Aligning SRM rules with U.S. feed ban

Summary#

This is a proposed change, published July 11, 2026, that would relax parts of Canada’s Enhanced Feed Ban (EFB) so some cattle tissues now classed as specified risk material (SRM) could be used in non-ruminant livestock feed, fertilizer and pet food. The proposal, led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, would keep the highest‑risk tissues banned and would be optional for businesses (it’s a proposal, not law yet).

What it does#

• Allows a defined set of lower‑risk SRM to be handled as prohibited material and used in:
  • non‑ruminant livestock feed,
  • fertilizer, and
  • pet food.
• Lists the “eligible specified risk material” as the skull, eyes, trigeminal and dorsal root ganglia, tonsils, and distal ileum from cattle aged 30 months or older, and the distal ileum from cattle under 30 months.
• Keeps the highest‑risk tissues — the brain and spinal cord of cattle aged 30 months or older — banned for any use.
• Requires a new permit for establishments that separate eligible SRM from high‑risk SRM for cattle over 30 months; no permit would be needed for the distal ileum from cattle under 30 months.
• Updates related rules in the Health of Animals Regulations, the Feeds Regulations, 2024, the Fertilizers Regulations, and makes matching edits to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the Food and Drug Regulations.
• Makes the change voluntary for processors; businesses can continue to follow current SRM rules if they prefer.

Who's affected#

• Slaughter and processing establishments (about 420 slaughter establishments and 220 processing establishments exist in Canada).
• Renderers and deadstock collectors (there are a small number of specialized SRM‑only renderers).
• Feed, pet food and fertilizer manufacturers.
• Cattle producers indirectly, because processing costs and capacity affect cattle markets.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which would administer an estimated 92 new permit applications and adjust oversight.
• Small businesses: about 404 small slaughter establishments are among those that may be affected.
• Note: adoption is optional, so impacts will vary by who chooses to use the new rules.

Why it matters#

• Public and animal health: The proposal keeps the main protections in place. SRM would still be banned in human food and the rule that stops mammal‑derived proteins being fed to ruminants would remain. Regulators say the change would not raise BSE risk if safeguards continue.
• Economic effects: Regulators estimate a net benefit to industry and government of about $97.6 million over 10 years, or roughly $13.9 million per year (all in 2025 dollars). They expect lower disposal costs and some new revenue streams from repurposed material.
• Competitiveness and trade: The change aims to align Canada’s rules with the U.S., letting Canadian processors and downstream manufacturers access the same inputs and reducing a regulatory mismatch that industry says raises costs.
• Distributional effects: Benefits are expected mainly for larger processors that can separate tissues under permit. Some specialized SRM‑only renderers could lose business. The proposal is voluntary, so not all firms would change.
• Risk assessment and oversight: Officials point to Canada’s WOAH negligible BSE status (recognized since 2021) and multiple federal risk assessments concluding the change is proportionate. If anything in the source is unclear, the proposal itself notes some trading partners may request more analysis before accepting the change.