In Canada, CFIA has a national biotoxin monitoring program that includes testing for PSP, ASP, and DSP in bivalve molluscan shellfish. Historically in BC, CFIA has been monitoring for ASP on the east and
In Canada, CFIA has a national biotoxin monitoring program that includes testing for PSP, ASP, and DSP in bivalve molluscan shellfish. Historically in BC, CFIA has been monitoring for ASP on the east and west coasts since 1988, when the outbreak in Prince Edward Island occurred.
Health Canada has established limits for ASP-causing toxins (Canadian Standards). When these regulatory limits are exceeded, effected harvest areas are closed to harvesting.
All shellfish in BC must be inspected by federally registered shellfish processing plants before going to commercial market – this is part of the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP), the federal monitoring and prevention program in Canada. The CSSP classifies harvesting areas and controls the commercial and recreational harvesting and processing of shellfish for the consumer market. The CSSP is run by 3 federal government agencies (1) Environment Canada - responsible to monitor water quality in shellfish areas, (2) Canadian Food Inspection Agency - responsible for monitoring marine toxins in shellfish areas and for registering and inspecting shellfish processing plants, and, (3) Fisheries and Oceans Canada - responsible for opening and closing harvest areas, and prohibiting shellfish harvesting when bacteriological or toxin levels are unsafe. More on Shellfish Contamination.