This memo is further to our notice industry on February 14, 214 on the subject of ractopamine in feedstuffs wherein we reminded race horse owners and trainers that it remains their responsibility to obtain horse feed and supplements that are free from substances that may trigger a positive test.
Since we issued that memo, there have been 27 additional positive drug tests for ractopamine in all racing jurisdictions in Canada except Atlantic provinces with the majority coming from Alberta and Ontario.
Once suggestion is that horseperson’s groups take a proactive approach to assisting their membership locate feed facilities that do not produce feed containing ractopamine and having their feed manufacturers sign a letter of guarantee stating that they do not use ractopamine on their premises or transport any mixed feed containing ractopamine.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been working with the swine and poultry sectors to develop a program that supports export to markets that require the CFIA to certify that products, exported from Canada, originate from stick that has never been fed and/or exposed to ractopamine hydrochloride. These Ractopamine-Free Certification Programs describe two types of commercial feed mills: Type A and Type B. Type A mills are those that manufacture, handle and/or distribute only feeds that do not contain ractopamine. Type B mills manufacture, handle and/or distribute feed containing ractopamine and fed that does not contain ractopamine. Type B mills are required to implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the prevention of ractopamine cross contamination for feed being manufactured under this program. When these new Programs are published on the CFIA website, a list of commercial feed mills enrolled in these Programs will also be available. This list may be to identify the Type A facilities in your area.
The following links to the CFIA website provide owners and trainers with information regarding ractopamine and feedstuffs:
Annex E: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Ractopamine-Free Pork Certification Program
Annex I: Canadian Ractopamine-Free Pork Certification Program
Medication Sequencing Guideline for Management of Drug Carryover
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