Changes to the registration of linuron pesticides

Organization: Health Canada

Date published: November 2023

ISBN: 978-0-660-67678-4

All pesticides used in Canada must be registered under the Pest Control Products Act. Pesticides are re-evaluated to ensure that they continue to meet health and environmental requirements. Re-evaluation may result in the revocation of a product or product uses. Health Canada may also request changes to a product's label, including risk mitigation measures, use sites and application methods.

Linuron is an herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds and grassweeds in many crops. The key elements of the re-evaluation decision for the active ingredient linuron, published on November 5, 2020, are summarized below.

Label changes for linuron pesticides, as of November 5, 2022

Cancelled uses

Stop use on the following crops:

• Tree fruits (apple, peach, pear, plum/prune, cherry)
• Field corn
• Sweet corn
• Wheat
• Oat
• Barley
• Soybean
• Saskatoon berries

Stop the following applications:

• Aerial
• With handheld sprayer
• With airblast sprayer
• With right-of way application equipment

Stop pre-emergent application combined with post-harvest application to asparagus

Cancelled uses delayed to November 5, 2024 for the following crops:

• Chokecherries
• Dill
• Coriander
• Caraway
• Celery
• Sweet white lupins

Interim risk reduction measures

• Limitation to the maximum application rates
• Extension of restricted-entry intervals (REI)
• Addition of environmental risk mitigation measures

Other risk reduction measures

• Modification of the maximum annual application rates
• Plant-back interval restriction of 12 months for carrots, potatoes and parsnips
• Additions to the required personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Use of a closed system for mixing and loading
• Application in a closed cab equipped with an adequate air filter preventing any contact between the occupant and the pesticides
• Extended restricted-entry intervals (REI)
• Added statements for spray drift prevention
• Added environmental risk reduction statements

Users must follow the instructions on the updated labels.

Using a pesticide contrary with the label directions is a violation of the Pest Control Products Act.

Read the label

All pesticides registered in Canada have a Health Canada-approved label with a registration number. Read the pesticide label carefully, as it contains specific information on how to use it.

To find the most up-to-date label, use our online label search tool or search for "Health Canada pesticide labels" using your favourite search engine.