Animals > Livestock Feeds > Novel Feeds / Biotechnology  

Novel Feeds

Acts and Regulations | Reference Material | Related Sites

• What are novel feeds?
• Sources of novel feeds
  
  • Microbial
  • Plant
  • Animal
• Safety assessment of novel feeds
• Research with novel feeds

What are novel feeds?

Novel feeds are feeds composed of or derived from microorganisms, plants or animal sources that:

• are not approved as livestock feed in Canada (not listed in Schedule IV or V of the Feeds Regulations)

These include non-traditional sources, such as Bacillus coagulans or papaya; feeds used or approved in other countries; and products approved for other uses in Canada.

• and/or contain a novel trait

A novel trait is an intentional genetic change that results in a feed that is not substantially equivalent in terms of use and safety to a similar feed set out in Schedules IV or V of the Feeds Regulations. The genetic change may be created by methods such as traditional breeding, mutagenesis, cell fusion or recombinant DNA techniques.

Novel feeds include microbial products (e.g. forage inoculants, fermentation products) plants with novel traits, and plants with no history of use as feed, and products/by-products of biotechnology-derived animals.

About Schedule IV and Schedule V of the Feeds Regulations

Schedule IV and V of the Feeds Regulations list feed ingredients approved for use in livestock feed in Canada. Schedule IV comprises a range of ingredients such as forages and roughages, energy feeds, protein sources, vitamins, minerals, fermentation products and other miscellaneous products while Schedule V is restricted to flavouring ingredients. Each Schedule is divided into two parts:

Schedule IV part 1 and Schedule V part 1 list ingredients that do not require registration if they meet regulatory safety and labelling standards.

Schedule IV part 2 and Schedule V part 2 list ingredients that must be registered due to safety and/or efficacy concerns.

How do I know if my feed is novel?

Consult Schedules IV and V of the Feeds Regulations. If the feed is derived from an organism and not listed in the Schedules or contains a novel trait, then it is novel. See the example in the table below.

My feed ingredient is composed of or derived from a microorganism, plant or animal and is:

Sources of novel feeds

Novel feeds are feeds composed of or derived from one of these sources :

• Microbial
• Plant
• Animal

Safety assessment of novel feeds

All novel feeds must be assessed by the Feed Section of the CFIA before they can be used as livestock feed in Canada. This assessment considers the safety of the feed to livestock, to humans via worker/by-stander exposure and consumption of animal products, and to the environment.

Research with novel feeds

Researchers in private, governmental or academic research establishments who intend to conduct research with novel feeds may require an authorization from the Feed Section. Please refer to Trade Memorandum Draft T-3-160 and Draft T-3-160 Supplement 1 for further information.