Spray Advisory

Cheers & Jeers - The Telegram (Pesticides)

2012-05-07T04:25:00.002-07:00

May 7, 2012

Cheers & Jeers

Jeers: to buyer beware. Here’s a little something to keep in mind if you go looking for lawn pesticides. While you might find some of the newly banned pesticides on shelves in local stores, you could be fined if you buy them and use them — at least, that’s what the environment minister seemed to be saying in the House of Assembly last week. NDP MHA George Murphy asked Environment Minister Terry French about the fact that Murphy had seen several banned pesticides on store shelves: “Mr. Speaker, in July of 2011, this government instituted a ban on five pesticides used for cosmetic purposes. Such chemicals as 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba were supposed to be removed off store shelves before the next growing season. In spite of the weather, we are there. Mr. Speaker, any product that contained any of these five chemicals was also supposed to fall under this ban. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I went chemical shopping and found these pesticides still on the store shelves.” The minister’s response? “They are banned. They are not allowed to be used as of May 1 this year. I just want to remind the honourable Member, he seems to have bought them recently. I hope they were not on the black market, Mr. Speaker. I also hope he does not use them, because if he uses them, he will be facing a significant fine.” So, all you gardeners out there, mind your Ps and Qs and 2,4-Ds.

http://www.thetelegram.com/Opinion/Editorial/2012-05-07/article-2972314/Cheers-%26amp-Jeers/1

Critics fear new pesticide ban isn't working

2012-05-05T17:21:00.000-07:00

Questions are being raised about the effectiveness of Newfoundland and Labrador's new ban on some pesticides.

The regulations went into effect on May 1, but provincial NDP environment critic George Murphy said he found banned products in stores on Friday.

“You know we have to see some action on this,” said Murphy. “If the government is going to do something, then go ahead and do it ...get to the job that's supposed to be done here, get these products off the shelves,” he told CBC News.

Under the new rules, five cosmetic pesticides are banned. Critics have said the list should be much longer....READ MORE

A legal perspective on Cosmetic Pesticides

2012-04-12T06:28:00.000-07:00

Andrew Gage, Staff Lawyer at West Coast Environmental Law, was invited to present to the Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides. Andrew's presentation covers what is considered "acceptable risk" by Health Canada, and the implications of possible policy changes regarding the use of cosmetic pesticides in B.C.