Export Packers Co. Ltd. on Monday announced it obtained exclusive rights in Canada to supply seafood under the Safe Harbor mercury-testing program.
Implemented due to concerns over mercury in seafood and a lack of industry-wide testing, Export Packers can now provide the Canadian seafood industry with product tested to ensure that its mercury levels are significantly below the food-safety standards set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
"When it comes to screening for mercury levels in fish under current government standards, a very small percentage of fish is tested," said Dan LeBlanc, president of Export Packers in Brampton, Ontario. "Without more wide-spread testing, there is little assurance that any particular fish has actually been tested and would meet current government standards. This partnership makes Export Packers the first Canadian seafood importer to be able to verify quickly and accurately that maximum mercury concentration levels as specified by CFIA for each species are not exceeded."
Safe Harbor was developed by Micro Analytical Systems of San Rafael, Calif. In 2005, MASI unveiled mercury-testing equipment for seafood processors that provides results in usually less than a minute.
February 14, 2010
