Government Proposes New Feed Rules For Biofuel Grains, Canada

Main Category: Water - Air Quality / Agriculture
Article Date: 24 Mar 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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The Government of Canada is working hard for farmers and continuously exploring new and innovative possibilities for our producers. To this end, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is inviting public comments on the use of grains from ethanol production as livestock feed. "This Government is continuously exploring new and innovative possibilities for producers," said the Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board. "We are working closely with industry stakeholders to determine the best way to use fuel ethanol distillers' grains as an effective, safe feed ingredient."

The production of fuel ethanol from grain (biofuels) has increased dramatically in Canada in recent years. Distillers' grains resulting from production of alcoholic beverages are already an approved protein feed in livestock rations. However, the manufacturing processes for fuel ethanol can differ from those for potable alcohol. As a result, distillers' grains from the production of fuel ethanol are not approved as a feed ingredient.

The CFIA has developed a draft policy with the input of all stakeholders and is welcoming comments on this document until April 1, 2008.

It is expected that a final version of the policy document will be published by the CFIA in the fall of 2008.

The draft policy is posted on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's web site here.

Canadian Food Inspection Agency's