Two environmental activist groups are forcing the federal
government to undertake reviews of 29 active ingredients marketed in more than
380 pesticides.
The review includes 2,4-D which went through a lengthy and
thorough review that ended last July with Health Canada’s Pest Management
Regulatory Agency declaring it safe for continued use as directed on product
labels.
Among others on the list are Atrazine, Boomoxynil,
Linuron, Carbaryl, Dichlorvos, chlorthal-dimethyl, trifluralin and
trichlorfon.
The reviews
were forced when Equiterre and the David Suzuki Foundation filed legal action,
saying Canadian officials need to undertake a review whenever a major
government bans a pesticide.
In this case, the review is of pesticides banned by
Europe.
The reviews will, no doubt, keep government officials preoccupied with issues they have already dealt with and rob them of time and resources to review applications for new, safer and more effective pesticides.
Lawyer Laura Tessoro, who represented the environmental
groups, said the lawsuit will remain on the books to ensure Ottawa follows
through on the reviews.
"The health of
Canadians should be the government's top priority and that's why these reviews
are so important," said Sidney Ribaux, executive director at Equiterre.
"If these pesticides are not proven to be safe, we must find
alternatives."
"The Government must now show that
it clearly intends to protect its citizens and the environment from harmful
pesticides," said Mara Kerry, David Suzuki Foundation science and policy
director.
"Other countries have banned these
pesticides because they are extremely toxic and degrade the environment, so why
is Canada still allowing their use?"
