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Food > Chemical Evaluation > Chemical Residue Annual Reports

 

Report
On Pesticides, Agricultural Chemicals, Veterinary Drugs, Environmental Pollutants
and Other Impurities in Agri-Food Commodities of Animal Origin

Honey Products

Index | Dairy Products | Egg Products | Honey Products |
Meat Products - Lab | Meat Products - Domestic | Meat Products - Import | Dioxin Annex

COMPLIANCE SUMMARY FOR HONEY 
5-Year Progression of Chemical Residues

Program/ Species FY 2004/2005 FY 2003/2004 FY 2002/2003 FY 2001/2002 FY 2000/2001
n %ok n %ok n %ok n %ok n %ok
Domestic product testing
Amitraz:
Honey 169 100.00                
Benomyl:
Honey 108 100.00                
Benzaldehyde:
Honey 300 98.33 248 100.00 84 98.80 143 100.00 New program addition for 2001/2002
Canadian honey contains background levels of benzaldehyde in a range up to 0.44 (p=0.01)
Chloramphenicol:
Honey 303 100.00 184 100.00 13 N/A New program addition for 2002/2003
Fluoroquinolones:
Honey 98 100.00          
Formetanate:
Honey 110 100.00          
Ionophores:
Honey 98 100.00          
Macrolides:
Honey 332 90.77          
Metals and elements:
Honey 1977 N/A 7 85.7      
Nitrofurans:
Honey 224 100.00                
Compliance rate is based on unbiased samples only
Penicillins:
Honey 329 100.00                
Pesticides:
Honey 163 100.00 218 100.00 170 100.00 187 100.00 70 100.00
Phenol:
Honey 300 99.33 250 99.95 86 98.81 Previously reported elsewhere
Sulfonamides:
Honey 227 99.55 250 99.19 87 96.47 143 100.00 58 95.12
Synthetic Pyrethrin:
Honey 163 100.00                
Tetracyclines:(1)
Honey 196 96.89 643 94.26 88  76.74 227 93.57 94 69.05
Note 1: Tetracyclines were previously reported under program name "Antibiotics"
Thiabendazole:
Honey 102 100.00                
Dom. total 5,195   1,800   528*   700*   263*  
Imported honey:
Amitraz 28 100.00                
Benomyl 20 100.00                
Benzaldehyde 67 85.07 43 100.00 36 100.00 16 100.00 0  -
Chloramphenicol 127 96.36 217 98.21 288 N/A (4) 70 (5) 77.14 0 - 
Fluoroquinolones 14 100.00                
Formetanate 20 100.00                
Ionophores 14 100.00                
Macrolides 47 87.88                
Metals 291 N/A 16 93.75 11 100.00 0 -  0  - 
Nitrofuran 94 100.00                
Penicillins 51 100.00                
Pesticides 30 100.00 12 100.00 60 100.00 34 100.00 22 100.00
Phenol 76 98.68 267 97.56 113 97.39 17 92.31 26 96.15
Sulfonamides 67 100.00 141 97.67 229 77.43 32 100.00 15 80.00
Synthetic Pyrethrin 25 100.00                
Tetracyclines 67 63.16 267 96.43 220 87.50 25 100.00 21 95.24
Thiabendazole 17 100.00                
Imp. total 1,055   918   957   194   84  
Totals include random and suspect samples, but compliance rate is for random portion only
Total honey 6,250   2,718   1,485   894   347  

