source of omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA, which are considered essential fatty acids for fish. Therefore, this SIF will be added to a new Subclass (5.5 – Essential fatty acids) of Class 5 (Nutritive ingredients) in the CFIT. This SIF was not assessed or approved to fortify foods of animal origin.

Who was the focus of this consultation

Animal feed stakeholders, including:

• suppliers of feed ingredients
• commercial feed manufacturers
• feed importers, distributors and retailers
• industry associations
• other government departments
• international trading partners
• veterinarians

All comments are welcome from industry, governments, the public, or other organizations or individuals.

How to participate

The CFIA is seeking feedback on the proposed description for Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil.

Stakeholders are encouraged to share comments if there are:

• concerns about the accuracy of SIF description
• additional scientific data that should be considered before the SIF is approved

Scientific questions or information will be reviewed by the CFIA evaluators for consideration in the assessment. Non-scientific input will be evaluated and appropriate ways of addressing it will be explored.

Comments can be sent by email to the Animal Feed Program at cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca. Please use the words "Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil" in the subject line of the email. The CFIA is asking for comments and feedback by [August 21, 2023], 30 days from the date of this posting.

Next steps

The CFIA will review all comments received. If no significant scientifically valid concerns are raised, the CFIA will finalize the approval of Omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids micro-algal oil and issue the approval to the applicant. If there are significant concerns raised, the CFIA will evaluate the additional information and may, subject to the commenters' consent, forward the comments to the applicant for their response. A what we heard report that summarizes the feedback received will be published on the CFIA website.

The SIF will be added to the CFIT at the next update, following publication of the Feeds Regulations, 2023.

Related information

• Feeds Regulations
• Feeds Act
• Consultations on proposed regulatory and policy changes
• Notice to industry: Consultations on new or amended single ingredient feed descriptions

Contact us

Animal Feed Program (AFP)
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9
Email: cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca