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Preventive controls for honey products

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Introduction

This document describes preventive controls for honey production and for the use and storage of containers and packaging materials. It also provides tips to avoid lead contamination and guidelines for safe levels of veterinary drugs used in honey production.

Record keeping

In a Preventive control plan (PCP), it is important to maintain and keep records of activities which demonstrate that the PCP is implemented and working effectively. Records can be in either a hard copy or electronic format. Refer to Record keeping for your preventive control plan for additional information.

Control of incoming materials

Ingredients, additives, processing aids and bee treatments

The following are controls for incoming honey, other ingredients, food additives, processing aids and bee treatments to avoid biological, chemical or physical hazards in the honey product.

Honey (producer-grader)

Honey (packers or pasteurizers)

Self-assessment checklist for incoming material controls
Criteria Check if Complete Comments if incomplete or N/A
What Controls are in place for incoming honey and ingredients (food additives and processing aids). checkbox
How
  1. Written specifications for honey and incoming ingredients (food additives and processing aids).
  2. Specifications are in compliance with the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations and the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations.
  3. Letter of Guarantee from the supplier.
  4. Monitoring and testing to verify adherence to specifications.

For establishments that extract honey:

  1. Medications used are approved for treating bees.
  2. The recommended preparation and dosage level of the medications are followed.
  3. he withdrawal time for the medication is followed before the honey is harvested.
  4. Records are kept for all applications of treatments to the colonies (for example, medications, colony evacuation for honey removal, mite control.)
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Frequency Per shipment or per colony checkbox
Who Establishment contact (Manager, Owner) checkbox

Empty containers

The following are controls for empty containers and all other packaging materials (bulk/retail) to help avoid biological, chemical or physical hazards in the honey product and to help you compliance with Division 23 of the Food and Drug Regulations and the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations.

Retail containers

Bulk containers

New or reconditioned metal drums (first time use after reconditioning)

Used metal drums

Plastic drums/totes

Storage of empty bulk containers (for example, drums, totes)

The following are controls for the storage of empty bulk containers (both incoming and outgoing) to help make sure that they do not become a source of biological, chemical or physical hazards for the honey.

Lead residues in honey

Lead is a toxic heavy metal. Chronic low level exposure to lead is known to have adverse effects on human health. Children are particularly vulnerable. Lead in food may result from the environment, processing equipment and storage conditions.

Sources of lead include equipment:

Honey is an acidic product and may absorb lead from certain surfaces. Factors that can increase this absorption are:

Maximum residue limit

There is currently no prescribed maximum residue limit for lead in honey. Lead residues must be as low as reasonably achievable. Lead residues equal to or greater than 0.1 parts per million (ppm) suggest that avoidable lead contamination has taken place. Blending contaminated honey with other honey to reduce lead levels is not permitted.

Reducing the risk of lead in honey

Honey producers and importers need to identify any potential sources of lead and take the necessary steps to eliminate/minimize (control) the hazard at the source.

If you are unsure of your equipment's material composition, contact your supplier or use a lead swab kit to determine if lead is present. Instant lead test kits are available at some equipment supplier stores.

In order to reduce the risk of lead contamination of honey and honey products, you can take the following steps:

  1. When replacing equipment, choose lead-free equipment. Pay particular attention to settling and packing containers (due to heating and contact time/surface). Even equipment made of stainless steel may have lead soldered seams, and thus should be considered unacceptable. Seams must be made from lead-free solder or welded.
  2. Where settling, storage or packing equipment is not yet lead-free, minimize the heat and contact time of honey.
  3. Make sure the equipment is clean before using it, especially in situations where small amounts of honey may remain in a piece of equipment between uses and be in contact with a lead soldered seam during this period. A good example of this is where honey may remain in the bottom of an extractor for an extended period of time and become contaminated with lead, contaminating the subsequent batch.
  4. Test your honey to help identify different sources of lead and/or confirm the effectiveness of any action taken. Testing can occur at various stages of the process depending of what you are trying to achieve.

The following checklist will help you review your operation to locate possible contamination points and determine corrective actions. Examples of corrective actions include: confirmation that no avoidable lead sources exist, testing of the honey (before and after lead source), modifying production / cleaning practices to minimize contamination, and eventual equipment replacement (short or longer term depending on risk).

