Specialty Chickens Must Be Marketed Whole

Summary#

These are the final Regulations Amending the Canadian Chicken Licensing Regulations: SOR/2024-285, made by Chicken Farmers of Canada, that change how certain specialty chickens must be marketed. They require some specialty chickens to be kept whole (head and feet attached) and remove a note from Schedule 4. The regulations came into force on December 16, 2024 and were published in the Canada Gazette on January 1, 2025.

What it does#

• Adds a rule to subsection 5(7) saying a licensee must market specialty chicken in classes 2 to 12 with the head and feet unsevered.
• Repeals the note at the end of Schedule 4.
• Comes into force on the day of registration: December 16, 2024.

Who's affected#

• License holders under the Canadian Chicken Licensing Regulations, including producers or marketers regulated by Chicken Farmers of Canada.
• Poultry processors and retailers that handle or sell specialty chickens in classes 2 to 12.
• Consumers and communities that buy or serve specialty whole birds may notice changes in how those birds are sold.
• If it’s unclear whether a specific product or business is covered, the source does not provide more detail.

Why it matters#

• It changes how certain specialty chickens must be presented and sold, which could affect processing, packaging, transport and retail practices.
• The changes are procedural and short: the explanatory note says they respond to recommendations from the Department of Justice Canada to align wording with drafting conventions.
• For most people the impact will be on businesses that handle these classes of specialty chicken; consumers may notice whole birds sold with head and feet still attached.