Canada bans endosulfan

Posted by jo on August 18, 2010

Canada has joined a growing list of sixty eight other countries, including the USA and New Zealand, that have announced a ban on the POP pesticide endosulfan.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) continues to support the registration of endosulfan and maintains the pesticide’s risks can be managed. Endosulfan is used on a wide range of crops in Australia including fruits, vegetables and macadamia nuts.

The Canadian decision was based on the findings from Preliminary Risk and Value Assessments which highlighted a concern for workers involved in many application scenarios including airblast, ground-boom, high-pressure hand-wand, bait application, root dipping Many of these application methods are also used in Australia. The Canadian assessment concluded the risk posed to non-target organisms like bees, birds, and fish and endosulfan’s persistence in the environment and potential for bioaccumulation, could not be managed.

The Canadian Environmental Justice Foundation have released a new report ‘The End of the Road for Endosulfan” which explains why a global endosulfan ban is urgently needed.

What you can do

Email Minister Tony Burke today and let him knowAustralia should ban endosulfan now Tony.Burke.MP@aph.gov.au

Phone Minister Tony Burke, the Minister responsible for the APVMA, at his electoral office on (02) 9553 3800 and tell him to ban endosulfan