Karen RyanNewfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment

Lynn SkillingsPest Management Regulatory Agency

Presentation Outline

Pesticide Regulatory Responsibilities

History of Urban Pesticide Issues

Action Plan on Urban Use Pesticides Healthy Lawns Strategy Access to Reduced Risk Products Product re-evaluations

Distribution of ResponsibilitiesFederal Pesticide registration

/re-evaluation Health, Environment,

Value Alternative strategies

Agricultural Urban

Provincial Transportation, Storage,

Disposal Training, Certification,

Licensing

Municipal Bylaws for further conditions

on use

History of Urban Pesticide Issues 1991: City of Hudson, Quebec – by-law banning pesticide use 1991–2000: public interest groups campaigning other

municipalities to enact by-laws 2000: 33 municipalities enacting or considering enacting

by-laws restricting access to pesticides 2000: Federal Parliamentary Committee recommends

legislative prohibition and phase out of cosmetic use pesticides 2001: Supreme Court of Canada – municipalities may invoke

by-laws affecting pesticides 2003: Province of Quebec enacts law restricting pesticide use 2003: City of Toronto

Action Plan on Urban Use Pesticides

Healthy Lawns Strategy

Registration of New Reduced Risk Products Expanding on PMRA/EPA Joint Review process

Product re-evaluation Priority re-evaluation of most common active

ingredients used in lawn and turf care

Healthy Lawns Strategy

To reduce reliance on pesticide use for lawn care through: The application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

principles Emphasis on pest prevention Application of pesticides only when necessary

Healthy Lawns Working Group

A working group under the Federal /Provincial/ Territorial Committee on Pest Management and Pesticides

Target Groups

Home ownersLawn and landscape service providersMunicipal parks managersGroundskeepers of school playing fieldsGolf course managersVendors of domestic class products

StakeholdersGolf course & parks managers, service providers

(lawn / landscape)Environmental & health non-governmental

organizationsPesticide manufacturersMunicipalities

Healthy Lawns Elements

Assessment of pesticide product types available to home owners

Improved pesticide product labelling

Harmonized classification of domestic pesticide products

Healthy Lawns Elements

Home owner education on healthy lawn practices

Enhancing knowledge requirements of Vendors Service providers

Healthy Lawns Website www.healthylawns.net

Product Types Available to Homeowners

Assess product types for compatibility with IPM principles and approaches

Sub-committee recommendations

Currently working to implement recommendations

Fungicide/Insecticide Formulation Recommendations:

Insect/plant pathogen linkages must be demonstrated

Convenience of use should not be a strong enough argument for this formulation type

Fertilizer/Herbicide and Broadcast Product Recommendations

Improve: Labelling and container size Mass advertising to consumer Product point of sale in stores

Educate consumers: IPM principles Differences between preventative versus curative measures Proper use of broadcast application

Ensure: Appropriate sizes for ready to use products Mixing devices give appropriate mixing of concentrate

Product Labelling

Easier for homeowners To better use labels for informed purchasing To find, understand and follow label information Understand and avoid health & environmental risks

Product LabellingLabelling subcommittee

Recommendations Mandatory child resistant containers How to read a label poster/pamphlet Review and simplification of label text Mandatory measuring device/system for concentrates Consumer Labelling Initiative – best practices Minimum font size

Harmonized Classification SystemMore consistent regulatory approach to the

management of domestic/commercial pesticide products

Establish a second tier of classification for more controlled use by the consumer

Could require sale at licensed vendor outlets with certified, trained staff

Home Owner Education

www.healthylawns.netDown-loadable Healthy Lawns Key MessagesCommunication Strategy

Pocket folders and strategic mail out Newspaper articles Seminars for nurseries and Big Box outlets – train the

trainer Weather Network info spots Partner with Environment Canada – mass media tool kit

Service Providers and Greenspace Managers Training

Enhance IPM training of landscape service providers

Enhanced Domestic(General Use) Vendor Training

Consistent with requirements from the classification exercise

Provincial programs to be updated to new standard

Questions?

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