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[compost_tea] pesticide restriction/banning



From SANET
 
What does this mean to tea makers/users in Canada? Good things, I would suspect?
 
Cheers,
 
Jeff
===========================================
P A N U P S
Pesticide Action Network Updates Service
===========================================
Québec Adopts Strict Pesticide Regulations

March 24, 2003

On March 5, Québec's Environment Minister announced the province's
adoption of a landmark Pesticide Management Code, which strictly
regulates the storage, sales and use of pesticides in Québec. Among
the pesticides banned for non-agricultural uses is the controversial
herbicide, 2,4-D. When the Code was first proposed in July 2002,
industry representatives warned that, if adopted, Québec would be
sued under NAFTA's Chapter 11.

"Through this regulation, Québec becomes the first place in North
America to ban the most dangerous pesticides for health and the
environment. The action undertaken today by the Québec government
will reduce people's exposure to these products which are
particularly noxious to children's health," declared the Minister.

The Code states that, effective immediately, synthetic pesticides are
prohibited in all daycare facilities and schools and the use of
cosmetic pesticides is banned on all public land; by 2005, the ban
will extend to all private green spaces, with fines ranging from
CAN$500-$30,000. The ban covers 23 pesticide active ingredients
that--according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
and/or World Health Organization (WHO)--are known or possible
carcinogens or endocrine disruptors, including lindane, malathion,
MCPA, permethrin, benomyl, captan and 2,4-D.

In addition to the ban, the Code also increases buffer zones around
open water, outlaws application of mixtures of pesticides and
fertilizers, requires sale and use permits for pesticide applicators,
requires golf courses to present pesticide use reduction plans, and
provides a list of less-toxic and organic pest control products.

Beyond the new provincial rules, Montreal--a city of nearly 2
million--is considering even stricter rules on pesticide use on
public and private lands. Several dozen other municipalities across
Québec have already legislated bans on cosmetic use of pesticides.
Environmentalists in Québec are very encouraged by the progress at
both municipal and provincial levels.

"There is no doubt that this trend will pave the way for other
Provinces and the rest of the world to follow. Tourism in Québec
should become an attractive and safe proposition!" stated Rohini
Peris, Communications Director of the Coalition for Alternatives to
Pesticides (CAP).

The Code is also welcomed by environmentalists outside of Québec. "A
landmark policy of one government increases credibility everywhere
else," stated David Chatfield, Executive Director of Californians for
Pesticide Reform. "There's no question that Québec's regulations will
help our Healthy Schools Campaign here in California."

The Montreal Gazette reported that a lawsuit was threatened the day
after the Code was presented. Donald Page, Executive Director of the
Industry Task Force II on 2,4-D Research, funded by the four North
American manufacturers of the weedkiller 2,4-D--Dow AgroSciences,
BASF, Nufarm Inc. and Agro-Gor S.A.--said the industry would sue
under Chapter 11 of NAFTA if Québec insisted on adopting the ban.
Québec's Environment Minister seemed to take it in stride, "I am not
surprised to hear that kind of reaction," the Minister said on July
6, 2002. "If there is a parallel, it is with what happened with the
tobacco producers the day the government decided to adopt restrictive
legislation."

Later, when asked to comment on the passing of the Québec ban, a Task
Force spokesman insisted that Page was misquoted by The Montreal
Gazette, and had no further comment.

CAP and other local health activist groups are calling for support
from the national and international communities. "We must make sure
that the proponents of this legislation get the credit that they
deserve for standing up for public health and standing against the
threat of a NAFTA lawsuit," said Peris.

If you would like to send a letter of support to government officials
in Québec and Montreal, visit:
http://www.panna.org/resources/documents/QuebecLetter2.dv.html

Québec's Pesticide Management Code is available in French at
http://www.menv.gouv.qc.ca/index-en.htm. English or French copies can
be ordered at (800) 463-2100.

Sources: Environment Québec Press Release, March 5, 2003; Industry
Task Force on 2,4-D Research II, personal correspondence; The
Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides News Release, March 10,
2003; "Boisclair stands firm: U.S. Industry Lobby Won't Change Québec
Pesticide Ban" July 6, 2002, The Montreal Gazette.

Contacts: Michel Gaudet or Rohini Peris, Coalition for Alternatives
to Pesticides (CAP), C.P. 434, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Québec J3V
5G8, Canada; phone (514) 683-5701; fax (450) 441-2138; email
caponline@videotron.ca; Web site http://www.cap-quebec.com/.

PANUPS is a weekly email news service providing resource guides and
reporting on pesticide issues that don't always get coverage by the
mainstream media. It's produced by Pesticide Action Network North
America, a non-profit and non-governmental organization working to
advance sustainable alternatives to pesticides worldwide.

You can join our efforts! We gladly accept donations for our work and
all contributions are tax deductible in the United States. Visit
http://www.panna.org/donate.

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