Highl y Processed Pr oducts 
AHPD-IE-2001-8-3
General 
 
This directive does not remove any obligat ion to the Canadian importer to comply 
with the import requirements of other CFIA programs an d/or other government 
departments.  
For highly processed products of bovine origin from the United States, the C ertain 
Ruminants and Their Products Impor tation Prohibition Regulations,  No. 2 remains 
in effect until further notice (repeal or replacement) and supersedes this directive. 
N.B. All ingredients and mixed feeds for livestock use must be approved and/or 
registered by the Feed Divis ion of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) 
prior to importation. 
 
DEFINITIONS: 
"animal food" means food containing an anim al product or animal by-product for 
chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, ratites, game birds, ruminants, swine or horses 
"livestock" means horses, cattle, sheep, goats , swine, foxes, fish, mink, rabbits and 
poultry and includes s uch other creatur es as may be designated by  Regulation 
as livestock. 
Highl y Processed Pr oducts – Commodit y Characteristics 
 
These commodities are: 
• manufactured from ingredi ents of animal origin der ived from mammals or 
birds 
• in final pac kaging or in bulk  
• submitted to various and usually multip le treatments, ei ther chemical or 
physical  
• commercially processed  
• generally  used in/for   
o food industry  
o cosmetics  
o industrial use 
 1o pharmaceuticals  
o laboratory use  
 
 
 
Examples of highly  processed products  
(Please not e this is not a complete list)  
Albumin (in cluding Bovine Serum Albumin or BSA ) Hormon es of animal o rigin (e.g. insuli n,  
Amino aci ds ACTH )  
Animal Glue  Lacti c Acid 
Bone Ch arcoal Lactul ose 
Bone Oil  Oleo Steari n 
Chondroitin Sulphate  Ossein 
Colla gen Peptides 
Colla gen Casings Peptone 
Dicalci um Phosphate     Phosp holipi d 
Enzyme s of animal ori gin (e.g. rennet, p hosphata se, peroxid ase)   
Fatty Ac ids Purified DNA  that does n ot confe r disea se 
Fibrin Serum Subs titutes  (for la boratory  uses) 
Gelatin Sorbitan Esters 
Gelatin Cap sules  Tricalci um Ph osphate (b one ash ) 
Glycerides Tr iglycer ides 
Glycerol  Vitamins cont aining ing redients of anima l  
Glycolipi ds  origin 
Lacto se  
 
Procedures for Importers of Highl y Processed Prod ucts 
 
Section I explains procedures for importe rs of highly processed products for non 
livestock feed uses. 
Section II explains specific bovine der ived commodity requirements when these 
highly processed products ar e for non livestock feed use.  
Section III ex plains procedures related to  products for use in poult ry and livestock 
feeds either as stand-alone highly proce ssed products or as ingredients within 
poultry and livestock feeds. 
 2Note:  Highly processed products of bovine origin  may require further 
documentation for import into Canada. Impor t conditions are specifically identified 
for such bovine produ cts below, or in the BSE import policy AHPD-DSAE-IE-2008-
9-1. Import conditions for such products should be confirmed using this directive, 
the BSE Import policy, and the Automated Import Reference System . 
 
SECTION I – Non Livestock Feed Uses 
1. Highly processed products of any animal origin (including of bovine origin), for 
industrial use (such as mining) or laborator y use (in vitro) , from any country, 
must be clearly identified as highly pr ocessed product or as an ingredient in 
finished pr oduct and clearly identified for use in industrial or laboratory processes.  
1.1. The shipment must be accompanied by a written declaration from the i mporter 
(dated, signed, and linked to the shipment being imported) indicating the species of 
origin and t he end use of the product. 
 
2. Highly processed products other than those of bovine origin  for any end use 
except livestock feeds  (see definitions above or in Health of Animals Regulations , 
and in the Feeds Act ) from any country must be cl early identified as such or 
declared as an ingredient in the finished product. 
2.1. The shipment must be accompanied by: 
1. a written declaration from the importe r (dated, signed, and linked to the    
shipment being imported) indicating t he species of origin and end use of 
the product, and  
2.  other import documentation as may be required. (see details, by 
commodity, in the Automated Imp ort Referen ce System ) 
 
5. For  non bovine origin  products such as bone ash and other products derived 
from subje cting animal bones  to rigorous processes of extraction and 
purification (e.g. glue, oleosterin, glycero l, sorbitan esters, ossein, bone charcoal, 
bone oil) from any  countr y, the shipment must be accompanied by a written 
declaration from the i mporter (dated, signed, and linked to the shi pment being 
imported) stating that t he product is not derived from bones of bovine origin. 
 
