Re: ‘Pesticide bylaw fails to launch,’ Jan. 13.
It’s understandable that there was confusion among Rossland city councillors regarding the proposed pesticide bylaw. How could there not be, when the proposal would prevent people from using safe and effective tools, approved by Health Canada, to protect their personal property from insect, weed and disease infestations?
Before any pesticide can be sold in Canada it must undergo a rigorous scientific review and risk assessment by Health Canada. In addition to a comprehensive set of over 200 tests, Health Canada also reviews all additional scientifically credible studies that exist.
Through this process pesticides receive a greater breadth of scrutiny than any other regulated product and only those products that meet Health Canada’s strict health and safety standards are registered for sale and use.
The fact of the matter is that taking Health Canada approved tools away from residents has no basis in science and in fact stands to do more harm than good by being the thin edge of a wedge that leads to bans on other uses where the repercussions are more threatening to our overall health and well-being by denying people access to safe living conditions and an abundant supply of healthy food.
Pesticides help control threats to human health (such as rats and mosquitoes), they protect private and public properties from insect, weed and disease infestations and they help ensure that Canadians have a safe and affordable supply of food thereby contributing to healthier communities and greater well-being and prosperity.
Canada’s plant science industry welcomes questions about our products and looks forward to future opportunities to set the record straight about the safety of our products and our industry’s commitment to people, public health and the environment.
Lorne Hepworth
President, CropLife Canada
(representing the plant science industry)
Ottawa