The Issue 

Some importers are falsely declaring broiler chicken meat as “spent fowl” to avoid Canada’s import controls. 
 
This is not a clerical error — it is intentional mislabeling. It undermines Canada’s trade system, costs Canadian jobs, erodes tax revenue, and weakens food safety by disrupting traceability in the event of a recall. 
 
The data shows this problem is ongoing — and it is now at an all-time high. 

What Is Spent Fowl? 

Spent fowl are egg-laying hens processed for meat at the end of their laying cycle. They are a by-product of egg and hatching egg production and are distinct from broiler chickens raised specifically for meat production. 

Under Canada’s trade framework: 

• Broiler chicken meat imports are subject to tariff rate quotas (TRQ) and import controls.
• Spent fowl is not subject to TRQ and import controls.
• When from the U.S. spent fowl imports are unlimited and duty-free

Because broiler and spent fowl meat can be difficult to distinguish visually, some importers purposely mislabel broiler meat as spent fowl to bypass Canada’s import rules. 
 
2025 Data: A clear sign of mislabelling 

Based on sector analysis, imports exceeding 60 million kilograms already raises red flags.  At 115 million kilograms, 2025 volumes are nearly double that threshold. When converted into whole-bird equivalents, these imports represent 93% of total U.S. spent fowl production. 
 
The United States also sells spent fowl domestically in addition to exporting it to other international markets. For Canada alone to import the equivalent of 93% of total U.S. production signals a clear anomaly and strong evidence of continued mislabeling. 

Economic and Food Safety Consequences 

Illegal imports are not merely a technical trade issue — they carry serious economic and traceability implications. 
 
Based on 2025 data, fraudulent imports are associated with: 
• The loss of approximately 3,600 Canadian jobs 
• $394 million in lost economic activity 
• $129 million in lost tax revenue 
 
There are also significant food safety risks. 

When meat is mislabeled entering Canada, traceability is compromised. If that product enters the Canadian supply chain under false declarations, it becomes more difficult to identify and remove from the market in the event of a recall — weakening consumer protection.  

A Practical Solution: DNA Testing 

A scientifically-validated DNA test, developed at Trent University, is capable of distinguishing broiler meat from spent fowl. 
 
Chicken Farmers of Canada has supported the development of this innovation and continues to advocate for its implementation as part of Canada’s import verification process. 
 
DNA testing would provide a clear, objective, and enforceable method to verify product classification at the — helping to: 
• Prevent illegal imports 
• Protect Canadian jobs and tax revenue 
• Strengthen food safety and traceability 

Government Commitment — Now Action Is Needed 

In March 2025, the Government of Canada committed to addressing spent fowl fraud and developing an action plan to strengthen detection measures. (Click here for the official announcement from then-Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development Kody Blois, and David McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.) 
 
With illegal imports continuing at record levels, that commitment must now result in concrete action.  The implementation of DNA testing is an essential next step to ensure Canada’s import rules are respected and properly enforced. 
 
For more information on spent fowl fraud and the actions needed to address it, click here to view the info sheet.