Recall of Cannabis for Medical Purposes - Mettrum Ltd.

Starting date:

November 2, 2016

Posting date:

February 7, 2017

Type of communication:

Drug Recall

Subcategory:

Drugs

Hazard classification:

Type III

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Undeclared Substance

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-62102

• Reason
• Affected products
• Media enquiries

Introduction

On November 2, 2016, Mettrum Ltd., a licensed producer of cannabis for medical purposes located in Ontario, began a voluntary recall of three hundred lots of product under a Type III recall. The products recalled include one hundred and fifteen lots of dried marijuana and cannabis oil that were sold between September 30, 2014 and October 21, 2016 that were found to contain pyrethins. Additional testing also resulted in the recall of one hundred and eighty-five lots of products produced between January 1, 2016 and November 17, 2016 due to the presence of myclobutanil.  For more information on the affected lots, please contact Mettrum Ltd.

Reason

During a Health Canada inspection in October 2016 at the Mettrum Ltd. site, it was observed that cannabis plants were treated with a product that contained an undeclared pesticide ingredient, pyrethrins, which is  not authorized for use on cannabis plants. As a result, on November 2, 2016, Mettrum Ltd. initiated a voluntary Type III recall for products that were sold between September 30, 2014 and October 21, 2016.

A Type III recall refers to a situation in which the use of, or exposure to, a product is not likely to cause any adverse health consequences.

On December 5, 2016, January 7 and January 28, 2017, Mettrum Ltd. expanded the voluntary recall to include products sold between January 1, 2016 and November 17, 2016, following subsequent testing that identified lots containing low levels of myclobutanil.

Pyrethrins and myclobutanil are not found in the thirteen pesticides that are authorized for use on cannabis plants under the Pest Control Products Act. These two ingredients are found in pest control products that are approved for use in food production.  All tested lots contained low levels of myclobutanil or pyrethins that did not exceed any of the levels permitted in food production for these two pesticides.

Health Canada has received 10 adverse reaction reports related to Mettrum Ltd.’s products sold during the period covered by the recall.

Health Canada recommends that any individual affected by the recall immediately stop using the recalled product and to contact Mettrum Ltd. at the following number 1-844-638-8786.

Affected products

Media enquiries

Health Canada
(613) 957-2983