Livestock definition moved to regulations

Summary#

This order brings a part of the Agricultural Growth Act into force on June 17, 2024. That change lets the new Feeds Regulations, 2024 (which replace the Feeds Regulations, 1983) decide which animals count as “livestock” for the Feeds Act, and it updates the meaning of “sell” to explicitly include distribution. The Canada Gazette published the order on July 3, 2024.

What it does#

• Brings into force the change to the Agricultural Growth Act that alters how “livestock” and “sell” are defined under the Feeds Act, effective June 17, 2024.
• Changes “livestock” to mean whatever animals are listed in regulation instead of naming those animals in the law.
• Changes “sell” to explicitly include agreeing to sell, offering for sale, having in possession for sale, and distributing.
• Enables the Feeds Regulations, 2024 (replacing the Feeds Regulations, 1983) to add or remove species by regulation.
• Provides an 18-month delay before the regulatory requirements apply to any newly added animals, to give affected parties time to adjust.

Who's affected#

• Operators who make or sell animal feed. They will need to follow the rules in the Feeds Regulations, 2024 for any animals now designated as livestock.
• Farmers and producers of animals that are newly designated as food-producing, such as ratites (ostriches, emus), game birds (pigeons, pheasants, quail, etc.), bison, water buffalo, cervids (deer, elk), llamas, alpacas, bees, molluscs, and crustaceans.
• Owners and producers of mink and foxes, who will no longer be classed as “livestock” under the Feeds Act.
• Small-scale producers who make feed for their own animals and do not use medications. They are expected to remain exempt from the Feeds Regulations under the Feeds Act.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which administers the regulations and will apply the updated lists.

Why it matters#

• Moving the species list into regulation makes it faster and easier to add or remove animals as farming and food systems change.
• More kinds of food-producing animals will be covered by feed rules. That aims to improve animal health and food safety by ensuring feed for those animals meets regulatory standards.
• Some feed makers and producers may need to change practices or paperwork to comply, but regulators expect many are already meeting requirements and an 18-month transition period is provided.
• Removing species that are not food-producing (like mink and foxes) narrows regulatory scope where appropriate.