About Face - PMRA Changes Their Mind About Imidacloprid
In November, 2016, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency announced their proposed re-evaluation decision (PVRD) for Imidacloprid, the active ingredient in Merit®, an insecticide registered for control of European chafer, Japaneese beetle, Black Turfgrass Ataenuis and European crane fly larvae on turf.
The evaluation determined that under current conditions of use, the environmental risks for most products containing imidacloprid did not meet current safety standards. Therefore, the PMRA proposed to cancel the following uses:
Products used by commercial applicators and growers for:
• trees (except when applied as a tree trunk injection)
• greenhouse uses
• outdoor agricultural uses (including ornamentals)
• commercial seed treatment uses
• turf (such as lawns, golf courses, and sod farms
Products used at home for:
• lawns
Fast forward to today, May 31, 2018 and the revised re-evaluation proposal looks a lot different. Cancellation of the above-mentioned uses have been taken off the table however risk mitigation measures are proposed to further protect pollinators.
Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2018-12, Imidacloprid and its Associated End-use Products: Pollinator Re-evaluation states, "Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act and based on the evaluation of currently available scientific information related to pollinators, products containing imidacloprid are being proposed for continued registration in Canada, and risk mitigation measures are required to be in place to further protect pollinators."
The consultation is open for further comment for 90 days from publication of this newly proposed re-evaluation decision which works out to August 29th but you need to request a full copy of the document at the following link before being allowed to comment.