This reference list identifies the therapeutants that are currently being monitored in imported and domestically produced aquacultured fish and crustaceans for compliance with Canadian regulatory requirements.
General information on therapeutant use in aquaculture in Canada can be found in Therapeutant use in aquaculture - questions and answers
Monitoring list legend / explanatory notes
Class name | Substance name | Marker residue / metabolite | Regulatory use status | Species | Tissue | Action level: µg/g (ppm) |
Action level: ng/g (ppb) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Amphenicols | Florfenicol | Florfenicol amine | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Muscle | 0.8 a | 800 a |
Amphenicols | Chloramphenicol | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Amphenicols | Thiamphenicol | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Avermectins | Emamectin Benzoate | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Muscle | 0.1 AMRL | 100 AMRL |
Avermectins | Ivermectin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Benzoylureas | Teflubenzuron h | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Muscle | 0.3 | 300 |
Benzoylureas | Teflubenzuron h | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Skin | 3.2 | 3200 |
Fluoro-quinolones | Ciprofloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Fluoro-quinolones | Danofloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Fluoro-quinolones | Difloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Fluoro-quinolones | Enrofloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Fluoro-quinolones | Marbofloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Fluoro-quinolones | Norfloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Fluoro-quinolones | Orbifloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Fluoro-quinolones | Sarafloxacin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.001 b | 1.0 b |
Macrolides | Erythromycin | N/A | EDR | Fish, Crustaceans | Muscle | 0.03 c | 30 c |
Nitrofurans | Furaltadone | (AMOZ) 3-Amino-5-morphinomethyl- oxazolidin-2-one | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitrofurans | Furazolidone | (AOZ) 3-Amino- 2-oxazolidinone | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitrofurans | Nitrofurantoin | (AHD) 1-Aminohydantoin hydrochloride | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitrofurans | Nitrofurazone | (SEM) Semicarbazide | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitroimidazoles | 2-hydroxymethyl-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (HMMNI) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitroimidazoles | Ipronidazole (IPZ) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitroimidazoles | 1-methyl-2-(2'-hydroxyisopropyl)-5-nitroimidazole (IPZ-OH) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitroimidazoles | Metronidazole (MNZ) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitroimidazoles | 1-(2- hydroxyethyl)-2-hydroxymethyl-5-nitroimidazole (MNZ-OH) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitroimidazoles | Ronidazole (RNZ) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Nitroimidazoles | Dimetridazole (DMZ) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Pyrethroids | Cypermethrin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.1 | 100 |
Pyrethroids | Deltamethrin | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | 0.1 | 100 |
Quinolones | Flumequine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Quinolones | Oxolinic Acid | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Steroids | Boldenone (17 beta-boldenone) | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Steroids | Methyltestosterone (17 alpha-methyltestosterone) | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Steroids | Nandrolone (17 beta-19-nortestosterone) | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Steroids | epi-Boldenone (17 alpha-boldenone) | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Steroids | epi-Nandrolone (17 alpha-19-nortestosterone) | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Stilbenes | Dienestrol (DIEN) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Stilbenes | Diethylstilbestrol (DES) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Stilbenes | Hexestrol (HEX) | N/A | Banned Table note 2 | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Ormetoprim | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Edible Tissue | 0.1 AMRL | 100 AMRL |
Sulfonamides | Sulfadiazine | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Edible Tissue | 0.1 | 100 |
Sulfonamides | Sulfadimethoxine | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Edible Tissue | 0.1 AMRL | 100 AMRL |
Sulfonamides | Trimethoprim | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids | Muscle | 0.1 | 100 |
Sulfonamides | Sulfacetamide | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfa- chloropyridazine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfadoxine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfaguanadine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfamerazine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfamethazine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfamethiazole | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfamethoxazole | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfa- methoxypridazine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfa- monomethoxine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfamoxole | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfanilamide | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfapyridine | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfaquinoxaline | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfathiazole | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Sulfonamides | Sulfisoxazole | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Tetracyclines | Doxycycline | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Tetracyclines | Oxytetracycline | N/A | Approved Table note 1 | Salmonids, Lobsters | Muscle | 0.2 | 200 |
Tetracyclines | Chlorotetracycline | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Tetracyclines | Tetracycline | N/A | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | DTC | DTC |
Triphenyl-methane Dyes | Gentian Violet | Leucogentian Violet |
Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | notes f, g | notes f, g |
Triphenyl-methane Dyes | Malachite Green | Leucomalachite Green | Not accepted to be used | All | N/A | notes d, e | notes d, e |
Table notes
- Table note 1
-
Approved - Veterinary drugs authorized for sale by Health Canada for use in food-producing aquatic animals
Action levels presented are derived from Health Canada - Veterinary Drugs Directorate: Table 1. Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) set by Health Canada
- Table note 2
-
Banned drugs are those drugs which are prohibited for sale and use on animals (including fish) that produce food or that are intended to be consumed as food as stipulated in the Food and Drug Regulations (s. B.01.048 and C.01.610.1).
