PMRA Re-evaluation Note, REV2016-06, Chlorothalonil, Amendment to the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision
Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has amended its Proposed Re-evaluation Decision for chlorothalonil PRVD2011-14 based on revised occupational and residential risk assessments with more information relevant to the potential effects of chlorothalonil on human health, particularly via dermal exposure.
Based on the revised risk assessments, the PMRA has determined that under the revised conditions of use, some agricultural uses of chlorothalonil do not present unacceptable risks to human health. These horticultural uses include asparagus, carrot, celery (seedbeds only), cucurbits, ginseng, mushroom, parsnip, potato, strawberry and tomato.
Based on the results of the risk assessments for postapplication workers and the general public, PMRA is proposing to cancel the following uses: blueberry (highbush), blueberry (lowbush), celery (field), cherry (sweet and sour), Cole crops, corn (sweet), cranberry, nectarine, onion (dry and green) and peach.
For agricultural scenarios considered for this re-evaluation, potential risks of concern were identified for postapplication workers performing activities, such as thinning, pruning and scouting of crops under current conditions of use. The following limitations on the number of applications per season and maximum use rates are proposed to mitigate risk for some continuing uses:
- Cucurbits – two applications, maximum application rate 2.4 kg a.i./ha
- Celery seedbeds – one application, maximum application rate 1.4 kg a.i./ha
- Tomato and ginseng – one application, maximum application rate 2.4 kg a.i./ha
- Potato – one application, maximum application rate 1.2 kg a.i./ha
The PMRA will accept comments and proposals for a period of 60-days from the date of publication of this document (February 11, 2016). As an immediate step, the CHC request a 60-day extension for comments, given the significance of this amended decision to horticulture. CHC will be working with members over the upcoming weeks to prepare a response to PMRA on this proposed decision.
https://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/consultations/_rev2016-06/index-eng.php