The federal government is proposing changes to Canada’s cattle feed regulations that it says would reduce costs for processors while maintaining protections against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease.<\/p>\n
Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Heath MacDonald announced Monday that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has pre-published proposed amendments to the Enhanced Feed Ban in the Canada Gazette, Part I.<\/p>\n
The proposed changes are intended to better align Canada’s regulations with those in the United States while reflecting the country’s internationally recognized low risk for BSE.<\/p>\n
Changes based on updated science<\/p>\n
The Enhanced Feed Ban was introduced in 2007 to help eliminate BSE by prohibiting most mammalian proteins from being used in feed for ruminant animals such as cattle.<\/p>\n
Under the proposed amendments, specified risk material, cattle tissues capable of transmitting BSE if an animal is infected, would continue to be banned from human food and ruminant feed.<\/p>\n
However, a lower-risk subset of specified risk material could become eligible for use in non-ruminant animal feed, fertilizer and pet food.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says scientific risk assessments by the agency, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada found the proposed changes would not increase Canada’s BSE risk as long as existing safeguards remain in place.<\/p>\n
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Industry could see lower costs<\/p>\n
Federal officials say the amendments would reduce regulatory requirements and unnecessary waste for processors that choose to participate while helping improve the competitiveness of Canada’s cattle sector.<\/p>\n
MacDonald said the proposal is part of the government’s broader effort to modernize regulations and reduce administrative burdens.<\/p>\n
“Our government is committed to regulatory modernization and red tape reduction,” he said in a statement. “Today’s announcement is a great example of how we can remove unnecessary burden on Canada’s agri-food sector to support their competitiveness, all while maintaining strong safeguards.”<\/p>\n
Consultation underway<\/p>\n
Canada has been recognized by the World Organisation for Animal Health as having negligible BSE risk since 2021, a designation reaffirmed under updated international standards in 2023.<\/p>\n
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will continue consulting with provinces, territories, industry representatives and other stakeholders before making a final decision on the proposed amendments.<\/p>\n