PMRA Seeking Bensulide Use Information
Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency is currently conducting a cumulative health risk assessment of organophosphate pesticides.
A re-evaluation note for the cumulative health risk assessment of organophosphates, REV2024-02, Re-evaluation Note, Organophosphate Pesticides – Cumulative Health Risk Scoping Assessment, Problem Formulation and Planned Approach of Analysis is now published on Health Canada’s website at the following link:
PMRA is now seeking information related to the use of the active ingredient, bensulide. Bensulide is an emulsifiable liquid herbicide sold as Betasan and Prefar, the former for selective pre-emergence control of crabgrass and annual bluegrass and the latter registered for use on cucumbers.
To this end, the PMRA has contacted the registrant to confirm the uses summarized from the registered product labels and clarify any areas in which the use pattern is either not specified or unclear on product labels
The registrant of the technical grade active ingredient is responsible for providing use information to the PMRA; therefore, please be advised that the registrant may contact you for your assistance. The date by which the registrant must provide this information to PMRA is 22 October 2024.
The registrant is also asked to provide information that describes how these products are used, such as the typical application rates and percent (%) crop treated and to provide additional insights into the exposure of workers and bystanders. Such information is critical when further refinements are required in the risk assessment, for instance if exposure estimates are not found acceptable using maximum rates or maximum number of seasonal applications provided on the label.
The use pattern information for bensulide, as confirmed by the registrant, will become the basis for the risk assessments. In the absence of such information, the PMRA will use conservative scenarios and assumptions in the risk assessment (e.g., 100% crop treated, maximum possible rates, maximum number of applications per year).
As a user of these products, your input is valuable for the information gathering phase of the re-evaluation. Should you be contacted by the registrant, be prepared to offer use information, or conversely, you may contact the registrant directly to provide information for their submission.
