Consultations on the Neonicotinoid Pesticides - Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam: Proposed Pollinator Decisions 

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
19 December 2017

On this page:

• Consultations on pollinator re-evaluations
• Consultations on registration status – clothianidin and thiamethoxam
• Associated links
• How to comment
• Next Steps and reporting to Canadians

Consultations on pollinator re-evaluations

Clothianidin and Thiamethoxam are neonicotinoid pesticides used by agricultural workers and licensed applicators to protect crops, crop seeds and grass from insects. Both can be applied to the ground, to leaves (foliar), and to seeds.

In response to concerns about the effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on bees and other pollinators, Health Canada is conducting three separate pollinator risk assessments^{Footnote 1} on this class of pesticides, which includes imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin.

Health Canada is now consulting Canadians on proposed re-evaluation decisions for clothianidin and thiamethoxam based on the risk assessments. The consultation documents describe:

• How risks to insect pollinators were identified and evaluated
• Which uses of clothianidin and thiamethoxam do not pose risks to pollinators and are proposed to continue
• What use changes are proposed after being found to pose risks to pollinators

Search for a list of products containing clothianidin and list of products containing thiamethoxam in the pesticide label search database.

To further protect pollinators, Health Canada is proposing the following changes to the way clothianidin can be used:

• Phase-out of foliar application to orchard trees and strawberries
• Phase-out of foliar application to municipal, industrial and residential turf sites
• Reduction of pre-bloom application from 2 to 1 for cucurbit (cucumbers, squash etc.) vegetables
• Additional protective label instructions for cereal crop uses

To further protect pollinators, Health Canada is proposing the following changes to the way thiamethoxam can be used:

• Phase-out of foliar and soil applications to ornamental crops that will result in pollinator exposure
• Phase-out of soil application to berry crops, cucurbit crops and fruiting vegetables
• Phase-out of foliar application to orchard trees
• Foliar application to legumes, outdoor fruiting vegetables, and berry crops would no longer be permitted before or during bloom

Read more on the proposed re-evaluation decisions:

• PRVD2017-23: Proposed Re-evaluation Decision on Clothianidin and Its Associated End-use Products: Pollinator Re-evaluation
• PRVD2017-24: Proposed Re-evaluation Decision on Thiamethoxam and Its Associated End-use Products: Pollinator Re-evaluation

Consultations on the registration status – clothianidin and thiamethoxam

Additional information for the registration of 26 products containing clothianidin and thiamethoxam was required. This information has been received and reviewed under applications to fulfill the conditions of registration. The assessments conducted for the pollinator re-evaluation included a review of the information that was submitted to satisfy the outstanding conditions of registration. In order to co-ordinate ongoing regulatory activities associated with these products, Health Canada is proposing that these products be granted a three-year registration. The risk-reduction measures proposed in these registrations mirror the risk-reduction measures proposed under the re-evaluation while recognizing the other on-going regulatory activities associated with these products.

Read more on the proposed registration decisions:

• PRD2017-17: Proposed Registration Decision on Clothianidin
• PRD2017-18: Proposed Registration Decision on Thiamethoxam

Associated links

The December 2017 Update on Neonicotinoid Pesticides provides a progress report on PMRA's ongoing assessments of these insecticides.

The assessments of clothianidin and thiamethoxam were announced in 2012 (Re-evaluation Note REV2012-02, Re-evaluation of Neonicotinoid Insecticides).

A Re-evaluation Note (REV2017-03, Re-evaluation of Neonicotinoid Insecticides: Update on Pollinator Risk Assessments) was published in January 2017 which provided an update on these assessments.

How to comment

These consultations are open for comment from 19 December 2017 to 19 March 2018 (90 calendar days).

To comment on PRVD2017-23, PRVD2017-24, PRD2017-17, or PRD2017-18:

Step 1  Request the full consultation document for PRVD2017-23, PRVD2017-24, PRD2017-17, or PRD2017-18 to read the Science Evaluation that is the basis of the proposed regulatory decision.

Step 2  Submit comments to the PMRA Publications Section.

All comments received will be considered. Stakeholders may wish to provide information on the feasibility of these proposed changes, as well as potential impacts on pest management practices.

Please refer to the document title when providing comments.

Next steps and reporting to Canadians

A webinar covering the technical aspects of the proposed pollinator decisions will be held January 2018. Date and registration information will be posted in the next few weeks. 

Once the decisions are finalized, the PMRA will post Re-evaluation Decisions and Registration Decisions on the Pesticides and Pest Management Reports and Publications portion of Canada.ca.

Final decisions are expected to be published in late 2018.

If you have any questions, contact the Pest Management Information Service.

Interested in our other consultations? Sign up and stay informed about topics that matter to you.