Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) discontinues linuron for field corn, wheat, barley, oats, and soybeans

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has completed their re-evaluation of linuron herbicide. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada has cancelled registration of linuron for field corn, wheat, barley, oats and soybeans, in addition to several horticultural crops, as the health risks were deemed unacceptable. Linuron is a selective systemic herbicide that was originally registered for the control of annual and perennial broadleaf and grassy weeds in several fruit, vegetable and field crops. According to the PMRA, an evaluation of available scientific information found that some uses – carrots, parsnip, potato, asparagus, shelterbelts – of linuron products meet current standards for protection of human health and the environment when used according to revised conditions of registration, which include new mitigation measures. Certain crops will have an extended phase-out schedule due to the significant challenges growers will face in ...