Honey equipment checklist / corrective actions
Establishment name: Date:
Equipment type Construction material in contact with food Corrective action:
If you identified potential(s) source(s) of lead; what is your action plan (see remarks below)?
Galvanized Lead solder Brass Bronze Terne plate Lead free Suitable for intended use
Yes No Yes Not yet
Extractors
Honey storage tanks
Barrels/ Bulk containers
Heat treatment equipment
Sump
Pumps, augers, piping, valves
Filtering & filling equipment
Other equipment:
Overall action items:
Signature:

Remarks:

  1. Until lead-containing equipment is replaced, minimize contact-time as much as possible, especially if heated. For example, do not use honey that was stored overnight in an extractor or sump that contains lead.
  2. All surfaces in direct contact with honey are constructed of food-grade materials. Refer to CFIA's Guidance for Food Establishments Concerning Construction Materials and Packaging Materials and Non-Food Chemicals.
  3. Any coatings (storage tanks and barrels) or plastic liners are food-grade and appropriate for application. Is the paint used inside and outside of the barrels and honey supers lead free?

Working residue levels for veterinary drugs in honey

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) operates a National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program for honey (and other food) as part of its food safety enforcement and compliance responsibilities. With regard to honey, both domestic and imported honeys are sampled. Samples submitted under this plan are assessed for compliance with the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations (FDA/R) and the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations (SFCA/R).

Health Canada (HC) has recommended safe Working Residue Levels (WRLs) for a number of veterinary drugs approved for use in other species that may be detected in domestic or imported honey. The emerging resistance to oxytetracycline which is used to treat American Foulbrood infection may lead to "extra label" drug use of other antimicrobials. WRLs do not represent approval of additional drugs for use in beekeeping and must not be interpreted as an encouragement of their use.

These WRLs, in addition to proposed Maximum Residue Limits (proposed MRLs) and Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), are used by CFIA to assess honey samples. Previously, in the case of veterinary drug residues in honey, the only criteria used for assessment were the MRLs listed in Table III of Division 15 of the FDA/R and the proposed MRLs published on HC's web site. WRLs provide guidance to CFIA to determine the level of compliance and enforcement action that corresponds with the level of risk to human health as it relates to the presence of drug residues in honey.

After consulting with representatives from the Canadian Honey Council and the Canadian Honey Packers and Dealers Association, the use of WRLs in imported and domestic honey has been agreed to by both HC and CFIA. Refer to the document entitled "Working Residue Levels (WRLs) For Antimicrobial Residues In Honey".

Beekeepers are encouraged to work in conjunction with their provincial apiarist and local veterinarian in the identification, appropriate treatment and management of oxytetracycline resistant American Foulbrood infection. Provincial governments and the honey industry are encouraged to continue to inform producers to practice hygienic management in beekeeping to prevent disease which will decrease the need for medication.

WRLs for honey provide guidance in an exceptional situation and in the interest of public health. These WRLs will be reviewed periodically to reflect new scientific information and are subject to modification or cancellation.

Health Canada's website provides a table of Current Lowest AMRLs/MRLs in Meats and Recommended WRLs in Honey.

Questions and answers

Q1. What is the issue?

Some beekeepers have been using veterinary drugs in an extra-label manner (using drug products for purposes other than indicated on the label) to control certain honey bee diseases for which either there is no approved veterinary drug or the approved drug was no longer effective. When residues of these drugs are found in honey, the honey may pose a potential risk to human health and is in violation of the FDA/R and the SFCA/R.

Drug manufacturers are reluctant to invest in new drugs for minor species, such as honey bees, because there is little, if any, return on their costs for research and development. The current Canadian regulatory framework for drug approvals requires that adequate and complete data be provided for all drug submissions. Since there are very few products available anywhere in the world to treat honey bee diseases, there is no available data to inform such a review.

In light of the lack of available drugs, HC and CFIA have identified the requirement for a mechanism to address the honey industry's need for healthy bees while ensuring that honey, a widely-used product by Canadians, does not pose an undue risk to human health.