Monitoring of domestic honey by specific tests

Monitoring of honey
Program Number Residue  found No. found Mean Minimum Maximum Violations
Veterinary Drugs
Chloramphenicol 300 No Residue 300        
Fluoroquinolones 98 No Residue 98        
Ionophores 98 No Residue 98        
Macrolides (2) 325 Tylosin 30 0.005 0.0005 0.029 30
Nitrofuran 198 No Residue 198        
Penicillins 325 No Residue 325        
Sulfonamides 223 Sulfathiazole 1 2.47 2.47 2.47 1
Tetracyclines (1) 193 Oxytetracycline 6 0.006 0.002 0.0117 6
Note 1: The Veterinary Drugs Directorate of Health Canada has proposed a regulatory amendment for oxytetracycline, which would result in a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 0.3 ppm when finalized. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/vetdrugs-medsvet/mrl_oxytetracyclineletter_e.html
Note 2: There is no tylosin drug approved for administration to bee colonies. Tylosin has become an important compound that beekeepers in Canada and elsewhere rely upon for control of bee diseases. When residue levels are found, the honey is in violation of section 4 (d), adulterated food section, of the FDAR.
Agricultural Chemicals
Amitraz 169 No Residue 169        
Benomyl 108 No Residue 108        
Benzaldehyde  (3) 300 Benzaldehyde 182 0.1463 0.02 1.29 5
Formetanate 110 No Residue 110        
Pesticides (MRA) 163 No Residue 163        
Phenol (3) 300 Phenol 48 0.0262 0.02 0.13 2
Synthetic Pyrethrins 163 No Residue 163        
Tiabendazole 102 No Residue 102        
Note 3: Benzaldehyde levels occur naturally in domestic Canadian honey at levels up to 0.44 ppm and these have been evaluated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada as not a human health risk. Higher levels may arise from none traditional floral sources and are unlikely to pose a health concern, however, the addition of benzaldehyde from its use as an agricultural chemical might result in illegal residue levels. Similar considerations apply to phenol.
Industrial pollutants (4)
AL 158 AL 97 2.7856 0.5 16.7 5
AS 107 AS 1 0.06 0.06 0.06  
B 65 B 65 10.8015 3.8 16.4 23
CD 106 No Residue 106        
CR 139 CR 125 0.1373 0.05 0.52  
CU 158 CU 158 0.173 0.06 1.95  
FE 138 FE 128 3.6477 0.5 65  
HG 158 HG 5 0.056 0.01 0.2  
MN 158 MN 158 0.5436 0.08 5.21 16
NI 137 NI 56 0.123 0.04 1.44 1
PB 120 PB 22 0.1391 0.05 1.19 6
SE 115 SE 31 0.2123 0.04 0.81  
SN 116 SN 14 2.55 0.3 15.1 1
TI 157 TI 114 0.2447 0.01 3.35 1
ZN 145 ZN 129 1.1752 0.18 26  
Note 4: The violations marked under the metals and elements groups are not related to health and safety criteria established in the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Rather they reflect simply that the levels present were greater than the anticipated norms for the commodity.

Directed sampling of suspect domestic honey by specific tests

Directed sampling of honey
Program Number Residue found No. found Mean Minimum Maximum Violations
Veterinary Drugs
Chloramphenicol Pretest 3 No Residue 3        
Macrolides Pretest 7 Tylosin 3 0.0169 0.0018 0.0344 3
Nitrofuran Pretest 22 No Residue 10        
    AOZ (1) 11 0.001 0.0005 0.0021 11
    SEM (1) 1 0.0026 0.0026 0.0026  
Penicillin Pretest 4 No Residue 4        
Sulfa Pretest 4 No Residue 4        
Tetracycline Pretest 3 No Residue 3        
Note 1: AOZ is the marker residue for the banned nitrofuran drug, furazolidone. SEM is a marker for the nitrofuran, nitrofurazone, however this residue may also be derived from none nitrofuran sources so its mere presence is not always considered a residue violation.

