Toxicity Test Methods

The Regulations Amending the Tobacco Reporting Regulations require manufacturers and importers to perform annual toxicity testing on cigarette brands manufactured in or imported for sale into Canada. More specifically, manufacturers and importers are required to perform the following three toxicity tests and to submit the results of these tests to the Department of Health on an annual basis, with the first report due no later than January 31, 2006.

For copies of these methods please write to TRR_RRRT@hc-sc.gc.ca or call 1-866-318-1116:

1. Health Canada Official Method T-501, Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay for Mainstream Tobacco Smoke
   
   This document sets out how to test the total particulate matter (TPM) from mainstream tobacco smoke in the Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay (Ames Assay) with the pre-incubation method.

2. Health Canada Official Method T-502, Neutral Red Uptake Assay for Mainstream Tobacco Smoke
   
   Applicable to the assessment of the cytotoxic potential of cigarette smoke. The method includes the preparation of Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells for assay, treatment with different fractions of cigarette smoke, uptake of neutral red dye by untreated and treated CHO cells and analysis of results.

3. Health Canada Official Method T-503, In Vitro Micronucleus Assay for Mainstream Tobacco Smoke
   
   This document sets out how to test the total particulate matter from mainstream tobacco smoke on Chinese Hamster Ovary cells using the in vitro Micronucleus Assay.