Lot acceptance
A lot of fish is considered unacceptable when residues of a substance found in the product exceed the action level specified in this list.
(Note: for Triphenylmethane Dyes - refer to notes d, e, f and g for relevant information).
Monitoring list legend / explanatory notes
Abbreviations / terms
AMRL - Administrative Maximum Residue Limit: The definition for AMRL and MRL are basically the same except AMRL is awaiting completion of the legal process for publishing in Food and Drug Regulations.
DTC - Detected above the reporting limit
EDR - Emergency Drug Release: Program administered by Health Canada - Veterinary Drugs Directorate.
Edible tissue: includes muscle and skin
MRL - Maximum Residue Limit: As stipulated in Food and Drug Regulations, Division 15, Table III. Established value is found in the "Action Level" Column.
Notes:
a A lot of fish will be considered reject when the sum of florfenicol (parent drug) and florfenicol amine (metabolite) detected in the sample exceeds the florfenicol MRL.
b As a minimum performance level of the laboratories testing for fluoroquinolones, the laboratory must have a limit of quantification (LOQ) of at least 1.0 ng/g for fluoroquinolones.
c Interim action level set by Health Canada.
Malachite green and leucomalachite green notes
d As a minimum performance level of the laboratories testing for Malachite Green (MG) or Leucomalachite Green (LMG), the laboratory must have a limit of quantification (LOQ) of at least 0.5 ng/g for MG or LMG.
e The "Interim guidelines for the presence of Malachite Green (MG) and Leucomalachite Green (LMG) in aquaculture fish products" established by Health Canada are as follows:
- 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 applicable to imported and domestic fish products are described below:
MG or LMG levels | Product action |
---|---|
≤ 0.50 ng/g for MG or LMG (Interim LOQ for MG or LMG) | No regulatory actions will be taken. |
> 1.00 ng/g for MG or LMG | Product is unacceptable. |
> 0.50 ng/g to ≤ 1.00 ng/g for MG or LMG (Note: Gathering of information will be required to determine deliberate use) |
Product is unacceptable unless a review of information gathered shows there has been no deliberate use. |
Gentian violet and leucogentian violet notes
f As a minimum performance level of the laboratories testing for Gentian Violet (GV) or Leucogentian Violet (LGV), the laboratory must have a limit of quantification (LOQ) of at least 0.5 ng/g for GV or LGV.
g Gentian violet is not permitted in Canada for use during any part of the aquaculture fish production life-cycle.
The interim guidelines for the presence of GV and LGV and CFIA's product acceptability criteria applicable to imported and domestic aquacultured fish products have been modified as follows:
GV or LGV levels | Product action |
---|---|
< 0.50 ng/g for GV and/or LGV (Interim LOQ for GV or LGV) | No regulatory actions will be taken. |
Sum GV & LGV ≥ 1.0 ng/g Specifically: GV ≥ 1.0 ng/g & LGV < 0.5 ng/g or GV < 0.5 ng/g & LGV ≥ 1.0 ng/g or GV ≥ 0.5 ng/g & LGV ≥ 0.5 ng/g |
Product is unacceptable. |
GV < 0.5 ng/g & LGV ≥ 0.5 ng/g and < 1.0 ng/g or GV ≥ 0.5 ng/g and < 1.0 ng/g & LGV < 0.5 ng/g |
A follow-up is needed to determine whether the therapeutant was intentionally used. |
GV ≥ 0.5 ng/g & LGV not detected at the reporting limit | A follow-up is needed to determine whether the therapeutant was intentionally used. |
Teflubenzuron notes
h The monitoring of teflubenzuron in aquaculture products is not applicable at this time.