Monitoring of imported honey by country of origin and specific tests

Monitoring of imported honey
Program Origin Number Residue found No. found Mean Minimum Maximum Violations
Veterinary Drugs
Chloramphenicol Argentina 8 No Residue 8        
  Australia 6 No Residue 6        
  China 2 Chloramphenicol 2 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 2
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  France 4 No Residue 4        
  Greece 5 No Residue 5        
  Iran 4 No Residue 4        
  Israel 2 No Residue 2        
  Italy 1 No Residue 1        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 4 No Residue 4        
  Paraguay 1 No Residue 1        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 3 No Residue 3        
  Taiwan 1 No Residue 1        
  Turkey 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United Kingdom 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 4 No Residue 4        
Fluoroquinolones Argentina 2 No Residue 2        
  Australia 1 No Residue 1        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
Ionophores Argentina 2 No Residue 2        
  Australia 1 No Residue 1        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
Macrolides Argentina 5 Tylosin 1 0.001 0.001 0.001 1
  Australia 6 No Residue 6        
  Brazil 1 No Residue 1        
  France 3 No Residue 3        
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 1 No Residue 1        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Italy 4 No Residue 4        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Paraguay 1 No Residue 1        
  Switzerland 2 Tylosin 1 0.015 0.015 0.015 1
  Turkey 2 Erythromycin 2 0.002 0.001 0.003 2
  United Kingdom 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 3 No Residue 3        
Nitrofuran Argentina 1 No Residue 1        
  Australia 4 No Residue 4        
  Brazil 1 No Residue 1        
  Italy 3 SEM 1 0.001 0.001 0.001  
  Switzerland 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
Penicillins Argentina 5 No Residue 5        
  Australia 6 No Residue 6        
  Brazil 1 No Residue 1        
  France 3 No Residue 3        
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 1 No Residue 1        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Italy 4 No Residue 4        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Paraguay 1 No Residue 1        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Turkey 2 No Residue 2        
  United Kingdom 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 3 No Residue 3        
Sulfonamides Argentina 4 No Residue 4        
  Australia 4 No Residue 4        
  Brazil 3 No Residue 3        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 3 No Residue 3        
  Israel 2 No Residue 2        
  Italy 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 3 No Residue 3        
  Paraguay 1 No Residue 1        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 1 No Residue 1        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Turkey 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United Kingdom 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 4 No Residue 4        
Tetracyclines Argentina 5 No Residue 5        
      Oxytetracycline(1) 4 0.032 0.008 0.100 4
      Tetracycline 1 0.010 0.010 0.010 1
  Australia 4 No Residue 4        
  France 3 Oxytetracycline(1) 2 0.016 0.009 0.022 2
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Israel 1 Oxytetracycline(1) 1 0.011 0.011 0.011 1
  Italy 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Paraguay 1 No Residue 1        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Switzerland 1 No Residue 1        
  Turkey 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United Kingdom 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 10 Chlortetracycline 6 0.017 0.010 0.020 6
Note 1: The Veterinary Drugs Directorate of Health Canada has proposed a regulatory amendment for oxytetracycline, which would result in a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 0.3 ppm when finalised. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/vetdrugs-medsvet/mrl_oxytetracyclineletter_e.html. Tetracycline and chlortetracycline are not approved and any detection results in a violation.
Industrial pollutants(2)
AL France 1 AL 1 92.10 92.10 92.10 1
  Greece 3 AL 3 9.97 1.10 15.10 2
  Iran 2 AL 2 5.75 1.50 10.00  
  Israel 1 AL 1 1.50 1.50 1.50  
  Netherlands 1 AL 1 1.00 1.00 1.00  
  New Zealand 2 AL 2 3.30 1.40 5.20  
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 AL 2 2.15 1.70 2.60  
  Switzerland 2 AL 2 3.70 2.00 5.40  
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 2 AL 2 2.55 2.50 2.60  
AS Australia 3 No Residue 3        
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 3 No Residue 3        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
B Australia 2 B 2 5.20 4.30 6.10  
  Iran 1 B 1 1.50 1.50 1.50  
  Israel 1 B 1 3.70 3.70 3.70  
  Netherlands 1 B 1 10.50 10.50 10.50  
  Poland 1 B 1 5.20 5.20 5.20  
  Ukraine 1 B 1 10.60 10.60 10.60  
  United States 1 B 1 7.60 7.60 7.60  
CD Australia 3 No Residue 3        
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 3 No Residue 3        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
CR Argentina 1 CR 1 0.09 0.09 0.09  
  Australia 3 CR 3 0.14 0.12 0.16  
  France 1 CR 1 0.08 0.08 0.08  
  Iran 2 CR 2 0.16 0.10 0.22  
  Israel 1 CR 1 0.12 0.12 0.12  
  Netherlands 1 CR 1 0.09 0.09 0.09  
  New Zealand 1 CR 1 0.08 0.08 0.08  
  Poland 1 CR 1 0.06 0.06 0.06  
  Slovenia 2 CR 1 0.15 0.15 0.15  
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 CR 1 0.11 0.11 0.11  
  United States 1 CR 1 0.12 0.12 0.12  
CU Argentina 1 CU 1 0.16 0.16 0.16  
  Australia 3 CU 3 0.16 0.13 0.18  
  France 1 CU 1 8.34 8.34 8.34  
  Iran 2 CU 2 0.21 0.13 0.29  
  Israel 1 CU 1 0.21 0.21 0.21  
  Netherlands 1 CU 1 0.23 0.23 0.23  
  New Zealand 1 CU 1 0.22 0.22 0.22  
  Poland 1 CU 1 0.11 0.11 0.11  
  Slovenia 2 CU 2 0.25 0.23 0.26  
  Switzerland 2 CU 2 0.78 0.21 1.35  
  Ukraine 1 CU 1 0.27 0.27 0.27  
  United States 2 CU 2 0.84 0.21 1.46  
FE Argentina 1 FE 1 1.00 1.00 1.00  
  Australia 3 FE 3 1.87 0.90 2.70  
  France 1 FE 1 9.00 9.00 9.00  
  Iran 2 FE 2 4.50 3.00 6.00  
  Israel 1 FE 1 2.20 2.20 2.20  
  Netherlands 1 FE 1 3.20 3.20 3.20  
  New Zealand 1 FE 1 2.00 2.00 2.00  
  Poland 1 FE 1 4.10 4.10 4.10  
  Slovenia 2 FE 2 2.50 2.00 3.00  
  Switzerland 2 FE 2 3.00 2.00 4.00  
  Ukraine 1 FE 1 1.70 1.70 1.70  
  United States 2 FE 2 3.35 2.00 4.70  
HG Argentina 1 No Residue 1        
  Australia 3 No Residue 3        
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 3 No Residue 3        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 HG 1 0.05 0.05 0.05  
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 2 No Residue 2        
MN Argentina 1 MN 1 1.05 1.05 1.05 1
  Australia 3 MN 3 2.52 2.25 2.94 3
  France 1 MN 1 14.10 14.10 14.10 1
  Iran 2 MN 2 0.27 0.20 0.34  
  Israel 1 MN 1 0.49 0.49 0.49  
  Netherlands 1 MN 1 0.73 0.73 0.73  
  New Zealand 1 MN 1 0.17 0.17 0.17  
  Poland 1 MN 1 0.79 0.79 0.79  
  Slovenia 2 MN 2 1.80 0.92 2.67 1
  Switzerland 2 MN 2 1.83 0.26 3.40 1
  Ukraine 1 MN 1 0.29 0.29 0.29  
  United States 2 MN 2 5.62 1.72 9.51 2
NI Argentina 1 NI 1 0.06 0.06 0.06  
  Australia 3 NI 1 0.08 0.08 0.08  
  Croatia 1 NI 1 0.05 0.05 0.05  
  France 1 NI 1 1.91 1.91 1.91 1
  Greece 3 NI 3 0.24 0.11 0.51  
  Iran 2 NI 1 0.09 0.09 0.09  
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 NI 1 0.12 0.12 0.12  
  New Zealand 2 NI 1 0.04 0.04 0.04  
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 NI 2 0.10 0.06 0.13  
  Switzerland 2 NI 1 0.28 0.28 0.28  
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 2 NI 1 0.10 0.10 0.10  
PB Australia 3 No Residue 3        
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  France 1 PB 1 0.06 0.06 0.06  
  Greece 3 No Residue 3        
  Iran 2 PB 1 0.07 0.07 0.07  
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 PB 1 0.05 0.05 0.05  
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Poland 1 PB 1 0.04 0.04 0.04  
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 PB 1 0.05 0.05 0.05  
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
SE Australia 3 SE 1 0.74 0.74 0.74  
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 3 No Residue 3        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Israel 1 SE 1 0.65 0.65 0.65  
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 SE 1 0.73 0.73 0.73  
SN Australia 3 No Residue 3        
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  France 1 SN 1 0.70 0.70 0.70  
  Greece 3 No Residue 3        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 2 SN 1 0.20 0.20 0.20  
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 SN 1 0.60 0.60 0.60  
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
TI Argentina 1 TI 1 0.22 0.22 0.22  
  Australia 3 TI 3 0.03 0.01 0.06  
  France 1 TI 1 0.89 0.89 0.89  
  Iran 2 TI 2 0.15 0.04 0.25  
  Israel 1 TI 1 0.06 0.06 0.06  
  Netherlands 1 TI 1 0.03 0.03 0.03  
  New Zealand 1 TI 1 0.10 0.10 0.10  
  Poland 1 TI 1 0.02 0.02 0.02  
  Slovenia 2 TI 2 0.13 0.10 0.15  
  Switzerland 2 TI 2 0.17 0.14 0.19  
  Ukraine 1 TI 1 0.01 0.01 0.01  
  United States 2 TI 2 0.13 0.09 0.16  
ZN Argentina 1 ZN 1 1.10 1.10 1.10  
  Australia 3 ZN 3 12.59 11.25 14.33  
  Croatia 1 ZN 1 1.88 1.88 1.88  
  France 1 ZN 1 3.20 3.20 3.20  
  Greece 3 ZN 3 1.38 0.94 2.16  
  Iran 2 ZN 2 0.86 0.81 0.90  
  Israel 1 ZN 1 0.83 0.83 0.83  
  Netherlands 1 ZN 1 2.02 2.02 2.02  
  New Zealand 2 ZN 2 1.04 0.90 1.18  
  Poland 1 ZN 1 3.02 3.02 3.02  
  Slovenia 2 ZN 2 1.45 1.20 1.70  
  Switzerland 2 ZN 2 1.55 1.20 1.90  
  Ukraine 1 ZN 1 0.60 0.60 0.60  
  United States 2 ZN 2 1.17 1.00 1.34  