Section II – Specific Bo vine Derived Commodit y Requirements for Non 
Livestock Feed Uses  
 
1. Highly processed products of bovine origin  for huma n consumption , or as 
raw materi al for the preparation of pet f ood, cosmetics, pharma ceuticals, natural 
health products, medical devices, or veteri nary biologics from a country considered 
to be of  neglig ible BSE-risk:
 31.1. The shipment must be accompani ed by an official zoosanitary export 
certificate of origin clearly describi ng the product (i.e. species and part or 
substance taken from said animal or anima ls) and specifying the country of origin. 
 
2. Highly processed products of bovine origin  for huma n consumption , or as 
raw materi al for the preparation of pet f ood, cosmetics, pharma ceuticals, natural 
health products, medical devices, or veteri nary biologics from a country considered 
to be of controlled or undetermined BSE-risk:  
2.1. The shipment must be accompani ed by an official zoosanitary export 
certificate from the country of  origin stating that the pr oduct was not prepared using 
the following bovine tis sues or any protein products derived from them 
1. the product was not prepared using the skull, including the brain, 
trigeminal ganglia and eyes, the spi nal cord and the vertebral column 
(excluding the vertebrae of the tail,  the transverse processes of the 
thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), and the 
palatine tonsils from all animals aged thirty (30) months or older, AND 
2.  the product was not pr epared using distal ileum from animals of all ages.  
 
3. For bovine origin products derived from subjecting bones to rigorous 
processes of extraction and purification (e.g. glue, oleosterin, glycerol, sorbitan 
esters, ossein, bone charcoal, bone oil) from countries of 
3.1. negligible risk for BSE , for any end use, the ship ment must be accompanied 
by an official zoosanitary export certific ate that clearly describes the product, and 
specifies the country of origin 
3.2. controlled risk for BSE,  for any end use, must be ac companied by an official 
zoosanitary  export certificate from the count ry of origin stating that the product:  
1. was not prepared from or contaminat ed with distal ileum of all ages of 
bovine animals, AND  
2. was not prepared from or contam inated with palatine tonsils, the skull 
including the brain, trigeminal ganglia  and eyes, the spinal cord and the 
vertebral column, (excluding the vert ebrae of the tail, the transverse 
processes of the thoracic and lum bar vertebrae, and the wings of the 
sacrum), from all bovine animals aged thirty (30) months or older. 
Note:  The importation of products of bovine origin deriv ed from subjecting bones 
to rigorous processes of extraction and purif ication (e.g. glue, oleos terin, glycerol, 
sorbitan esters) from countries of  undetermin ed BSE-risk  is prohibited  at this time. 
 
4. For  Bovine origin g elatin and colla gen prepared from hides and skins , or   
bones, from countries of negligible risk for BSE , for any end use, the shipment 
must be accompanied by an official zoos anitary export certif icate that clearly 
 4describes the product (i.e. bovine parts—bones versus hides—us ed in the 
production of the product), and spec ifies the country of origin. 
 
5. For Bovine origin g elatin and collage n prepared from hides and skins , from  
countries of controlled risk and undetermined risk for BSE , for any end use, the 
shipment must be accompanied by an: 
5.1. official zoosanitary  expor t certificate stating that t he gelatin is derived solely 
from bovine hides and skins (not from bovine bones), AND  
5.2. Importer’s Declar ation that the product is either 
1. not to be used for human consumption purposes and derived exc lusively 
from bovine hides and skins from  which have been excluded grossly 
visible brain material on the face pl ate from all animal s aged thirty (30) 
months or older by  
(a) removing the face plate, or  
(b) trimming a minimum of 2.5 cm around the stun hole as well as 
around all parts of the face plate that were visibly contaminated 
with brain tissue, or  
(c) washing, scraping, or vacuumi ng to remove all vis ible brain 
tissue   
 OR  
2. intended for human consumption and derived exclusively from bovi ne 
hides and s kins  
(a) from which have been exc luded grossly vi sible brain material         
from all animals aged thirty (30)  months or older on the face 
plate by  
  (i) removing the face plate, or  
(ii) trimming a minimum of 2.5 cm around the stun hole as well 
as around all parts of the face  plate that were visibly 
contaminated with brain tissue, or  
              (b) from animals les s than thirty  (30) months of age, or  
(c) from animals that were humanely kill stunne d prior to slaughter       
with a non penetrative  device (i.e. electrical kill stun). 
 
