CFIA Miscellaneous Regulatory Amendments

Summary#

These final rules, titled Regulations Amending Certain Canadian Food Inspection Agency Regulations (Miscellaneous Program) (SOR/2025-47), make a number of mostly technical fixes and clarifications to rules the Canadian Food Inspection Agency administers. They affect the Feeds Regulations, 2024, the Seeds Regulations, the Health of Animals Regulations, and the Plant Protection Regulations, and came into force on February 26, 2025.

What it does#

These are mostly non‑substantive fixes. Key changes include:

• Language and wording fixes to align the English and French versions and correct grammar across several rules administered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
• Feeds rules:
  • Clarifies the definition of complete feed and the required species/class wording on feed labels.
  • Requires that, when a feed label must show warning statements with withdrawal times, the warning with the longest withdrawal time appears clearly under the heading “Warning”.
  • For customer formula or custom medicated feeds, the manufacturer must have the mix formula and a signed written order or veterinary prescription on hand and keep those records for two years.
• Seeds rules (seed potatoes):
  • Sets minimum and maximum tuber sizes: at least 30 mm minimum; maximum 70 mm for long varieties and 80 mm for round varieties.
  • Requires at least 95% by weight of tubers to fall within the stated size range for graded seed potatoes.
  • Changes how identification numbers and certificates for seed potatoes are described and used (e.g., certificate of authorization).
• Health of Animals rules:
  • Adds a definition and a process for designating a “serious epizootic disease” so the Minister can name diseases that need special controls.
  • Replaces references to “animal embryos or semen” with a broader definition of animal germplasm and clarifies export certification steps and what inspectors can request before export.
  • Tightens and clarifies rules about exporting products from rendering plants, veterinary biologics (permits and licences), and animal identification and tagging (including rules that reference 96 hours for certain tagging situations).
• Plant Protection rules:
  • Adjusts wording to better match the Plant Protection Act and the Oceans Act so import prohibitions read consistently.
• A number of cross‑references, schedule entries, and numbering errors are corrected.

Who's affected#

• Farmers and livestock producers (including producers of cattle, pigs, bison, horses and poultry) — clearer tagging, transport and export rules.
• Seed potato growers, suppliers and buyers — clearer size and grading expectations and certificate handling.
• Feed manufacturers and mixers — clearer label and record‑keeping requirements, including two years for some records.
• Animal exporters and veterinarians who certify exports — clearer documentation and testing expectations, and a new defined term animal germplasm.
• Manufacturers and importers of veterinary biologics — clarified permit and licence language.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and inspectors — cleaner, more consistent rules to apply.
• The general public is unlikely to see direct effects; these are mostly fixes to make existing rules clearer.

Why it matters#

• The changes remove confusing or inconsistent wording, especially between English and French versions, so people who must follow the rules will have clearer obligations.
• Clarifications about labelling, record keeping and export certification reflect current practices and aim to reduce uncertainty for businesses, vets and inspectors.
• Seed potato size and grading details and tagging/identification clarifications help keep trade, animal movement and food‑safety controls working smoothly.
• The government says these are technical corrections and are not expected to add new costs for businesses.