Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2022-20, Nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth and Neodiprion abietis Nucleopolyhedrovirus, and Their Associated End-use Products

• Pest Management Regulatory Agency
• 26 October 2022
• ISSN: 1925-0967 (PDF version)
• Catalogue number: H113-27/2022-20E-PDF (PDF version)

Table of contents

• Proposed re-evaluation decision
• Next steps
• Other information
• Additional scientific information

Proposed re-evaluation decision

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

This document (Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2022-20, Nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-Fir Tussock Moth and Neodiprion abietis Nucleopolyhedrovirus, and Their Associated End-use Products) presents the proposed regulatory decision for the re-evaluation of nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth and Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus, including any proposed amendments (risk mitigation measures) to protect human health and the environment, as well as the science evaluation on which the proposed decision is based.

Nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth and Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus are naturally occurring baculoviruses, registered in Canada for use as microbial pest control agents. Nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth is used for the control of Douglas-fir tussock moth and the suppression of white marked tussock moth on forest trees, in woodlands, along rights-of-way, in tree nurseries, in seed orchards, and in areas that are less than half a hectare with high-value trees or ornamental trees. Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus is used for the management of balsam fir sawfly larvae (Neodiprion abietis) in forestry sites and on field-grown conifers, including Christmas trees. Currently registered products containing nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth and Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus are listed in Appendix I of PRVD2022-20.

Registered pesticide product labels include specific directions for use. Directions include risk mitigation measures to protect human health and the environment that must be followed by law. When the current label directions are followed, these products were shown to have value in providing a pest management solution, and potential risks to human health (occupational and bystander) and the environment are considered to be acceptable. As a result of the re-evaluation of nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth and Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus, label updates are proposed to meet the current labelling standards (Appendices II, III of PRVD2022-20). Proposed label amendments include updates to personal protective equipment, first aid, spray drift, and disposal label statements, and the addition of a re-entry interval.

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act and based on an evaluation of currently available scientific information, products containing nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth and Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus (Appendix I of PRVD2022-20) are being proposed for continued registration in Canada with the proposed updates to label directions (Appendices II, III of PRVD2022-20).

All products containing nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth and Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus registered in Canada are subject to this proposed re-evaluation decision. This document (PRVD2022-20) is subject to a public consultation,^{Footnote 1} during which written comments and additional information may be submitted to PMRA Publications. The final re-evaluation decision will be published taking into consideration the comments and information received during the consultation period.

Next steps

The public, including the registrant and stakeholders, are encouraged to submit written comments and additional information during the 90-day public consultation period upon publication of this proposed re-evaluation decision.

All comments received during the 90-day public consultation period will be taken into consideration in preparation of the re-evaluation decision document,^{Footnote 2} which could result in revised risk mitigation measures. The re-evaluation decision document will include the final re-evaluation decision, the reasons for it and a summary of comments received on the proposed re-evaluation decision with Health Canada's responses.

Other information

When Health Canada makes its re-evaluation decision, it will publish a Re-evaluation Decision on nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth and Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus (based on the Science Evaluation of PRVD2022-20). In addition, the test data referenced in PRVD2022-20 will be available for public inspection, upon application, in the PMRA's Reading Room.

Additional scientific information

Additional scientific data are not required at this time.