Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has completed their re-evaluation of linuron herbicide. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada has cancelled registration of linuron for field corn, wheat, barley, oats and soybeans, in addition to several horticultural crops, as the health risks were deemed unacceptable.
Linuron is a selective systemic herbicide that was originally registered for the control of annual and perennial broadleaf and grassy weeds in several fruit, vegetable and field crops.
According to the PMRA, an evaluation of available scientific information found that some uses – carrots, parsnip, potato, asparagus, shelterbelts – of linuron products meet current standards for protection of human health and the environment when used according to revised conditions of registration, which include new mitigation measures.
Certain crops will have an extended phase-out schedule due to the significant challenges growers will face in managing weeds.
While the PMRA regularly reviews all registered pesticides, special reviews are undertaken when products are either prohibited by a country or there is reason to believe it poses health or environmental risks. This special review was initiated due to decisions by Norway and the European Union to prohibit all uses of linuron due to health and environmental concerns.
For the full breakdown of Health Canada’s decision and mitigation measures, visit the PMRA website.
