Feed manufacturer fined

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

by SUSAN MANN

A Canadian feed manufacturer pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the Feeds Act and Feeds Regulations and was fined $8,000 in a Quebec Court earlier this month.

The Montreal-based company, Nutreco Canada Inc., operating under the name Shur-Gain, entered its plea in Quebec’s Amqui Courthouse in April.

The first offence occurred on Jan. 26, 2009 when the company was found selling mineral blocks that weren’t registered in accordance with a section of the Feeds Regulations and that was in violation of the Feeds Act, it says in a Canadian Food Inspection Agency press release.

In addition, the product had a label with incorrect or misleading information stating the mineral blocks were registered but the selenium levels were too high to allow such a registration and that’s a violation of the Feeds Regulations, the press release states.

CFIA spokesperson Alice d’Anjou says by email the mineral blocks are a mineral and vitamin supplement for cattle. This product was sold only in Quebec to cattle producers.

The product wasn’t recalled but samples that were found were disposed of according to CFIA’s requirements.

Although the product was sold in 2009, it’s possible some could have been sold before the CFIA intervened. Farmers who have any of the affected mineral blocks in their possession should contact the CFIA’s Quebec office at 1-418-648-7373.

High selenium levels in feeds may be toxic for livestock and harmful to humans consuming large quantities of animal products containing elevated selenium levels. “To this end, maximum supplemental levels as a portion of maximum tolerable safe levels have been established for livestock feeds,” she says.

The CFIA verifies livestock feeds manufactured and sold or imported into Canada are safe, effective and labeled appropriately. BF