Canada to approve insecticide d-Phenothrin

The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)is is granting full registration for the sale and use of Sumithrin Technical Grade (containing the active ingredient d-phenothrin) and eight domestic end-use products: four products containing d-phenothrin (Hartz UltraGuard Flea & Tick Treatment for Dogs and Puppies weighing either 2.5–6 kg, 6–14 kg, 14–28 kg, or greater than 28 kg) and four products containing a combination of the active ingredients s-methoprene and d-phenothrin (Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs and Puppies weighing either 2.5–6 kg, 6–14 kg, 14–28 kg, or greater than 28 kg). All eight end-use products are spot-on products used to kill fleas and ticks and reduce biting by mosquitoes.

d-Phenothrin is a pyrethroid that stimulates the nerves to keep the sodium channels of insects open beyond their normal timing thresholds, causing paralysis and eventually death of the pest.The combination active ingredient that is present in the Hartz UltraGuard Pro Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs and Puppies product line, s-methoprene, is an insect growth regulator that acts by mimicking the action of the juvenile hormone keeping the insect in an immature state which results in its eventual death.

The PMRA has opened the public comments until Oct 28, 2013.