Food > Fish and Seafood > Communiqués / Industry Notices Interim Guidelines for the Presence of Malachite Green (MG) and Leucomalachite Green (LMG) in Aquaculture Fish Products29 March 2006 TO: ALL IMPORTERS AND FEDERALLY REGISTERED PROCESSERS OF FISH AND SEAFOOD PRODUCTS SUBJECT: INTERIM GUIDELINES FOR THE PRESENCE OF MALACHITE GREEN (MG) AND LEUCOMALACHITE GREEN (LMG) IN AQUACULTURE FISH PRODUCTS Health Canada has developed an interim guideline to address the presence of trace amounts of the unapproved substance malachite green (MG) in some domestic and imported aquaculture fish products. Malachite green is not permitted in Canada for use during any part of the aquaculture fish production life-cycle. The interim guidelines from Health Canada and CFIA’s product acceptability criteria are described below:
The minimum performance level of the laboratories testing for MG or LMG must meet the limit of quantification of 0.5 ng/g (ppb) for MG or LMG. The interim guidelines above will apply equally to imported and domestic fish products. For products found to
contain levels >
0.50 and
Importers will have the option of gathering information in order to provide evidence of non-deliberate use. The importers should contact the local CFIA office. On a case by case basis, the CFIA will determine when the option for gathering information is available. This will be based on the importer’s Quality Management Program and/or on the presence of foreign arrangements or regulatory links with the respective foreign authorities. CFIA will take the appropriate regulatory action. Federally registered processors will be required to notify the CFIA of these results and take the appropriate corrective actions according to their QMP plan. Appropriate corrective actions should include gathering information to determine if deliberate use of MG occurred during any part of the aquaculture fish production life cycle. The processor will provide their findings to the CFIA and the information will be reviewed to determine the regulatory compliance. The CFIA may complete a Compliance Verification to determine whether the QMP requirements have been met. If you have questions, please contact your local CFIA fish inspection office or Mr. Alf Bungay, National Manager, Inspection Systems and HACCP, Fish Seafood and Production Division at (613) 221-7026. Sincerely, original signed by Mary Ann Green |
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