Proposed new livestock feed ingredient – Tannic acid: Closed Consultation
Current status: Closed
This consultation ran from March 28, 2024 to April 28, 2024.
About the consultation
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was seeking comments on the following proposed new single ingredient feed (SIF) description for tannic acid.
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 from an approved 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 labelling requirements. The CFIA will be transitioning to the Canadian Feed Ingredients Table (CFIT) that will be incorporated by reference into the proposed Feeds Regulations, 2024 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 evaluation
The CFIA's Animal Feed Program has completed a detailed evaluation of an application for the approval of a new SIF: tannic acid.
The evaluation considered information related to the following:
- 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/bystanders exposed to this SIF
- environmental safety
- the fit-for-purpose and efficacy of this SIF for the intended livestock species
The results of the CFIA's evaluation of available scientific data support the safety and efficacy of tannic acid and its intended purpose as a component of microtracers in complete feeds for livestock species.
Therefore, the CFIA recommends that tannic acid be approved as a new SIF and added to the CFIT, accordingly.
Proposed SIF description
The CFIA intends to add tannic acid under Subclass 6.11 (Microtracers) of Class 6 (Non-nutritive ingredients) in part 1 of the CFIT with the following description:
Tannic acid (or hydrolyzable tannins or hydrolyzable gallo-tannins)
is the hydrolyzable fraction of tannins obtained by extraction with water or organic solvents (acetone or ethyl acetate) from a variety of botanical sources (for example, Caesalpinia spinosa, Castanea sativa, Quercus infectoria, Rhus spp.). It is a yellow to light brown powder composed of a low molecular weight polymer of glucose esterified with up to 12 molecules of gallic acid and/or 3‑galloylgallic acid. It shall contain a minimum of 96% tannic acid on a dry matter basis, and it shall contain not more than 12% moisture.
This ingredient is approved for use as a component of microtracers in an amount not to exceed 3% of the microtracer formulations, and in an amount not to exceed 1.5 grams per tonne of the complete feed for livestock species.
It shall be labelled with the following statement:
"This ingredient is approved for use as a component of microtracers in an amount not to exceed 3% of the microtracer formulations and in an amount not to exceed 1.5 grams per tonne of the complete feed for livestock species."
To address worker safety concerns, it shall be labelled with the following statement:
"This ingredient may cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation and/or sensitization. Appropriate protective equipment must be worn during handling. / Cet ingrédient peut causer une irritation des yeux, de la peau et des voies respiratoires et/ou une sensibilisation. Un appareil de protection approprié doit être porté lors de la manutention."
It shall be labelled with guarantees for minimum percent tannic acid, and maximum percent moisture.
An ingredient number will be assigned at the time the SIF is added to the CFIT.
Additional information
Tannic acid is a synonym for hydrolyzable tannins which may include gallotannins and ellagitannin esters. Tannins are naturally present in many plant species. Tannic acid is extracted from plants using solvents, and has a relatively high purity. The composition of tannic acid can vary greatly based on the plant it has been extracted from.
It is approved for use as a component of microtracers as a colour indicator with a maximum inclusion rate of 3% in microtracer formulations, and it is not to exceed 1.5 grams per tonne of the complete feed for livestock species.
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 was seeking feedback on the proposed description for tannic acid.
Stakeholders were encouraged to share comments if there was:
- concerns about the accuracy of SIF description
- any scientific data that should be considered before the SIF is approved
The CFIA 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 Animal Feed Program at cfia.afp-paa.acia@inspection.gc.ca. Please use "tannic acid" in the subject line of the email. The CFIA is asking for comments and feedback by April 28, 2024, 30 days from the date of this posting.
Next steps
The CFIA will review all of the comments received, if no significant scientifically valid concerns are raised, the CFIA will finalize the approval of tannic acid and issue the approval to the applicant. If significant concerns are 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.
The SIF will be added to the CFIT at the next update, following publication of the proposed Feeds Regulations, 2024.
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
- Date modified: