Question Period Note: CANNABIS PRODUCT RECALL

On October 17, 2018, the Cannabis Act came into force, setting out strict rules controlling cultivation, processing and other activities with cannabis.

Health Canada has a comprehensive process in place to work with the affected parties in the event of a cannabis product recall.

• In light of recent product recalls, what has Health Canada/the Minister done to ensure appropriate measures have been taken to protect the health and safety of Canadians? How has the contaminated product made its way onto shelves and into consumers’ hands?

• Ensuring the integrity of Canada's legal cannabis production system is a priority for our Government.

• That is why the Cannabis Act contains multiple measures that are designed to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

• These measures include stringent requirements around the production and testing of cannabis products and record keeping, inventory controls and reporting that enable the efficient recall of a cannabis product, if needed.

IF PRESSED ON AN INCIDENT

• Health Canada takes complaints related to the activities of licensed producers seriously and follows up on all allegations, as appropriate.

• Health Canada officials are aware of the situation and are working with the affected parties to recall any affected product while the company continues to investigate this issue.

• The Department will not hesitate to use the enforcement tools available under the Cannabis Act to ensure compliance.

IF PRESSED ON RECALL PROCESS

• Health Canada works closely with licence holders and provincial and territorial governments to coordinate the recall of products that have been sold in their jurisdiction.

• In an effort to ensure that Canadians are informed, Health Canada proactively publishes notices of all product recalls related to cannabis on Health Canada’s online recall database.

IF PRESSED ON THE PRODUCT QUALITY REQUIREMENTS

• The production of cannabis is subject to some of the most stringent requirements in the world. These requirements are designed to protect the health and safety of Canadians.

• Licence holders are required to meet strict quality standards in their facilities, including testing every product for contaminants, such as mould or unauthorized pesticides, before products can be released for sale to the public.

• These standards and other requirements, including through unannounced inspections, are rigorously enforced by Health Canada to monitor and verify compliance with the regulations.

• Ensuring efficient, timely and accurate communications with the public and amongst licence holders and government regulators is a priority for Health Canada. Health Canada proactively notifies provincial and territorial governments of a product recall when affected products have been sold or distributed in their jurisdiction. Health Canada also updates its recalls and safety alerts website.

• If a licence holder is suspected to be in contravention of federal regulations, the Cannabis Act contains a number of enforcement tools that may be considered in determining the appropriate actions to prevent or address non-compliance, based on a review of the situation and all relevant information, including the health or safety risk and the compliance history of the individual or corporation.

• These tools include measures ranging from compliance promotion and awareness, which are intended to educate and prevent non-compliance, up to measures intended to correct non-compliance or address a public health or safety risk, such as the issuance of a warning letter, suspension or cancellation of a federal licence or the issuance of a ministerial order or an administrative monetary penalty (up to $1 million).

• Since the Cannabis Act has been in force, fourteen licence holders have initiated recalls:
o RedeCan: voluntary recall between October and November 2018 due to the presence of mould, affecting 13,334 units sold.
o Up Cannabis: voluntary recall between November 2018 and January 2019 due to the presence of mould, affecting 1,428 units sold.
o Bonify: voluntary recalls in November 2018 due to the presence of microbial and chemical contaminants and December 2018 due to record keeping or a labelling error, affecting 52 units, and 5,883 units sold, respectively.
o CannTrust: two voluntary recalls in January 2019 due to labelling errors.
o Aurora: voluntary recalls in February 2019 and September 2019 due to labelling errors, affecting 2,180 units and 3,060 units sold, respectively.
o Tweed: voluntary recalls in May and March 2019 due to labelling errors, affecting 1,240 units and 13,575 units sold, respectively.
o Broken Coast Cannabis: voluntary recall in April 2019 due to labelling error, affecting 11 units sold.
o Blissco Holdings Ltd: voluntary recall in April 2019 due to labelling error, affecting 720 units sold.
o High Park Farms: voluntary recall in April 2019 due to labelling error, affecting 1,872 units sold.
o Zenabis: voluntary recall in June 2019 due to labelling error, affecting 204 units sold.
o Hexo: voluntary recall in September 2019 due to labelling error, affecting 16,818 units sold.
o Emblem: voluntary recall in September 2019 due to labelling error, affecting 484 units sold.
o Aphria: voluntary recall in October 2019 due to labelling error, affecting 1,478 units sold.

None