Note 2: The violations marked under the metals and elements groups are not related to health and safety criteria established in the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Rather they reflect simply that the levels present were greater than the anticipated norms for the commodity.
Agricultural Chemicals
Amitraz Argentina 3 No Residue 3        
  Australia 3 No Residue 3        
  Croatia 1 No Residue 1        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 4 No Residue 4        
  Iran 3 No Residue 3        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 2 No Residue 2        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 2 No Residue 2        
Benomyl Argentina 4 No Residue 4        
  Australia 2 No Residue 2        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 2 No Residue 2        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  Mexico 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Taiwan 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
Benzaldehyde Argentina 14 Benzaldehyde 13 0.127 0.040 0.270  
  Australia 6 Benzaldehyde 5 0.174 0.090 0.231  
  China 1 Benzaldehyde 1 0.030 0.030 0.030  
  France 4 Benzaldehyde 4 0.187 0.030 0.320  
  Greece 2 Benzaldehyde 2 0.215 0.209 0.220  
  Iran 4 Benzaldehyde 3 0.117 0.040 0.220  
  Israel 2 Benzaldehyde 1 0.090 0.090 0.090  
  Italy 1 Benzaldehyde 1 0.050 0.050 0.050  
  Malaysia 1 Benzaldehyde 1 0.104 0.104 0.104  
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 3 Benzaldehyde 3 0.433 0.140 1.010 1
  Paraguay 1 Benzaldehyde 1 0.310 0.310 0.310  
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 Benzaldehyde 2 0.515 0.490 0.540  
  Switzerland 3 Benzaldehyde 3 0.733 0.050 1.100 2
  Taiwan 1 Benzaldehyde 1 0.162 0.162 0.162  
  Turkey 3 Benzaldehyde 2 0.210 0.130 0.290  
  Ukraine 1 Benzaldehyde 1 0.160 0.160 0.160  
  United Kingdom 1 Benzaldehyde 1 0.140 0.140 0.140  
  United States 15 Benzaldehyde 15 0.442 0.040 0.800 7
Formetanate Argentina 4 No Residue 4        
  Australia 2 No Residue 2        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 2 No Residue 2        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  Mexico 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Taiwan 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
Pesticides (MRA) Argentina 3 No Residue 3        
  Australia 4 No Residue 4        
  Croatia 11 No Residue 11        
  France 4 No Residue 4        
  Greece 3 No Residue 3        
  Iran 1 No Residue 1        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 2 No Residue 2        
  New Zealand 1 No Residue 1        
  Poland 2 No Residue 2        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 1 No Residue 1        
  Taiwan 1 No Residue 1        
  Ukraine 2 No Residue 2        
  United States 2 No Residue 2        
Phenol Argentina 24 Phenol 7 0.029 0.020 0.040  
  Australia 6 Phenol 1 0.020 0.020 0.020  
  China 1 No Residue 1        
  France 4 Phenol 1 0.060 0.060 0.060  
  Greece 2 Phenol 1 0.020 0.020 0.020  
  Iran 4 No Residue 4        
  Israel 2 Phenol 1 0.030 0.030 0.030  
  Italy 1 Phenol 1 0.020 0.020 0.020  
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 3 No Residue 3        
  Paraguay 1 Phenol 1 0.040 0.040 0.040  
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 3 No Residue 3        
  Taiwan 1 No Residue 1        
  Turkey 2 No Residue 2        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United Kingdom 1 Phenol 1 0.050 0.050 0.050  
  United States 15 Phenol 9 0.195 0.020 1.230 1
Synthetic Pyrethrin Argentina 3 No Residue 3        
  Australia 4 No Residue 4        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 3 No Residue 3        
  Israel 1 No Residue 1        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  Netherlands 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 1 No Residue 1        
  Poland 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Taiwan 1 No Residue 1        
  Ukraine 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 2 No Residue 2        
Thiabendazole Argentina 3 No Residue 3        
  Australia 2 No Residue 2        
  France 1 No Residue 1        
  Greece 1 No Residue 1        
  Iran 2 No Residue 2        
  Malaysia 1 No Residue 1        
  New Zealand 1 No Residue 1        
  Slovenia 2 No Residue 2        
  Switzerland 2 No Residue 2        
  Taiwan 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
Benzaldehyde and phenol are monitored because of the potential for the misuse of both, as bee calming agents, during the gathering of honey. Benzaldehyde levels, occurring naturally in domestic Canadian honey, range up to 0.44 ppm and have been evaluated by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada as not a human health risk. Phenol background levels are unknown. However, as an agricultural chemical, REG.B.15.002 of the Food and Drug Regulations establishes the MRL for phenol in foods at 0.1 ppm.

