Canada | Carbadox Notification For U.S. Pork Exports To Canada | In 2001 Cana...

Canada

Carbadox Notification For U.S. Pork Exports To Canada

In 2001 Canada banned the use of Carbadox and implemented a zero tolerance for Carbadox residues in pork. Canada would like to enforce this requirement for all imported pork products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits the use of Carbadox in pork production and has an MRL of 0.03 ppm for liver tissue.

The United States and Canada each use a different test to detect Carbadox residues. The FDA is conducting a study comparing the two tests. Until the study is complete and the results known the Veterinary Drug Directorate of Health Canada (HC) has issued an interim surveillance and testing program for Carbadox. Canada will conduct a test at the border and release inspection at their expense. In turn, FSIS will continue to test for Carbadox as planned in the 2007 National Residue Program (NRP) and has agreed to report any positive results, non-violative (0.015-0.03 ppm) and violative (>0.03 ppm), to Canada. In the event of a positive, U.S. packing plants will be required to verify that none of the product from that carcass was shipped to Canada.

This measure will be in effect until the release of the final results of the FDA study. FSIS personnel at packing plants have received notification of this change (FSIS Directive 10,800.1) and have specific roles in assisting in coordination and compliance at the plant.

Guidance for Compliance:

• Producers must adhere to label use and withdrawal statements.
• FSIS inspection program personnel will notify the appropriate plant official when a sample for Carbadox residue testing is collected. The plant official will receive an informational flyer “Residue Scheduled Sample Information,” which the laboratories provide in the sample box. 
• FSIS recommends U.S. pork packing plants hold all carcasses that have been sampled for Carbadox residues until a negative test result is confirmed by FSIS. A plant may also use traceability programs to ensure that any carcass sampled for Carbadox residues does not enter the Canadian food chain*.
• FSIS inspection program personnel will record the plant official’s decision on whether to hold the tested carcass in action block 22 of FSIS Form 10,210-3.
• FSIS will notify Canada of all positive, non-violative and violative, results*. 

* If a carcass tests positive, which includes results in the non-violative range of 0.015-0.030 ppm, Canada will be notified. It is best to ensure products from that tested carcass are not shipped to Canada by holding the carcass until a negative result is confirmed by FSIS. The action that Canada may take against U.S. pork in the event of a positive from either U.S. or Canadian tests remains unclear, though a recall is likely

Canada

Carbadox Notification For U.S. Pork Exports To Canada

In 2001 Canada banned the use of Carbadox and implemented a zero tolerance for Carbadox residues in pork. Canada would like to enforce this requirement for all imported pork products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits the use of Carbadox in pork production and has an MRL of 0.03 ppm for liver tissue.

The United States and Canada each use a different test to detect Carbadox residues. The FDA is conducting a study comparing the two tests. Until the study is complete and the results known the Veterinary Drug Directorate of Health Canada (HC) has issued an interim surveillance and testing program for Carbadox. Canada will conduct a test at the border and release inspection at their expense. In turn, FSIS will continue to test for Carbadox as planned in the 2007 National Residue Program (NRP) and has agreed to report any positive results, non-violative (0.015-0.03 ppm) and violative (>0.03 ppm), to Canada. In the event of a positive, U.S. packing plants will be required to verify that none of the product from that carcass was shipped to Canada.

This measure will be in effect until the release of the final results of the FDA study. FSIS personnel at packing plants have received notification of this change (FSIS Directive 10,800.1) and have specific roles in assisting in coordination and compliance at the plant.

Guidance for Compliance:

• Producers must adhere to label use and withdrawal statements.
• FSIS inspection program personnel will notify the appropriate plant official when a sample for Carbadox residue testing is collected. The plant official will receive an informational flyer “Residue Scheduled Sample Information,” which the laboratories provide in the sample box. 
• FSIS recommends U.S. pork packing plants hold all carcasses that have been sampled for Carbadox residues until a negative test result is confirmed by FSIS. A plant may also use traceability programs to ensure that any carcass sampled for Carbadox residues does not enter the Canadian food chain*.
• FSIS inspection program personnel will record the plant official’s decision on whether to hold the tested carcass in action block 22 of FSIS Form 10,210-3.
• FSIS will notify Canada of all positive, non-violative and violative, results*. 

* If a carcass tests positive, which includes results in the non-violative range of 0.015-0.030 ppm, Canada will be notified. It is best to ensure products from that tested carcass are not shipped to Canada by holding the carcass until a negative result is confirmed by FSIS. The action that Canada may take against U.S. pork in the event of a positive from either U.S. or Canadian tests remains unclear, though a recall is likely