Question Period Note: NEONICOTINOID PESTICIDES

• On May 19, 2021, Health Canada released the final re-evaluation decision for the neonicotinoid pesticide, imidacloprid. This followed the recent special review decisions related to aquatic organisms for two neonicotinoid pesticides, clothianidin and thiamethoxam, released by Health Canada on March 31, 2021. Previously, Health Canada had consulted publicly on a proposal to cancel all outdoor uses of these pesticides.
• Over 47,000 comments were received, as well as a substantial amount of new information, including new studies and water monitoring data. In order to protect the environment, in this final decision, Health Canada cancelled some uses of imidacloprid, and introduced additional mitigation measures and restrictions on some of the uses that remain registered, which is consistent with the recent Special Review decisions for clothianidin and thiamethoxam.

KEY MESSAGES

• Our Government takes pesticide safety very seriously, and believes strongly in making evidence-based scientific decisions.
• Health Canada reviewed more than 47,000 comments, as well as a substantial amount of new information, including new studies and water monitoring data that were received on the environmental risks of neonicotinoids.
• In order to protect the environment, Health Canada cancelled some uses of neonicotinoids, and introduced additional mitigation measures and restrictions on some of the uses that remain registered. Health Canada will continue to monitor the situation and take action if necessary.
IF PRESSED ON WHETHER HEALTH CANADA – WHO IN 2018 PROPOSED TO CANCEL ALL USES – IS TAKING A SOFTER STANCE DUE TO PRESSURE FROM THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR:

• Health Canada has concluded that a complete ban on neonicotinoid pesticides is not warranted.
• As part of the public consultation on its decisions, Health Canada received more than 47,000 comments from the public, pesticide registrants, non-governmental organizations and provinces. As well, a significant amount of new water monitoring data and scientific studies and papers from various sources such as registrants, provinces, academia and other regulatory authorities were reviewed.
• The Department considered these new scientific papers, data and comments to make sound, science-based, final decisions regarding the risks to the environment from the use of these neonicotinoid insecticides in Canada.

NEONICS AND AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT

• On November 23, 2016, Health Canada proposed to phase out all agricultural uses of imidacloprid due to unacceptable aquatic risk. This proposed decision led to a special review on the aquatic risks of two other neonicotinoid pesticides, clothianidin and thiamethoxam. At the time, concerns were identified by Health Canada from available scientific information that these two pesticides were frequently being detected in aquatic environments in Canada at concentrations that could pose a risk to aquatic insects.

• Health Canada consulted on proposed special review decisions on risks to aquatic insects for clothianidin and thiamethoxam in the fall of 2018. This review proposed the cancellation of all outdoor uses based on risks to the aquatic environment, similar to the previous consultation on imidacloprid. Health Canada then reviewed the more than 47,000 comments that were received via the consultation, as well as a substantial amount of new information, including new studies and water monitoring data from various sources such as registrants, provinces, academia and other regulatory authorities. Approximately 65% of the water monitoring information considered in the special reviews was new since the publication of the proposed decisions.

• The final special review decisions related to aquatic insects for clothianidin and thiamethoxam, and the general re-evaluation decision for imidacloprid, originally targeted for fall 2020, were delayed until March 31, 2021 and May 19, 2021 respectively, due to the unprecedented volume of information received during consultation and the challenges of COVID-19.

• In order to protect the environment, Health Canada cancelled some uses of clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid, and introduced additional mitigation measures and restrictions on some of the uses that remain registered.
NEONICS AND BEES

• On April 11, 2019, Health Canada published the final pollinator re-evaluation decisions for the neonicotinoid pesticides clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. The implementation timelines outlined in the thiamethoxam decision were challenged by several organizations in proceedings against the Minister of Health. The Federal Court dismissed the application in December of 2019.

• The Proposed Special Review Decision PSRD2021-02 on the potential environmental risk related to squash bee exposure to clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid used on cucurbits, was published on June 29, 2021. These proposed special review decisions were published for a 45-day public consultation. Scientific assessments have shown that when these neonicotinoids are used on cucurbits, the risks are considered acceptable when applied according to the mitigation measures described in the 2019 pollinator re-evaluation decisions of these pesticides, which have already been implemented.

NEONICS AND HUMAN HEALTH

• Based on data reviewed for the general re-evaluation decision for imidacloprid, the assessment did not identify human health concerns. This included additional data received following publication of the proposed decision, along with consideration of the proposed interim decision on neonics by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).

• All available information will be considered in Health Canada’s ongoing cyclical re-evaluations of clothianidin and thiamethoxam. Health Canada is expecting to publish the proposed cyclical re-evaluation decisions of clothianidin and thiamethoxam in spring 2022.

OTHER JURISDICTIONS

• The US EPA expressed similar concerns regarding aquatic insects in their preliminary ecological risk assessments of the neonicotinoids in 2017. The EPA published a proposed interim decision for acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam on January 30, 2020. It contains new measures to reduce potential ecological risks, particularly to pollinators, and to protect public health. A final decision from the US EPA is expected later in 2021.

• The European Union voted to prohibit all agricultural uses of neonicotinoids except in greenhouses. This measure came into effect on December 19, 2018. This decision was driven by unacceptable risks to bees and other pollinators. Emergency use is permitted in some European countries.

• Health Canada cannot speak to the decision-making process in other countries with regards to neonicotinoids. Each country takes into account its own legislative requirements, policies, and scientific analysis before making a decision. In Canada, pesticides are allowed on the market only after a full scientific analysis is completed based on Canadian use, and the risks are found to be acceptable as per the requirements of the Pest Control Products Act.

KEY FACTS

• Health Canada received over 47,000 comments in a public consultation on a proposal to cancel all outdoor uses of neonicotinoid pesticides.