Environment groups are calling out Canada's approach to assessing pesticides after seven years of reviews led Health Canada to simultaneously decide to allow certain popular products to keep being used with restrictions, and to propose banning the same products from outdoor uses altogether.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency on Thursday released its final decision on what limits should be placed on a category of nicotine-based pesticides known as neonicotinoids to keep them from killing bees. Starting in two years, the pesticides won't be allowed to be sprayed at all on certain crops like apples and tree nuts and there will be limited times when they can be sprayed on many others, like tomatoes, eggplants and berries.
However, this decision, which won't begin to take effect until 2021, will likely be overridden in less than a year when the agency finalizes a separate assessment of the exact same products for their impact on aquatic insects. The agency found in 2016 that the most popular of the neonicotinoids was building up in ground and surface water and recommended banning it outright.
Lisa Gue, a senior researcher at the David Suzuki Foundation, said it is "disturbing" that the agency is continuing to allow neonicotinoids at all given that the agency's scientists have concluded they cause unacceptable harm to any kinds of insects.Beatrice Olivastri, the executive director of Friends of the Earth Canada, said the agency's fragmented approach to reviewing the products is "nonsensical.
Neonicotinoids are used by farmers and hobby gardeners alike to manage pests like aphids and spider mites. Scientists blame the chemicals for weakening bees, making them more susceptible to disease and bad weather.The European Union banned neonicotinoids at the end of last year after scientists concluded there was no safe way to use them without hurting bees.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vancouver Weather: Rainy and a cool 13 CEnvironment Canada says up to 10 millimetres of rain will fall on the region Friday.
Read more »
Vancouver Weather: Rainy and windy, with risk of a thunderstormEnvironment Canada says the wet weather should dry up Sunday afternoon.
Read more »
Health Canada to review Vancouver evidence about medical device complicationsMaterial meant to help catheters slide through blood vessels can break off and travel throughout the body, potentially killing patients.
Read more »
Public Health Agency of Canada says salmonella outbreak in 6 provinces, 63 sickHealth officials are investigating an outbreak of salmonella in six provinces that has sickened 63 people, including 18 who have been hospitalized.
Read more »
Public Health Agency of Canada says salmonella outbreak in 6 provinces, 63 sickHealth officials are investigating an outbreak of salmonella in six provinces that has sickened 63 people, including 18 who have been hospitalized.
Read more »
Feds plan to limit uses of ‘neonic’ pesticides to try and protect beesThe recommendations could be moot in less than a year, however, if the same agency upholds an existing decision to ban most uses of the same products to protect other types of insects
Read more »
Feds give $12M to help Loblaw make refrigerators, freezers more energy-efficientConservative environment critic Ed Fast slammed the federal government Tuesday for giving $12 million to help Loblaws stores make their refrigerators and freezers more energy-efficient.
Read more »
Feds want Supreme Court to weigh in on 15-day cap on prisoner isolationThe federal government is warning that a 15-day cap on inmate segregation could be dangerous.
Read more »