Q2. What are Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) and proposed Maximum Residue Limits (proposed MRLs)?

MRLs and proposed MRLs are levels of veterinary drug residues that could safely remain in the tissue or food product derived from a food-producing animal that has been treated with a veterinary drug. This residue is considered to pose no adverse health effects if ingested daily by humans over a lifetime.

Q3.What are Working Residue Levels (WRLs)?

There are no special provisions under the FDA/R for drug submissions for minor species (in other words, there are few MRLs for honey). It is for this reason that HC reached an agreement with the CFIA to develop a policy on WRLs for antimicrobials, as well as an associated list of antimicrobials.

WRLs are recommended levels for drug residues in honey below which there is considered to be no undue risk to human health. The WRLs for honey have been derived by extrapolating from proposed MRL/MRLs for antimicrobials that are approved for use in other food-producing animals such as chickens, swine and cattle. The WRLs are set conservatively and are not intended to represent proposed MRL/MRLs values in honey. Since WRLs for these drugs are not promulgated into the FDA/R, they do not represent approval for use in beekeeping and must not be interpreted as an encouragement of their use.

The WRLs provide guidance to honey producers on residue levels which are deemed not to pose undue risk to human health. The WRLs also provide guidance to CFIA inspectors for their monitoring and compliance activities.

Q4. Who was involved in the process of developing the WRLs?

HC and the CFIA consulted with representatives from the Canadian Honey Council and the Canadian Honey Packers and Dealers Association before the WRL policy and the associated list of antimicrobials was finalized.

Q5. Why are there so many antimicrobial drugs on the list?

HC and the CFIA became aware, through CFIA's National Chemical Residue Sampling Plan, that various antimicrobials are being used in Canada and other countries in the production of honey and had concerns that certain residues of these antimicrobials could lead to a potential risk to human health risk.

Q6. What about honey imported from other countries that use drugs that are banned in Canada?

WRLs are not provided for banned drugs such as chloramphenicol or nitrofurans, since the use of these drugs in Canada is strictly prohibited. Any honey containing residues of banned drugs will not be allowed to be sold in Canada.

Q7. Why is the CFIA allowing WRLs?

In the area of food safety, HC and the CFIA share unique and complementary roles and responsibilities for the safety of Canada's food supply. HC is responsible for establishing policies, standards and regulations for health products and food while the CFIA is responsible for all food inspection, compliance and enforcement activities.

It is important to note that the WRL policy is not a regulation. The public can be confident that this policy does not compromise the safety of the food supply because residue levels in compliance with the WRLs do not pose an undue risk to human health. The CFIA will use the WRLs as guidance in determining the appropriate level of enforcement action including whether any product action is necessary (for example, product recalls, detentions and seizures).

Q8. How should antimicrobial drugs be used to control honey bee diseases?

If antimicrobial drugs are required to control the spread of disease, honey producers should work with their provincial apiarist/veterinarian to ensure safe and appropriate use of these drugs.

Q9. Are there alternatives to antimicrobial drugs for the control of microbial honey bee diseases?

There are several non-chemical ways of controlling microbial diseases. Honey producers should work with their provincial apiarist/veterinarian to ensure safe and effective use of these methods.

Practicing hygienic management in beekeeping may help to prevent disease and may decrease the need for antimicrobial drugs.

Q10. Are these WRLs permanent?

The WRLs will be reviewed periodically to reflect new scientific information. The WRLs are subject to modification or cancellation (with notice given).

Q11. Will the CFIA continue to monitor honey?

Yes, the CFIA operates a National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program for honey as part of its food safety enforcement and compliance responsibilities.

Q12. What happens to honey that has residues above the WRL?

Honey that has residues above the WRL will be subject to a health risk assessment by HC. Subsequent action by the CFIA will be based on this assessment and could include detention, recall, stop sale, disposal, prosecution and in the case of imported honey, return to the country of origin.

Q13. What happens to honey that has detectable residues within the WRL?

When honey contains drug residues within the WRL, the producer/owner of the honey will receive a letter from  the CFIA informing them of the residues that have been detected but that there is no undue risk to human health. The notification will also state that when the use of a veterinary drug not approved for use in beekeeping is required, it should only be administered under the guidance of a professional apiculturist/veterinarian to minimize or eliminate the presence of drug residues in honey.