Directed sampling of suspect honey by country of origin and specific tests

Directed sampling of suspect honey
Program Origin Number Residue found No. found Mean Minimum Maximum Violations
Veterinary Drugs
Chloramphenicol Pretest Argentina 6 No Residue 6        
  Australia 1 No Residue 1        
  Brazil 5 No Residue 5        
  China 26 No Residue 26        
  Thailand 6 No Residue 6        
  United States 16 No Residue 16        
  Vietnam 12 No Residue 12        
Macrolide Pretest Argentina 6 No Residue 6        
  China 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 11 Tylosin 10 0.003 0.002 0.007 10
  Vietnam 2 No Residue 2        
Nitrofuran Pretest Argentina 47 No Residue 37        
      AOZ (2) 7 0.001 0.001 0.002 7
      SEM (2) 4 0.001 0.001 0.002  
  Australia 20 No Residue 13        
      AOZ (2) 5 0.001 0.0005 0.002 5
      SEM (2) 3 0.001 0.001 0.002  
  Brazil 5 No Residue 5        
  China 2 No Residue 2        
  Thailand 1 No Residue 1        
  Turkey 7 AOZ (2) 1 0.002 0.002 0.002 1
  United States 1 No Residue 1        
Penicillin Pretest Argentina 6 No Residue 6        
  China 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 11 No Residue 11        
Sulfa Pretest Argentina 10 No Residue 10        
  Brazil 5 No Residue 5        
  China 3 No Residue 3        
  Thailand 1 No Residue 1        
  United States 11 No Residue 11        
  Vietnam 2 No Residue 2        
Tetracycline Pretest Argentina 10 No Residue 10        
  Brazil 5 No Residue 5        
  China 3 No Residue 3        
  Thailand 1 Oxytetracycline (1) 1 0.015 0.015 0.015 1
  United States 8 Oxytetracycline (1) 3 0.009 0.008 0.011 3
  Vietnam 2 No Residue 2        
Note 1: The Veterinary Drugs Directorate of Health Canada has proposed a regulatory amendment for oxytetracycline, which would result in a Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 0.3 ppm when finalized. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/vetdrugs-medsvet/mrl_oxytetracyclineletter_e.html
Note 2: AOZ is the marker residue for the banned nitrofuran drug, furazolidone. SEM is a marker for the nitrofuran, nitrofurazone, however this residue may also be derived from none nitrofuran sources so its mere presence is not always considered a residue violation.

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