For immediate release

(OTTAWA, CANADA, September 23, 2013) Friends of the Earth Canada has filed a notice of objection to Health Canada’s decision under the Pest Control Products Act to renew conditional registration of a bee-toxic pesticide, clothianidin, despite lack of due diligence by the applicant companies.

Health Canada’s agency dealing with pesticides is recommending renewing use of clothianidin on potatoes, grape, pome fruits (like apples), stone fruits and turf even though the applicant chemical companies have not met conditions of their earlier registration.

Because the pesticide accumulates in pollen and nectar, the chemical companies were required back in 2009 to do a hive study to assess chronic toxicity to bees and a study of the behaviour of clothianidin in plants.

Friends of the Earth believes this research is even more important today than it was in 2009 given the dramatic die-off of Canada’s pollinators like honey bees.

“Canada’s Minister of Health should put protection of the environment and the safety of bees ahead of profits of chemical companies,” says Beatrice Olivastri, CEO, Friends of the Earth Canada. “Clothianidin should be off the market until proven safe to bees and other pollinators.”

Clothianidin is described by Health Canada as highly toxic to bees and mammals and moderately toxic to birds. It is already under increased scrutiny in its use with corn and soy bean crops in Canada where massive bee deaths have occurred. The European Union has put in place a two year ban on its use.

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Background information:

Health Canada, Registration Decision RD2013-14, Clutch 50 WDG, Arena 50 WDG and Clothianidin Insecticides, 23 July 2013 http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_decisions/rd2013-14/index-eng.php

Notice of Objection to a Registration Decision under Subsection 35(1) of the Pest Control Products Act, filed by Friends of the Earth Canada.

For more information, contact:
Beatrice Olivastri
Friends of the Earth Canada
Email: beatrice[at]foecanada.org
Tel: 613 241-0085 or 613 724-8690 (cell)

Friends of the Earth is the Canadian member of Friends of the Earth International, the world’s largest grassroots environmental network campaigning on today’s most urgent environmental and social issues.