Canada’s regulatory authority re-evaluates Bacillus sphaericus Strain 2362 and its associated end-use products

Date:10-26-2023

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, all registered pesticides must be regularly re-evaluated by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to ensure that they continue to meet health and environmental standards and continue to have value. The re-evaluation considers information from various sources such as data and information from pesticide manufacturers and other regulatory agencies, as well as comments received during public consultations. Health Canada applies internationally accepted risk assessment methods as well as risk management approaches and policies.

Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 is a microbial insecticide registered for control of mosquito larvae in various aquatic habitats. In Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362, insecticidal activity is attributed to two distinct toxin types: the mosquitocidal toxin (Mtx) and the binary toxin (Btx). Btx is produced during sporulation and contributes to the primary toxic activity of commercial insecticidal strains after ingestion by mosquito larvae. Mtx exhibits lower insecticidal activity. As production batches of B. sphaericus strain 2362 are produced in a manner to permit sporulation and formation of Btx, little Mtx is expected to remain and additional processing into the end-use products further inactivates the toxin.

End-use products are classified as Restricted Class and formulated as granules, wettable granules, or granules packaged in water soluble pouches. These products are applied to catch basins, water bodies and to waste tires. Depending on the site of application, these products are applied by hand or using ground or aerial application equipment. Currently registered products containing Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 can be found in the Pesticide Product Information Database and in Appendix I.

The Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2022-13 Bacillus sphaericus Strain 2362 and Its Associated End-use Products containing the evaluation of Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 underwent a 90-day consultation period ending on 3 October 2022. PRVD2022-13 proposed continued registration of Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 for sale and use in Canada, with label updates to meet current labelling standards (Appendix II of RVD2023-16).

No comments were received during the consultation period. Therefore, this decision is consistent with the proposed re-evaluation decision stated in PRVD2022-13, which lists all information used as the basis for the re-evaluation decision.

This document (RVD2023-16, Bacillus sphaericus Strain 2362 and Its Associated End-use Products) presents the final re-evaluation decision for the re-evaluation of Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362, including the label amendments required to meet the current labelling standards. All products containing Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 that are registered in Canada are subject to this re-evaluation decision.

Re-evaluation decision for Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362

Health Canada has completed the re-evaluation of Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada has determined that continued registration of products containing Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 is acceptable with the label updates (Appendix II of RVD2023-16). Following a scientific review of the available information, Health Canada has determined that the health and environmental risks and the value of Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 continue to be acceptable provided that the required mitigation measures are implemented. Label amendments, as summarized below and listed in Appendix II of RVD2023-16, are required.

Risk mitigation measures

Registered pesticide product labels include specific directions for use. Directions include risk mitigation measures to protect human health and the environment and must be followed by law. The required updated label statements, as a result of the re-evaluation of Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362, are summarized below. Refer to Appendix II of RVD2023-16 for details.

Label improvements to meet current standards:

• Update the taxonomic designation of the microbial pest control agent (MPCA) to Lysinibacillus sphaericus 2362, serotype H5a5, strain ABTS 1743 followed by this statement: "Formerly known as Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362".

• Update potency units to Bacillus sphaericus toxic units (BsTUs)/mg.

• Indicate product type (Biological Insecticide) and that the products contain a live organism on the principal panels of the labels. Include date of manufacture and phone number of Canadian contact on principal panels.

• Update warning statement on primary principal panel and Notice to User statement for all products.

• Add drift statement for products with aerial and ground applications.

• Update personal protection equipment (PPE) for Vectolex CG.

• Clarify application rate and include aerial application directions for Vectolex WDG.

• Add handling instructions and update the water-soluble packaging (WSP) statement on Vectolex WSP label.

Next steps

To comply with this decision, the required label amendments must be implemented on all product labels no later than 24 months after the publication date of this decision document. Accordingly, both registrants and retailers will have up to 24 months from the date of this decision document to transition to selling the product with the newly amended labels. Similarly, users will also have the same 24-month period from the date of this decision document to transition to using the newly amended labels, which will be available on the Public Registry.

Refer to Appendix I for details on specific products impacted by this decision.

Appendix I Registered products containing Bacillus sphaericus strain 2362 in Canada