Canada proposes easing BSE feed rules to align with US
Some cattle tissues could be permitted in pet food and fertiliser
16 July 2026
1 minute read
By: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has proposed regulatory amendments to better align Canada's Enhanced Feed Ban with US requirements, reducing restrictions on certain cattle tissues while maintaining safeguards against bovine spongiform encephalopathy, agriculture minister Heath MacDonald announced July 13.
The Enhanced Feed Ban, introduced in 2007, prohibits most mammalian proteins from ruminant feed. The proposed changes would allow a subset of lower-risk specified risk material — cattle tissues capable of transmitting BSE if the animal is diseased — to be used in non-ruminant feed, fertiliser and pet food. All specified risk material would remain prohibited in food and ruminant feed.
The CFIA said federal risk assessments by the agency, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada confirm the changes would not increase BSE risk provided existing safeguards remain in place. Canada was recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health as having negligible BSE risk status in 2021, reaffirmed under updated 2023 standards.
The agency said the amendments would reduce costs and unnecessary waste for industry while supporting the competitiveness of Canada's cattle and processing sectors. Stakeholders are invited to submit comments by September 9, 2026.
