Q-260 , 38th Parliament, 1st session October 4, 2004, to November 29, 2005

With regard to the regulation of Malachite Green whether in use at fish hatcheries or farms, or found in fish for human consumption: (a) did farmed fish test positive for traces of Malachite Green in 2004 or 2005, (i) were any imported and, if so, from what country, (ii) were any farmed in Canada and, if so, in what location; (b) did the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) or the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) conduct a public recall of the contaminated fish and, if not, why not; (c) on what basis did CFIA conduct a recall of all available products in distribution; (d) what was the amount of contaminated fish, if any, that had gone into the food distribution network; (e) how, when and where were the contaminated fish destroyed, including both domestically produced and imported; (f) did any contaminated product go to market in Canada, the United States or any other country; (g) what are the Canadian standards for allowable residues of Malachite Green; (h) what percentage of Canadian farmed fish is tested for residues of Malachite Green; (i) what percentage of imported farmed fish is tested for residues of Malachite Green; (j) what are the measures taken to safeguard Canadian consumers; (k) is DFO the agency responsible for ensuring good management practices in aquaculture including the responsibility for informing government hatcheries and the aquaculture industry of which chemicals are, and are not, approved for food fish production; (l) what are the responsibilities of CFIA and Health Canada with regard to Malachite Green; (m) if Malachite Green has not been authorized for use in Canada, why then did CFIA detect levels of Malachite Green in fish produced in Canada; (n) can Malachite Green spread from a farm site and contaminate wild fish; (o) what are the health risks to those who are exposed to Malachite Green through eating contaminated fish; (p) was Malachite Green administered to Puntledge Chinook at a DFO fish hatchery since being banned in 1992; (q) did DFO hatcheries or DFO funded hatcheries have Malachite Green on hand in June 2005, and, if so, which hatcheries and why; (r) did CFIA inform DFO in May 2005 that CFIA had been informed that Malachite Green was being used in all of DFO hatcheries; (s) is DFO’s “SEP Policy on Use of Drugs and Chemicals on Fish” of September 4, 1992 still in effect; (t) does the policy on “Use of Drugs and Chemicals on Fish” prohibit the use of adult fish, which have been treated with any substance other than carbon dioxide or sodium chloride, for human or pet food; (u) does the policy prohibiting fish treated with any substance other than carbon dioxide or sodium chloride from being used for human or pet food extend to Canadian farmed fish and, if not, why not; (v) does the policy extend to imported farmed fish and, if not, why not; (w) the policy states that treated carcasses should be buried, is that part of the policy strictly enforced; (x) does that part of the policy stating that treated carcasses should be buried cover farmed fish and, if not, why not; (y) does that part of the policy cover imported farmed fish and, if not, why not; and (z) how many times have users of Malachite Green been prosecuted for illegal use?