RECENT CHANGES TO THE GRADES REQUIREMENT DOCUMENT: APRIL 2026

Approved Amendment to the Canadian Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements

April 29, 2026

The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) is responsible for the delivery of grading services for beef, bison and veal carcasses in Canada. The grade names and grade standards for these carcasses are found in the document entitled “Beef Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements”.

The CBGA is also responsible for the administration of this document including the ongoing management and proposals for amendments to the document from time to time. Please find below a summary of the changes after it was posted for Public Comment,  to further acknowledge the marbling degrees within the Canada AAA and Canada Prime categories.

Changes Made to the Identification of Marbling Levels and Degrees within Beef Quality Grades

Background:
The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) is responsible for the delivery of grading service for beef, bison and veal carcasses in Canada. The grade names and grade standards for these carcasses are found in the document entitled ‘’Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements’’. It is available on the CBGA website. The CBGA is also responsible for the administration of this document including the ongoing management and proposals for amendments to the document from time to time. To manage proposed amendments to the standards from interested parties, the CBGA has developed a transparent and credible process to ensure that proposed amendments are available for broad stakeholder feedback, the impacts are properly considered, a suitable public comment period is provided, and there is broad support for the proposed amendment. Once these conditions are met, the CBGA believes that amendments can be finalized in a timely fashion. Grade standard requirements outlined in the ‘’Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements’’ document have legal force since the document is incorporated by reference into the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, administered and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

General Description of Amendment:

The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) has published a minor amendment to the Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements document (Grades Document) in order to provide additional clarity on the degrees of marbling utilized for beef carcass grading in Canada. The amendment does not change the current marbling standards for Canada A, Canada AA, Canada AAA or Canada Prime carcasses, nor does it change the application of these standards by CBGA graders. An explanatory table describing each change, and both the new and past wording in the Grades Document is shown below. Briefly, Industry felt it would be beneficial to provide additional clarification on the different degrees of marbling in the Grades Document. The degrees of marbling are fundamental in both the Canadian and American beef grading systems and are identical between the two systems for Canada AA to Canada Prime. In the Grades Document, the marbling table for the Canada A, Canada AA, Canada AAA, Canada Prime series is expanded to include the various degrees of marbling (traces, slight, small, modest, moderate, slightly abundant, moderately abundant, abundant, very abundant) for each grade. Again, there is no change to the current minimum marbling requirements for each grade.

Specific Amendments to Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements

The following table summarizes the amendments to the Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements document. 

pdf of table of changes april 29 2026

Impact of Amendment on:

(i) Canadian Beef Sector

The amendment did not change existing marbling standards, grade eligibility, or grading outcomes. Rather, it provided additional clarity in the Beef, Bison and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements document by explicitly recognizing the degrees of marbling that have long been understood and applied within the Canada A, Canada AA, Canada AAA and Canada Prime grade series.

The concept of degrees of marbling has been fundamental to both the Canadian and American beef grading systems for decades. Since the mid-1990s, extensive collaboration between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and CBGA contributed to the identification and alignment of recognized marbling degrees within quality grades. These degrees are already reflected in grading training, national correlation sessions, and grader certification processes.

All CBGA graders are trained and certified in identifying the degrees of marbling within each quality grade. The National Carcass Grading Correlation Session, hosted in conjunction with AAFC and led by CFIA’s National Carcass Grading Specialist, ensures consistent and uniform application of these assessments across Canada.

The amendment did not alter minimum marbling requirements for any grade and does not introduce new grading criteria. As such, no economic impacts to producers, packers, or fed cattle sellers are anticipated. The amendment formalized existing practice and enhances regulatory clarity.

(ii)  Retail and Foodservice Sectors

Retail Council of Canada (RCC) members represent more than two-thirds of core retail sales in Canada. It represents more than 45,000 storefronts in all retail formats and sizes, including department, grocery, specialty, discount, independent retailers and online merchants. RCC grocery members represent over 95% of the market in Canada.

The amendment did not change official grade names, minimum marbling thresholds, or product specifications currently recognized in the marketplace.

Retailers and food service operators continue to receive beef graded under the same standards and grade definitions. The amendment simply clarified the terminology used within the Grades Document to reflect long-standing industry understanding and practice.

(iii)  Export Trade

There has been no impact to export markets, international trade eligibility, or carcass quality specifications as a result of the amendment.

The degrees of marbling reflected in the amended table are compatible with and aligned to those recognized within the USDA grading system. As there was no change to grade standards or grading outcomes, there will be no impact on Canada’s ability to access or expand export markets.

The amendment enhanced transparency and alignment without modifying carcass quality requirements.

(iv)  Grading Integrity and Regulatory Oversight

Carcasses continue to be graded strictly in accordance with the regulatory standards set out in the Grades Document. The amendment did not introduce discretion or deviation from existing grading requirements.

The change ensured clarity of language, strengthened consistency in interpretation, and supported continued alignment with CFIA oversight under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulation

Public Comment Period:

30 days March 3 – April 3, 2026

Coming into Force Date:

With broad support from Industry and CFIA approval the Coming into Force Date will be May 3, 2026