6. For  Bovine origin gelatin and collagen prepared from bones , from  countries 
of controlle d risk for BSE and of undetermined risk for BSE , for all end uses 
6.1. the shi pment must be accompanied by an official zoosanitary export certi ficate 
from the country of origin stating:  
 51. the bones used to prepare the produc t were derived from bovine animals 
that were not subject to a stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a 
device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, or to a 
pithing process, and which were subj ect to and passed ante-mortem and 
post-mortem inspection, AND 
2. the bones used to prepare the product do not include s kulls and 
vertebrae (exc luding the vertebrae of t he tail, the transverse processes 
of the thoracic and lum bar vertebrae, and the wings  of the sacrum) from 
bovine animals of all ages, AND  
3. the bones used to prepare the produc t have been subjected to a process 
that includes all of the following steps  
(a) pressure washing (degreasing)  
(b) acid demineralization  
(c) acid or alkaline treatment  
(d) filtration, and  
(e) sterilization  at a te mperature of at least 138 degrees Celsius for 
a minimum of four (4) seconds  
OR 
6.2. the shi pment must be accompanied by an import permit and an official 
zoosanitary  export certificate with an equiva lent or better proc ess for reducing BSE 
infectivity as determined (prior to issu ing the permit) by CFIA, Headquarters - 
TAHD Import Section.  
 
7. For Bovine origin dicalcium phosphate , with no trace of protein or fat , from 
countries of  
7.1. negligible risk for BSE , for any end use, the ship ment must be accompanied 
by an official zoosanitary export certific ate that clearly describes the product and 
specifies the country of origin 
7.2. controlled risk for BSE, for human consumption , the shipment must be 
accompanied by: 
1. an official zoosanitary export certi ficate from the country of origin stating 
that the product  
(a) was not prepared from or contam inated with distal ile um of all  
ages of bovine animals, AND               
(b) was not prepared from or cont aminated with palatine tonsils, the 
skull inc luding the brain, trigemi nal ganglia and eyes, the spinal 
cord and the vertebral column, (e xcluding the vert ebrae of the 
tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar 
vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from all bovine animals 
aged thirty (30) months or older, AND 
 62. a written declaration from the i mporter (dated, signed, and linked to the 
shipment being imported), st ating that the product does not contain any 
trace of protein or fat 
7.3. undetermined risk for BSE , for human consumption , the shipment must be 
accompanied by: 
1. an official zoosanitary export certi ficate from the country of origin stating 
that the product  
(a) was not prepared from or contam inated with distal ile um of all 
ages of bovine animals, AND  
(b) was not prepared from or cont aminated with palatine tonsils, the 
skull inc luding the brain, trigemi nal ganglia and eyes, the spinal 
cord and the vertebral column, (excluding the ve rtebrae of the 
tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar 
vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from all bovine animals 
aged twelv e (12) months  or older, AND 
3. a written declaration from the im porter (dated, signed, and linked to the 
shipment being impor ted) stating  
(a) that the product does not contain any trace of protei n or fat , and  
(b) the end use of the product 
7.4. controlled and un determined  risk for BSE,  for inedible or industrial use s,  
the shipment must be accompanied by: 
1. an official zoosanitary export certi ficate that clearly descr ibes the product 
and specifies the country of origin, and  
2. a written declaration from the impor ter (dated, signed, and linked to the 
shipment being imported) indicating 
(a) the species  of origin, and 
(b) that the product does not contain any trace of protein or fat , and 
(c) the end use of the pro duct (NOT FOR HUMAN   
CONSUMP TION). 
 
8. For Bovine origin dicalcium phosphate , with traces of protein or fat , the 
shipment from both negligible and controlled risk for BS E countries must be 
accompanied by: 
8.1. a shipping inv oice that states 
     1. the consignor and consignee, and 
     2. that the product contains prohibited material. 
 
8.2. a label on the product that  bears the cautionary statement   
"DO NOT FEED TO CATTL E, SHE EP, DEER OR OTHER RUMINANTS. ” 
 7In addition to meeting the label and shippi ng invoice requirements in 7.1 and 7.2 
above, for Bovine origin dicalcium phosphate , with traces of protein or fat , from  
countries of 
8.3. negligible risk for BSE , for any end use, the ship ment must be accompanied 
by an official zoosanitary export certific ate that clearly describes the product and 
specifies the country of origin   
8.4. controlled risk for BSE , for any end use, the ship ment must be accompanied 
by an official zoosanitary export certificate from the country of origin stating that 
the product: 
1. is derived from bovine animals t hat were not subjected to a stunning 
process, prior to slaughter, with a dev ice injecting compressed air or gas 
into the cranial cav ity, or to a pith ing process, and which were subject to 
and passed ante-mortem  and post-mortem  inspection, and 
2. is NOT prepared from or  contaminated with distal  ileum of all ages of 
bovine animals, and 
3. is NOT prepared from or contaminated with pal atine tonsils, the skull 
including the brain, trigeminal ganglia  and eyes, the spinal cord and the 
vertebral column, (excluding the vert ebrae of the tail, the transverse 
processes of the thoracic and lum bar vertebrae, and the wings of the 
sacrum), from all bovine animals aged thirty (30) mont hs or older, and  
4. is a by-product of bone gelatin pr oduc ed acc ording to all the steps listed 
in 6.1.3 above. These processing steps  must be specifically listed within 
the official zoosanitary  export certificate. 
N. B. The importation of dica lcium phosphate of bovine orig in containing traces of 
protein or fat from countries of undetermined  BSE-risk  is prohibited at this time. 
 
