Pesticide and Environmental Update
Canada
ends "weed-n-feed" Products
Health Canada, the Canadian
agency in charge of pesticide regulation, made a bold move this week,
announcing the phaseout of all pesticide and fertilizer combination products
by December 2012. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) said that the
decision comes because "fertilizer-pesticide combination products for
lawn and turf uses do not support the goals of best practices for pest
management in turf." While more than half of Canada has already banned
weed-n-feed type products, this is the first significant federal action on
the issue. To avoid conflicts with the pesticide industry, the PMRA's
decision focuses on turf care practices, rather than environmental or health
concerns about pesticides. It does, however, articulate important principles
on pesticide use, stating that: "Pesticides should only be used when
and where there is a need." It also cautions against broadcast
application of pesticides and advocates for well-timed spot treatment
instead. In the U.S., the most common herbicide found in pesticide and
fertilizer combination products is dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, or 2,4-D.
According to the LA Times, Americans apply approximately 27 million pounds
of the chemical to their lawns and parks each year. Paul Tukey of the
SafeLawns Foundation writes, "What a great step in the right direction.
The vast majority of lawn and garden pesticides are applied in combination
with fertilizers; this action will significantly reduce the amount of
contamination to the environment."
|
