Chemical Residues in Food

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) plays a vital role in preventing harmful contaminants from entering Canada's food supply. Health Canada registers and regulates agricultural chemicals, including pest control products, veterinary drugs and food additives. In addition, under the authority of the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, Health Canada sets the maximum residue limits (MRL) of chemicals in food products and establishes maximum allowable levels of contamination for environmental and industrial pollutants. The CFIA is responsible for the surveillance of chemical residues in foods and their adherence to these Regulations.

The Chemical Evaluation Section deals with contamination of food commodities by:

• Veterinary drugs
• Agricultural chemicals, including pesticides
• Radio nuclides
• Environmental contaminants
• Industrial contaminants
• Other regulated food processing and manufacturing aids (Those chemicals, which pose unique health risk associated with their allergenicity, are dealt with by other specialists within the Bureau of Food Safety and Consumer Protection)

The Chemical Evaluation Section also provides technical and scientific advice and makes recommendations to managers and inspection staff on the assessment, investigation and resolution of food safety issues. The Division also facilitates the co-ordination with Operations and Lab personnel in support of sampling plans for Microbiology and Chemical Residues (NCRMP) and prepares summaries of laboratory analyses results data. These summaries are found in the Chemical Residue Annual Reports.

Information we provide for consumers includes:

• Chemical Residue Annual Reports
• National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program

Information we provide for the food industry includes:

• CFIA-HC Food Sampling and Testing Terminology
• Chemical Residue Annual Reports
• Chemical Residue Surveillance Program for Foods
• National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program

Additional government and industry information can be found at:

• Health Canada
  • Bureau of Chemical Safety
  • Bureau of Microbial Hazards
  • Compendium of Analytical Methods
  • Pest Management Regulatory Agency
  • Veterinary Drugs Directorate

• Standards Council of Canada - List of Accredited Laboratories