Proposed Maximum Residue Limit PMRL2021-09, Dichlobenil

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
23 March 2021
ISSN: 1925-0843 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-24/2021-9E-PDF (PDF version)

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has concluded that the addition of a new use on currants to the product label of Casoron G-4 Granular Herbicide, containing technical grade dichlobenil, is acceptable. The specific use approved in Canada is detailed on the label of Casoron G-4 Granular Herbicide, Pest Control Products Act Registration Number 12533.

The evaluation of this dichlobenil application indicated that the end-use product has value and the human health and environmental risks associated with the new use are acceptable.

Before registering a pesticide for food use in Canada, the PMRA must determine the quantity of residues that are likely to remain in or on the food when the pesticide is used according to label directions and that such residues will not be a concern to human health. This quantity is then legally established as a maximum residue limit (MRL). An MRL applies to the identified raw agricultural food commodity as well as to any processed food product that contains it, except where separate MRLs are specified for the raw agricultural commodity and a processed product made from it.

Consultation on the proposed MRL for dichlobenil is being conducted via this document (see Next steps). A summary of the field trial data used to support the proposed MRL can be found in Appendix I.

To comply with Canada's international trade obligations, consultation on the proposed MRL is also being conducted internationally by notifying the World Trade Organization, as coordinated by the Canada's Notification Authority and Enquiry Point.

The proposed MRL, to be added to the MRLs already established for dichlobenil, is as follows.

MRLs established in Canada may be found using the Maximum Residue Limit Database on the Maximum Residue Limits for Pesticides webpage. The database allows users to search for established MRLs, regulated under the Pest Control Products Act, both for pesticides or for food commodities.

International situation and trade implications

MRLs may vary from one country to another for a number of reasons, including differences in pesticide use patterns and the locations of the crop field trials used to generate residue chemistry data.

Table 2 compares the MRL proposed for dichlobenil in Canada with the corresponding American tolerance and Codex MRL.^{Footnote 1} American tolerances are listed inthe Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR Part 180, by pesticide. A listing of established Codex MRLs is available on the Codex Alimentarius Pesticide Index webpage, by pesticide or commodity.

Next Steps

The PMRA invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed MRL for dichlobenil up to 75 days from the date of publication of this document. Please forward your comments to Publications. The PMRA will consider all comments received before making a final decision on the proposed MRL. Comments received will be addressed in a separate document linked to this PMRL. The established MRL will be legally in effect as of the date that it is entered into the Maximum Residue Limit Database.

Appendix I

Summary of field trial data used to support the proposed maximum residue limit

Previously reviewed residue data from field trials conducted in/on blueberries were reassessed in the framework of this petition.

Maximum Residue Limit

The recommendation for the maximum residue limit (MRL) for dichlobenil was based upon field trial data on file. Table A1 summarizes the residue data used to calculate the proposed MRL for currants.

Based on the above residue data, a MRL of 0.5 ppm was established for highbush and lowbush blueberries.  As highbush blueberry is the representative crop for crop subgroup 13-07B of which currants is a member, the established MRL of 0.5 ppm for blueberries was extended to currants. Following the review of all available data, the MRL as proposed in Table 1 is recommended to cover residues of dichlobenil. Residues of dichlobenil in this crop commodity at the proposed MRL will not pose an unacceptable risk to any segment of the population, including infants, children, adults and seniors.