Canada oks BASF’s herbicide imazapyr in special review

The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has proposed to confirm the current registration of BASF’s herbicide imazapyr for sale and use in Canada with the proposed label amendments.

 

The use of imazapyr in Norway was banned in 2001 due to environmental concerns. The Norwegian assessment concluded that imazapyr was mobile and persistent in soil, and may reach groundwater in concentrations above the Norwegian limit of 0.1 µg/L for pesticide in groundwater. Based on the review of the Norwegian decision, the PMRA prompted the special review of imazapyr as the potential for imazapyr to leach to groundwater in December 2013.  

 

Based on risk assessment of imazapyr, the PMRA concludes that there are no chronic risks of concern from groundwater under the current conditions of use, and therefore, no additional risk mitigation measures are required. However, advisory environmental hazard statements to reduce the potential leaching of imazapyr to groundwater are proposed for all imazapyr containing products. 

 

Imazapyr is a herbicide, first registered in Canada in 1994. Imazapyr is currently registered for use in Canada for the control of annual and perennial grasses, broadleaf weeds and select perennial shrubs and trees on non-crop, non-graze areas. It is also registered for the control of grassy and broadleaf weeds. 

 

The PMRA will open the public comment until October 27th.