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CRMP was initially established in 1976 under its former name, the Marine Analytical Chemistry Standards Program (MACSP). The program's name was changed to CRMP in 1996. The original objective was to develop methodology and produce reference materials and standards for analysis of environmental trace elements and organic compounds. CRMP at IMB began producing shellfish toxin standards in response to the domoic acid incident that occurred in Canada in 1987. Domoic acid was identified as the causative agent of amnesic shellfish poisoning in Eastern Canada. CRMP produced the world's first certified standard for domoic acid in 1989. Since then, the program has expanded to include calibration solution CRMs and shellfish tissue CRMs for a variety of toxins of marine algal origin, including those responsible for amnesic (ASP), diarrhetic (DSP), paralytic (PSP) and azaspiracid (AZA) shellfish poisoning. CRMP also expanded its product line to include CRMs for toxins produced by freshwater cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) and the first freshwater CRM for cylindrospermopsin was released in 2006.
The environmental CRMs were successfully sold and distributed world wide until March 2008. The CRMs were discontinued as a result of a change in research focus towards biotoxins and other bioactive compounds. Environmental research is no longer conducted at IMB and there is no mandate or resources to effectively support the environmental CRMs
