The petition is a follow-up to petitions 473, 473B, 473C, 473D, and 473E about permethrin insecticides. It raises concerns over Health Canada’s changes to the Dragnet FT pesticide label, which replaced the prohibition on applying the insecticide to or allowing it to drift to crops or weeds where bees are actively foraging with an unenforceable caution to avoid application when bees are foraging. According to the petition, these label changes may result in unequal protection for bees in residential areas compared with agricultural settings, where stronger restrictions apply to flowering crops. The petition asks why certain words on the pesticide’s label were changed and whether Health Canada is continuing to enforce the protection of bees outside of agricultural production.
The petition raises concerns about the potential effects of mosquito treatments on birds and other beneficial species. The petition suggests that when there is a loss in natural mosquito predators, it may be possible for pesticide-resistant mosquitoes to rebound. The petition raises concerns about pesticide drift onto neighbouring properties, including exposure risks for people, pets, and food gardens. The petition questions whether current rules adequately protect neighbours during pesticide applications.
The petition suggests that greater transparency is needed. The petition refers to the lack of health hazard information provided to customers and asks why this information is not more prominently reflected on the Dragnet FT label provided to the public. The petition recommends that mosquito control companies provide customers with the full product label so they can make informed decisions about pesticide use.