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Feed Regulatory Renewal Consolidated Modernized Framework Proposal – November 2015
Conclusion

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This proposal presents in greater detail the policy direction intended by the proposed regulations, to give stakeholders another opportunity to provide feedback before the proposed regulations enter into the formal consultation process.

The proposed regulations will represent a significant stride in augmenting regulated industry's responsibility and a clear raising of the bar for feed safety in Canada via the application of hazard identification and preventive.

In circling back to the feed regulatory modernization objectives that were established for this project:

Develop a modernized risk-based and outcome-based regulatory framework for feeds which:

  • safeguards feeds and the food production continuum;
  • attains the most effective and efficient balance between fair and competitive trade in the market; and
  • minimizes regulatory burden,

the following summary identifies how the proposal serves to accomplish them.

Modernized risk-based and outcome-based regulatory framework
Key Result How the modernized framework proposes to achieve objective …
Modernized Feeds Act
  • Regulations will benefit from new authorities and enforcement tools provided by way of Agricultural Growth Act enables development of more modern, robust approached to regulation
  • Enables more consistent regulatory development across CFIA (e.g. opportunities to align with modernized regulatory framework for food by way of Safe Food for Canadians Act)
Modernized, Integrated Agency Inspection Model (iAIM)
  • Platform for modernized Feeds Regulations to encompass principles of modernized inspection model that applies globally recognized risk management concepts based on prevention to enable systems-based, performance-based and risk-based inspection oversight approaches
  • Inspection programming will be risk-based with higher oversight for operations that have greater risk factors
Significant reduction in pre-market product registration
  • Ingredient and mixed feed registration requirements to be based on feeds that present higher risks
Safeguards feeds and the food production continuum
Key Result How the modernized framework proposes to achieve objective …
Focus of regulations on health and safety, prevention or mitigation of risks to public, animal and plant health, the environment
  • Robust, more transparent feed ingredient assessment and authorization process to focus on safety and purpose supported by scientific data
  • Expanded scope of food-producing species for which feeds would be subject to regulation
  • Domestic, imported and exported feeds subject to risk-based preventive control plans (PCPs) and traceability requirements
  • Hazard ID and preventive controls must be based on scientific information and risk analysis
  • Hazard ID and PCPs adaptable over time to address new/emerging hazards that pose risks to feed and food safety
  • Confirms industry responsibility and accountability for preparing safe feed; sector-specific programs can serve as model systems for individual establishments to prepare appropriate PCPs from
Enable regulated parties and CFIA to rapidly respond and mitigate emerging feed and food safety risks
  • Traceability requirements for domestic, imported and exported feed
  • CFIA able to suspend or revoke a permission (product, operator or establishment licenses or registrations) as a response to incidents posing high risk to public, animal or plant health or the environment
Attains the most effective and efficient balance between fair and competitive trade in the market
Key Result How the modernized framework proposes to achieve objective …
Reflect changes in trade, science and technology
  • Scope for authorization of new ingredients for efficacy modified to allow marketplace to determine product performance where food safety or animal health not put at risk
  • Accommodation for development and implementation of a permissible claims list for labelling of ingredients and feeds
  • Removal of Table 4 no longer to serve as trigger for feed registration on the basis of nutrient content of feeds
  • Accommodation for labelling of feeds with multijurisdictional (international) labels in domestic marketplace
  • Evolution of feed vs drug classification in partnership with Health Canada and stakeholders
  • Outcome based regulatory requirements, where appropriate, to indicate desired outcome; offers flexibility and innovation for how the outcome to be achieved
  • Import controls to oblige regulated parties take equivalent responsibility for the products they are bringing into the country as ones produced domestically by requiring imported products meet Canadian standards
Timely updating of feed safety and other standards
  • Incorporation by Reference, a new authority in Feeds Act by way of Agricultural Growth Act, to enable more rapid updating of authorized feed ingredient positive list, feed safety standards and other requirements that are transitory in nature
Aligning, to the extent possible, with international trading partner and international standards
  • Guidance provided by Code of Good Animal Feeding Practices and other Codex Alimentarius documentation integrated into proposal
  • Hazard ID and PCP approach is in line with the requirements of the EU and expected direction of the US
  • Provincial oversight of feeds, while minimal, will not be duplicated by federal requirements
Minimizes regulatory burden
Key Result How the modernized framework proposes to achieve objective …
Significant reduction in pre-market product registration
  • reduction in the number of feeds and feed ingredients requiring registration reduces administrative burden (completing and submitting applications and other documentation) and financial burden (provision of application fees)
  • Options on new approach to controlling imported feeds preclude administrative and financial burdens associated with product registration
Feed labelling
  • Reduction in prescriptive labelling requirements and increased labelling flexibility
  • Permissible claims list to offer greater flexibility for labelling of feeds without need of pre-market assessment and approval by CFIA of labels with claims

The coming years will be a time of change, challenge, and opportunity as Canada moves forward in the development and implementation of the proposed regulations that will strengthen protection of Canada's feed and food supply.

These proposed regulations will not be the final step in the evolution of Canada's regulatory framework under the Feeds Act. Rather, an effective feed safety control system is marked by ongoing policy review and continuous improvement. The CFIA is committed to such a process and welcomes feedback on future improvements, as well as those addressed in this round of regulatory change.

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