Licensed medical marijuana producers will now have to submit their pot for random testing by Health Canada.
Earlier, two growers were found to be using banned pesticides; this exercise is aimed at ensuring that unauthorized pesticides are not used to grow the plant.
The two licensed growers were discovered using products containing low levels of pyrethrins, bifenazate and myclobutanil. The Pest Control Products Act and the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations has prohibited these products.
Colorado, Oregon and Washington have issued bans on these products.
Licensed producers are supposed to stick to the list of 13 approved pesticides for use on medical cannabis and the random inspections are meant to ensure this happens.
According to the agency, producers found using unauthorized pesticides will face corrective action and they will be required to recall their products.
The affected producers were based in Toronto and Moncton, N.B.
Myclobutanil emits hydrogen cyanide when burned and hence it is prohibited from use on combustible plants like tobacco and marijuana. However, the fungicide is still allowed on certain crops that are not burned when consumed.
Canada has approved Bifenazate in for use on apples, grapes and greenhouse vegetables only.
Pyrethins are only permitted for use in pesticide mixes on organic food.
“The Department will be providing additional compliance education and information to licensed producers,” Health Canada said in a statement on Wednesday.
The agency says it is committed to “continuously improving on safety practices even though existing programs demonstrate effectiveness in identifying issues of non-compliance.”
The 38 licensed producers across the nation have already been receiving unannounced inspections from Health Canada.