SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE SHOULD BE BENCHMARK IN PESTICIDE BAN DISCUSSION
Toronto, ON -- January 15, 2008 - Canada's plant science industry says scientific evidence needs to be the foundation for discussion as Ontario moves forward with regulations regarding the use of pest control products in lawn and garden care pest control products.
“We understand that various organizations - and individual Ontarians - have questions and concerns about the responsible use of pest control products to maintain properties, and we look forward to taking part in those discussions,” said Peter MacLeod, Vice President, CropLife Canada.
“However, it's important that the well-established scientific standards used by Health Canada and other regulatory agencies around the world on these matters be the benchmarks for discussion about possible changes to rules governing the use of pest control products.”
Federally, Health Canada scientists are responsible for evaluating all pest control products and deciding if they meet the stringent health and safety requirements before they can be sold or used. Health Canada's rigorous assessment process is based on conclusive scientific evidence compiled here in Canada and by other regulatory agencies around the world, including U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and European Commission.
In Ontario, the Pesticides Act and Regulations provide the regulatory framework for pesticide management to protect human health and the environment, including the sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal of pesticides. The Ministry of Environment provides direction on the responsible use of pesticides and encourages and promotes reduced reliance on pesticides through integrated pest management practices.
“We look forward to contributing to the dialogue that the Government of Ontario is initiating, and we call on Health Canada to join this discussion and to help answer questions regarding how these products are tested, evaluated, and registered for use,” MacLeod said.
CropLife Canada is the trade association representing the developers, manufacturers and distributors of plant science innovations - pest control products and plant biotechnology - for use in agriculture, urban and public health settings. CropLife Canada stands for safety and innovation supported by a foundation of continuous research and a strong commitment to stewardship.
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To set up an interview with Peter MacLeod, Vice President, CropLife Canada, please contact:
Kristina Fixter
Director, Communications
CropLife Canada
fixterk@croplife.ca
(416) 622-9771, ext 224
www.croplife.ca
BACKGROUNDER : A Rigorous Regulatory Framework
- Pesticides are one of the most intensely researched and tested chemicals in Canada and are federally regulated under a comprehensive system through Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).
- All pest control products used in or imported to Canada are regulated federally under Health Canada's Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and Regulations.
- The Ontario Ministry of Environment also regulates the sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal of federally registered pesticides in Ontario under the Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 914. The Ministry provides direction on the responsible use of pesticides and encourages and promotes reduced reliance on pesticides through integrated pest management practices.
- The Ontario Pesticide Advisory Committee (OPAC) was established under the Pesticides Act and is responsible to advise the Minister of the Environment on matters related to pesticides. A recent OPAC report concluded that the best approach to turf grass management is Integrated Pesticide Management.
- Already, every pest control product must undergo extensive testing including any possible effects on humans and the environment.
- Furthermore, protection for children and susceptible populations are part of the assessment, as scientists and regulators apply additional margins of safety to protect these populations.
- All federal studies also take into account the aggregate exposure of pesticides. This includes the combined exposure from all sources including occupational, food, water and residential.
- Only products that pose no unacceptable risks to health and the environment are registered by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
- The entire development process for any given active ingredient consists of up to 160 different tests and studies - including diseases such as cancer. On average, only one in 100,000 active ingredients makes it from discovery in a laboratory through to full registration.
- The Act also requires that pesticides, registered before 1995, be re-evaluated against the new regulatory science at least every 15 years and immediately if new scientific information becomes available.
- No lawn and garden pesticide used in Canada has ever been classified as cancer-causing.
- The PMRA recently conducted an extensive review of one of the most widely-used active ingredients in weed controls, known as 2,4-D. The review looked at all potential health impacts including special considerations for children and pregnant women, and concluded that Canadians can continue to use products containing it as long as instructions are properly followed. The review also found no evidence to support allegations that it can cause cancer.
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