Requirements for Canadian Feed Registration
Registration of livestock feed products is required for all feeds imported into Canada for commercial sale. Regulations are enforced by the Feeds Section of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Unlike the USA, the regulations are the same across Canada. There are no provincial requirements, provincial licenses or manufacturing taxes.
Registration requires that certain information be provided to the CFIA as follows:
1) A Canadian Registration Agent must be appointed to sign all registration documents and review applications for suitability prior to submission. The Canadian Agent is required to provide the CFIA with notarized information agreeing to be responsible for this requirement. A letter appointing a Canadian Agent must be supplied to the CFIA.
2) The foreign firm is required to submit basic information on the company such as names of the principles, legal head office address and a list of corporate personnel with whom the CFIA is authorized to discuss your business. CFIA officials will not discuss any matters pertaining to your registrations with anyone not on the approved list. If at all possible this information should be either signed under the companies seal or notarized.
3) Each registration requires a separate application form. These forms are available on the internet at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/for/pdf/c0009e.pdf . In addition, each registration requires five copies of the proposed label contents, This does not mean the actual label (they do not want you sending feed bags) but the exact same information in a clear and concise form.
4) All Canadian tags must follow the Canadian system that is much different that the one used in the USA. All information must be in METRIC measure. For example, guarantees must be in the prescribed form. We do not allow things like Calcium – not more than and Calcium – Not less than. Mineral guarantees are provided in “Actual” values.
5) Canada has a list of approved ingredients that may not match those used in the USA or UK. A list of approved feed ingredients is available on the internet. A general information page will link you to a significant amount of information concerning Feed Registration including the list of approved ingredients. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/feebet/feebete.shtml#actloi It is probably advisable to review the Feeds Act and Regulations just to give yourself a reasonable idea of how Canadian rules differ from those you are used to following.
6) I suggest you review the section called Trade Memoranda for specific guidelines on your products. Bar-D will naturally review all submissions but it does not hurt to know what is expected.
7) There is a series of Registration guidelines available on the internet to assist you with completion of a submission. http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/feebet/chklst/rc000e.shtml .
8) It should be noted that products like feed flavours, chelated minerals and other unusual ingredients must be registered in Canada before they can be used in feeds sold in Canada. For example if you use a chelated copper you need to list it as follows: Copper proteinate –Canada Registration Number XXXXX. Contact your supplier prior to submitting the application in case you require minor reformulation.
9) Registrations are issued on a 3 years basis and require renewal. Fees differ depending on the nature of the product. Most companies use a credit card to pay for registration as it is often difficult to guess what the fee will be and the effect of exchange. There is a section on the registration form for recording the number. Some clients supply the information while others prefer to state “Please phone for current credit card information”.
10) The CFIA claims that registration processing takes 60 days. This is very unlikely. Experience indicates a current typical delay on uncomplicated applications of from 4 to 6 months.
Bar-D Agri Ventures works on a yearly retainer basis once the registration process is complete. The registration year begins in April. There is an initial fee for filing the necessary Agent declaration, reviewing labels etc. Both fees are dependent on the number or registrations involved. Once we know the size of the product list clients are informed of what the costs are. Typically the initial fees run between $150.00 USD and $500.00 USD while the yearly retainer may go from $225.00 USD for 3 or less products to $1,000.00 USD for 30 registrations.
Bar-D has been acting in this capacity since 1980. We
do not act in a direct role as product distributor. We will assist you
in your search for a reputable Canadian distributor. We do not recommend
the use of private individuals who happen to be potential users of your
products as they tend to be regional in their scope and often their
interests are in getting product for themselves at a reduced cost. While
by no means the largest market in the world, the Canadian feed industry
is very competitive, potentially profitable and Canada is a huge country.
Getting adequate cross Canada distribution is difficult. Freight is
a significant factor in Canada. Product arriving in eastern Canada may
have to travel 1,500 miles or more to get to western markets. This has
to be considered in your marketing plans. There is much more to Canada
than Ontario.
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