The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing new regulations under the Health of Animals Act- Regulations Respecting the Making of Medicated Feeds. The new regulations will require licensing of and upgraded control measures for the manufacturers of medicated animal feeds. The purpose of these new regulations is to enhance the safe handling and use of medicated feeds.

All commercial and on farm manufacturers of medicated feeds will require a license. Only licensed medicated feed manufacturers will be able to buy medicated feed ingredients that require further mixing. Without a license, manufacturers will only be able to buy non medicated feeds or finished medicated feeds that do not require further mixing prior to being feed to livestock.

The application for a license to make medicated feed must be submitted to CFIA and include an application fee, results of verification tests for metering devices, scales and mixers used in feed manufacturing, and results of all testing showing concentrations of medicated ingredients in representative samples of manufactured feed. An inspection will also be conducted by the CFIA to access the establishmentís ability to meet the requirements of the regulations.

The regulations will also establish minimum mandatory control measures that will require equipment testing, maintenance and clean out procedures; maintenance of specific production records, drug inventory systems for at least three years and recall procedures in the event of errors.

The regulations will be phased in over the next three years to allow the commercial feed and livestock sectors time to adapt. Effective April 1, 2001, commercial manufacturers of medicated feed require a license. June 30, 2002, on farm manufacturers of medicated feed require a license if they use a concentrated source of medication. December 31, 2002 on farm manufacturers of medicated feed require a license if they are using a diluted source of medication.

More information is available from Linda Morrison, National Manager, Livestock Feed Program, Animal Health Production Division, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 59 Camelot Drive, Nepean, ON, K1A 0Y9 613-225-2342, fax 613-228-6614or e-mail lmorrison@em.agr.ca.