Q14. Do the WRLs apply also to imported honey?

Imported honey is subject to the same WRL policy and regulatory requirements as domestic honey. The CFIA carries out regular monitoring to verify the compliance of imported honey to Canadian regulations. Importers should refer to the Food imports section of our website to learn more about the requirements for importing honey into Canada. Honey originating from countries with a known history of non-compliance is sampled by the CFIA more frequently than honey from other countries.

Q15. What concerns should honey exporters be aware of?

Exporters of honey are reminded that some countries have a zero tolerance for residues in honey and should be aware of the destination countries' regulations in this regard.

Q16. Can a person with allergies to antibiotics (such as sulfa, tetracycline) still eat honey?

Yes, honey containing antimicrobial residues within the WRLs is considered by HC not to pose an undue risk to human health. There have been no reports that honey with residues at these levels causes allergic reactions in humans. The antimicrobials on the WRL list are approved for use in other food-producing animals and permitted residue levels in meat, milk and eggs would result in higher exposure of consumers to their residues.

Q17. Are the WRLs in honey higher or lower than the MRL/proposed MRL for the same residue in other foods?

The WRLs are lower because they are incorporating additional safety margins. Since HC does not have the data for use of these drugs in honey bees, these conservative safety margins ensure that there is no undue risk to human health.

Q18. Do other countries use WRLs?

WRLs are unique to Canada. However, many other countries use some type of limit or threshold to guide their enforcement procedures. Canada's WRLs are a more open and transparent version of action thresholds, which are usually not publicized by other countries.

Appendix 1: A guide to developing a bulk container program

The following information provides guidance on how to develop a written bulk container program. There are details about how you can control biological, chemical and physical hazards associated with bulk containers (capacity of more than 5 kg).

Written program components

Objective (why)

State the objectives of your bulk container program.

Example:

Bulk containers used in packing honey are received/unloaded, handled, filled, emptied and stored such that no biological, physical or chemical hazard results in the food and to ensure regulatory compliance:

Criteria

A written bulk container program explains:

Procedures/Tasks (what/how)

Position responsible (who)

Frequency (when/how often)

State the frequency for each procedure or task (for example, daily, weekly, monthly).

Records

Corrective action

Indicate what corrective action you will take when a bulk container does not meet the required specifications.

Verification

Self-assessment checklist - Bulk container written program
Criteria Check if complete Comments if incomplete
What Controls for biological, chemical and physical hazards and compliance with regulatory requirements. checkbox
How Written procedures to:
  1. Purchase acceptable bulk containers
  2. Evaluate that empty containers meet regulatory requirements at receiving; for example, free from severe dents, buckling, rust; are sound, clean, sanitary and have tightly fitting lids; suitable for intended use.
  3. Carry out the cleaning, handling and storage of the bulk containers.
  4. Ensure old labels are removed.
  5. Inspect bulk containers prior to filling.
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Who

An establishment contact (for example, owner/operator/designated trained employee) has been identified to be responsible for the program.

A position/person is identified to be responsible for carrying out each procedure.

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Frequency Procedures are set at a frequency adequate to control risks. checkbox
Records You have records for:
  1. Where bulk containers were sourced.
  2. Type of bulk containers sourced.
  3. Letter of guarantee from drum reconditioner/supplier (for new or reconditioned drums)
  4. Documentation to show plastic liners, gaskets and plastic seals are suitable for their intended use.
  5. Records to show that the procedure(s) have been completed and followed.
  6. Documentation to show corrective action taken.
  7. Documentation to show that the corrective action was verified and the corrective action taken corrected the problem effectively and will not result in recurrence.
  8. If drums were distributed, records indicating; date shipped, description of the drum(s), product lot code, quantity, client name and contact information.
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Corrective action A written procedure to determine root cause when a deviation occurs at a critical control point. This includes evaluation of risk to the product. checkbox
Verification

A person is identified to verify that all elements of the program are implemented and effective.

What/how will this be done and what records will be kept.

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Additional Resources

Canadian Honey Council (CHC):

Date modified: