Testing and approval process for pesticides used on food and food crops

Petition: 364

Issue(s): Agriculture, human/environmental health, pesticides, toxic substances

Petitioner(s): Canadian organization

Petitioner Location(s): Truro, Nova Scotia

Date Received: 20 May 2014

Status: Completed—Response(s) to petition received

Summary: In 2011 and 2013, the petitioner provided comments to Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) regarding the use of a fungicide called chlorothalonil. In particular, the petitioner was concerned that the PMRA’s evaluation failed to adequately consider the combined effects of biologically disruptive pesticides that the petitioner believes may be contributing to cancer in humans. According to the petition, the results of the public consultation were not publicized. The petition focuses on the PMRA’s testing and approval process for potentially carcinogenic chemicals to be used as pesticides on food and food crops. Specifically, the petitioner asks the PMRA to provide information on chemicals that are known to be potentially carcinogenic and to state which foods can be expected to contain these chemicals. The petitioner also asks the PMRA to identify the mechanisms of carcinogenicity of these chemicals, the extent to which it has considered the cumulative effects these chemicals may have on common mechanisms of carcinogenicity, and the ways in which vulnerable populations are being protected from exposure to these chemicals. In addition, the petitioner asks why chlorothalonil can be registered and approved for use on foods and food crops, given that it contains hexachlorobenzene—a persistent, bio-accumulative, toxic substance that has been banned globally under the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

Federal Departments Responsible for Reply: Health Canada