Special Review Decision SRD2021-02, Special Review Decision: Linuron and Its Associated End-use Products

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
29 March 2021
ISSN: 2561-6269 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-17/2021-2E-PDF (PDF version)

Table of contents

• Special review decision
• Other information
• Appendix I Registered products containing Linuron
• Appendix II Summary of risk mitigation measures related to the aspects of concern

Special review decision

Pursuant to subsection 17(2) of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) initiated a special review of all registered pest control products containing linuron. This special review was based on the decision taken by Norway in 2007 to prohibit the use of linuron due to human health and environmental concerns, and the decision taken by the European Union (EU) in 2017 to prohibit the use of linuron due to human health and environmental concerns.

Health Canada evaluated the aspects of concern that prompted the special review in accordance with subsection 18(4) of the Pest Control Products Act. The proposed special review decision was published for consultation^{Footnote 1} in the Proposed Special Review Decision PSRD2020-05, Special Review for Linuron and Its Associated End-use Products. No comments were received during the consultation period.

Linuron is an herbicide registered for commercial use in Canada. Re-evaluation of linuron was completed in 2020 (Re-evaluation Decision RVD2020-10, Linuron and its associated end-use products), and continued registration is granted for uses on carrots, parsnip, potato, asparagus, and shelterbelts with additional risk mitigation measures. Currently registered pest control products containing linuron are listed in Appendix I.

Following an evaluation of the aspects of concern, Health Canada has determined that continued registration of products containing linuron is considered to be acceptable with the risk mitigation measures and label amendments outlined in RVD2020-10. A summary of the label amendments that are relevant for the special review are included for information in Appendix II. Therefore, Health Canada, under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, is confirming the current registration of pest control products containing linuron in Canada, with revised label directions as outlined in RVD2020-10. No additional risk mitigation measures are required.

All pest control products containing linuron that are registered in Canada are subject to this special review decision.

This document presents the final regulatory decision ^{Footnote 2} for the special review of linuron. A reference list of information used as the basis for the proposed special review decision is included in PSRD2020-05. Therefore, the complete reference list of all information used in this final special review decision includes the information set out in PSRD2020-05.

This document presents the final regulatory decision for the special review of linuron. A reference list of information used as the basis for the proposed special review decision is included in PSRD2020-05. Therefore, the complete reference list of all information used in this final special review decision includes the information set out in PSRD2020-05.

Other information

Any person may file a notice of objection ^{Footnote 3} regarding this decision on linuron within 60 days from the date of publication of this special review decision. For more information regarding the basis for objecting (which must be based on scientific grounds), please refer to the Pesticides section of the Canada.ca website (Request a Reconsideration of Decision) or contact the PMRA's Pest Management Information Service.

Appendix I Registered products containing linuron

Appendix II Summary of risk mitigation measures related to the aspects of concern

Uses not supported by manufacturers for re-evaluation and will be removed from all product labels:

• Field corn (post-emergence).
• Aerial and handheld applications.

Cancelled uses to be removed from all product labels:

• Tree fruit (apple, peach, pear, plum/prune, cherry), corn (field and sweet), wheat, barley, oats, soybean, celery, Saskatoon berries, chokecherries, dill, coriander, caraway, sweet white lupins, and pre-emergent combined with postharvest application to asparagus.
• Airblast and right-of way application equipment.

Human health

Risk mitigation:

To protect human health from exposure, the following risk-reduction measures are required for uses with continued registration (carrots, parsnip, potato, asparagus and shelterbelts):

• Revised maximum application rates
  • Limit pre-emergent and postemergent applications to carrots to a maximum annual application rate of 1.68 kg a.i./ha.
  • Limit pre-emergent and postemergent applications to parsnips to a maximum annual rate of 1.50 kg a.i./ha.
  • Limit pre-emergent application to potatoes to a maximum annual rate of 1.78 kg a.i/ha.
  • Limit pre-emergent or postemergent application to asparagus to a maximum annual application rate of 1.63 kg a.i./ha.
  • Limit dormant stage application to shelterbelts to a maximum annual application rate.of 2.16 kg a.i./ha.
• To protect consumers, increase the plant back interval restriction from 4 months to 12 months for carrots, potato, and parsnip.
• To protect mixers/loaders and applicators: increased personal protective equipment (PPE), addition of engineering controls (closed mixing loading and closed cab application), and restrictions on some types of application equipment.
• To protect postapplication workers: increased restricted-entry intervals (REIs) for all activities.
• To protect bystanders from spray drift: require a statement to promote best management practices to minimize human exposure from spray drift or spray residues resulting from drift.

Environment

Label improvements to meet current standards:

• Updated discharge of effluent statements.
• Updated storage statements.

Risk mitigation:

To protect the environment, the following risk-reduction measures are required for uses with continued registration (carrots, parsnip, potato, asparagus and shelterbelts):

• Standard label statements are required to minimize potential risks resulting from runoff.
• Standard hazard statements to inform users of the potential toxic effects to sensitive biota.
• Aerial application is prohibited.
• Buffer zones are required to mitigate risks from spray drift.

For details on label amendments, please refer to RVD2020-10.