SECTION III –  Products for use in livestock feeds  
(either as stand-alone highl y processed p roducts or as ingredients) 
ALL INGREDIENT S AND MIXED F EEDS FOR LIVESTOCK USE MUST BE 
REGISTERED PRIOR TO IMPORTATION WI TH THE FEED DIVISION OF  CFIA  
Designated countries, zones or regions  are countries, zones or regions which 
have been recognized by the CFIA as free of the diseases of c oncern that may be 
transmitted by the animal or commodity to be imported. 
Within this directive, the term designated co untry refers to the following disease s of 
concern, dependent on the species fr om which the product is derived: 
• For products of rumin ant (bovine, ovine, caprine) origin, the country must 
be free of foot-and-mouth disease,  other vesi cular diseases, and of  
negligib le risk for BSE. 
 8• For products of porcine  origin, the country must be free of foot-and-mouth 
disease, swine ves icular diseas e, Afri can swine fever, classical swine fever 
(hog choler a). 
1. Highly processed products  other than those of bovine,  caprine or ovine origin, 
livestock feed (see animal feed definition in the Health of Anim als Regulations ) 
may be imported: 
1.1. from  the U.S. according to the Terrestri al Animal  Health Div ision (TAHD) if the 
Canad a Border Services Agency (CBSA) dete rmines that the country of origin is 
the United States as per Se ctions 53 and 41.(1) of the Health of Animals 
Regulations
1.2. from designated countries  if the shipment is accompanied by an official 
zoosanitary  export certificate from the country of origin as per Section 53 and 
41.(2) of the Health of Animals Regulations  that clearly describes the product and 
specifies the country of origin  and the country is free of t he diseases of concerns   
 
1.3. from non-designated countries  if accompanied by an import permit as per 
Section 52. 2 of the Health of Animals Regulations  and/or certificati on attesting to 
acceptable processing.  The c onditions will be determined, prior  to importatio n, 
by CFIA Headquarters, TAHD, Import sect ion, (as per Section 52. 1 of the Health of 
Animals Regulations) .  Commodity specific import requirements will be listed in the 
Automated Import Reference System .  
 
2. Bovine and non bovine origin gelatin  from any country, must be accompanied 
by official zoosanitary export certi fication attesting to ALL four (4) of the 
following treatments: 
2.1. Acid treatment or  alkaline treatment with 
• pH equal to or less than 3 for at least two (2) hours, OR  
• pH 14 for at least ten (10) days, OR  
• pH 12 for at least twelve (12) days, OR 
• pH 9 for at least sixteen (16) days, AND 
2.2. Extraction at 
• at least  60 degrees Celsius for not less than two (2) hours,  AND 
2.3 . Sterilization or  Pasteurization at 
• at least  110 degrees Celsius for at lea st five (5) seconds, OR  
• at least  90 degrees Celsius for at le ast thirty (30) seconds, AND  
2.4. Drying at 
• at least  32 degrees Celsius for at least two (2) hours.  
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Note: For bovine origin gelatin, extra certif ication requir ements apply. See Section 
II of this directive for the specific import conditions for such produc ts. 
3. Highly processed products of bovine, ov ine or caprine origin and enzymes such 
as ACTH  and insulin may be imported:  
3.1. from  the United States  according to the Terrestrial Animal Health Divis ion 
(TAHD) if the Canad a Border Services Agen cy (CBSA) determines that the country 
of origin is the United States as  per Sections 53 and 41.(1) of the Health of 
Animals Regulations
3.2. from designated countries  if the shipment is accompanied by an official 
zoosanitary  export certificate from the count ry of origin that clearly describes the 
product and specifies the country of origin and the country is free of the diseases 
of concerns as per Sections 53 and 41.(2) of the Health of Anim als Regulations
3.3. from non-designated countries  if accompanied by an import permit as per 
Section 52. 2 of the Health of Animals Regulations , afte r a successful case by case 
evaluation by CFIA, Headquarters  - Terrestrial Anima l Health Div ision (TAHD) 
Import section, as per  Section 52. 1 of the Health of Animals Regulations.
 
Note:  Importation of lanolin and licensed vete rinary drugs is not regulated by the 
Terrestrial Animal He alth Divis ion.  
Importation of tallow and its der ivatives is addressed in the Render ed Products and 
Inedible Products  general import directive. 
Highly processed products of animal or igin intended for livestock feed listed in 
Schedule IV, PART II  of the Feeds Regulations  must be registered w ith the Feed 
Section prior to importation to Canada. 
Amended:  October 2 008 
 
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