Current status: Open
Opened on 14 November 2024 and will close for consultation on 28 January 2025
Health Canada is consulting the public and seeking your feedback on proposed maximum residue limit (MRL) increases for the postemergent foliar uses of flonicamid on Bok choy Chinese cabbages, watercress, leaf lettuce, dried peppermint leaves and dried spearmint leaves; and setting new MRLs on herbs fresh leaves (crop subgroup 25A), herbs dried leaves (crop subgroup 25B), sweet corn (crop subgroup 15-21D), maca, turnip greens, and bushberries (crop subgroup 13-07B).
An MRL is the highest amount of a specific pesticide residue allowed on a particular food when a pesticide is used according to label directions.
The proposed MRL increases for flonicamid are being requested as a result of new data for greenhouse-grown mustard greens (for the MRLs on Bok choy Chinese cabbages and watercress); new data on greenhouse-grown leaf lettuce; new field trial data on field-grown basil and re-assessed field trial data on field-grown mint (for dried peppermint leaves and dried spearmint leaves).
The proposed new MRLs for flonicamid are being requested as a result of re-assessed field trial data for mustard greens (for the MRLs on maca and turnip greens) for which uses were previously registered; new field trial data on basil and re-assessed field trial data on mint (for herbs fresh leaves (crop subgroup 25A), herbs dried leaves (crop subgroup 25B)); new field trial data on highbush blueberries (for the MRL on bushberries (crop subgroup 13-07B)); and new field trial data on sweet corn (for sweet corn (crop subgroup 15-21D)).
These proposed MRL changes allow these treated foods, or any processed foods derived from them, to be grown and sold in Canada. These MRL changes also apply to these foods being imported into Canada.
Flonicamid
Flonicamid is an insecticide currently registered for use in Canada on non-grass animal feeds, mint, hops, flax, and various field-grown and greenhouse-grown fruit and vegetable commodities.
Flonicamid was first registered in Canada in 2010.
What is the proposed MRL decision
This consultation is on the proposed decision to accept the requests to
Increasethe MRLs for flonicamid from 16 parts per million (ppm) to 50 ppm on Bok choy Chinese cabbages and watercress;
Increasethe MRLs for flonicamid from 7.0 ppm to 40 ppm on dried peppermint leaves and dried spearmint leaves.
Increasethe MRL for flonicamid from 4.0 ppm to 8.0 ppm on leaf lettuce.
Add new MRLs for flonicamid on herbs fresh leaves (crop subgroup 25A), herbs dried leaves (crop subgroup 25B), sweet corn (crop subgroup 15-21D), maca, turnip greens, and bushberries (crop subgroup 13-07B).
Health Canada conducted scientific evaluations to determine the potential impact on human health of the new flonicamid uses. The scientific evaluations show that the proposed new and revised MRLs for flonicamid would continue to meet Health Canada’s requirements for the protection of human health.
How to get involved
This consultation comment period is open for comment from 14 November 2024 to 28 January 2025 (75 calendar days).
To comment on PMRL2024-24:
Step 1: Open “View the proposed MRL decision” below to access the document.
Step 2: Submit comments to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency Publications Section on or before yy Month 202X.
Please be sure to include the title of the consultation document on which you are commenting.
Health Canada will consider all comments received up to 75 days from the date of publication of this document (by 28 January 2025) before making a final decision on the proposed MRLs for flonicamid.
View the proposed MRL decision
Related information
Improving how we communicate about MRLs
Maximum residue limits, human health, and food safety
Reporting to the people of Canada
Health Canada will make the results of this consultation available on this website. Once the decision on flonicamid is finalized, the established MRLs will be legally in effect as of the date that they are entered into the MRL database. The MRL database is an online application that allows users to search for established MRLs, regulated under the Pest Control Products Act, for pesticides and foods.
If you have any questions, contact the Pest Management Information Service.
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