Pesticide rules still to be determined

Letter to the editor - Editor:

Regarding the recent law passed on lawn-care pesticides: although this legislation is now final, it is mostly the regulations for it (still to come from the Environment minister) that will determine the strength of these 'rules'.

Islanders concerned about weaknesses should contact Minister Richard Brown right away (and keep objecting publicly) before those regulations are put into law.

For example, as the regulations are now formulated, all 'ready-to-use' products (except 'weed-and-feeds' and 2,4-D) would still be in retail stores for anyone to use, and lawn-care companies could use everything (except 'weed-and-feeds' and 2,4-D) including granular and concentrated preparations, as long as they notify government officials.

There is a list of 240 restricted pesticides, but those are only banned from retail sale, and many very toxic pesticides are not on that list. What would make more sense would be to ban all cosmetic pesticides except the established lists of less-toxic pesticides that are acceptable in organic agriculture (some of those might also be considered too toxic for cosmetic uses and also banned).

If a lawn-care company wants to use stronger pesticides, it should first try less toxic pest removal methods, then submit its case that this has failed and the pest is a serious problem, and wait for special permission from officials.

P.E.I. needs strong regulations to protect people and nature from unnecessary toxic cosmetic pesticides. Lawn-care companies and retailers will do better business with organic products, farming is not affected by these regulations, and government enforcement needs should be minimal.

Homeowners have plenty of safe alternatives for lawn care (see www.sierraclub.ca/atlantic/programs/healthycommunities/pesticides/factsheets.htm). The only losers are corporations who choose to keep selling toxic products. That should hardly be a concern for our P.E.I. government.

Islanders want health put ahead of corporate profits, and Minister Brown is expected to show leadership on this.

Tony Reddin,

Bonshaw,

P.E.I. for the executive committee of the Atlantic Canada chapter,

Sierra Club Canada