Consultation on the predacide uses of strychnine and sodium monofluoroacetate and their associated end-use products, Proposed Re‑evaluation Decision PRVD2022-18

Health Canada is consulting Canadians on the proposal to continue registration of the predacide uses of strychnine and sodium monofluoroacetate and all associated end-use products registered for sale and use in Canada, provided new risk mitigation measures are put in place.

Strychnine is a toxicant registered as a restricted class end-use product used to kill predators and skunks in Alberta. It is applied as tablets in meat baits (for example, pieces of animal meat or fish or animal carcasses) to kill wolves, coyotes or bears in order to prevent predation of wildlife populations (for example, woodland caribou populations) threatened with extirpation or those wildlife populations that are economically or ecologically important and to prevent human-predator conflicts (in other words, predation of domestic animals such as livestock and attacks on humans). Only authorized employees of Alberta Environment and Parks, Fish and Wildlife Division are permitted to sell, store, handle or use the tablet product. Strychnine is also applied as a solution injected into eggs used as baits to kill skunks in rabies control programs. This solution product is restricted for storage, handling and use to employees of Alberta Agriculture and Food or municipal employees, authorized under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act, provided that such designated or authorized persons are trained and certified.

Sodium monofluoroacetate (also known as Compound 1080) is a toxicant registered as a restricted class end-use product used to kill coyotes and wolves in Alberta. It is used to either protect domestic animals (for example, livestock) or wildlife species at risk from predation, when there is a threat to human safety and/or other problems posed by these predators. Sodium monofluoroacetate is applied as a solution in neck collars worn by livestock prey (goat or sheep) or as tablets in meat baits (for example, chicken heads or animal carcasses). Only persons authorized under the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act and by designated Fish and Wildlife Officers of the Government of Alberta are permitted to store, handle or use these products.

With respect to human health, occupational risks were shown to be acceptable when strychnine and sodium monofluoroacetate are used according to the conditions of registration, which includes proposed new mitigation measures, such as revised disposal statements and revisions to personal protective equipment requirements for all products. As there are no feed or food uses for strychnine and sodium monofluoroacetate, no dietary exposure through food or drinking water is expected. As such, the dietary and aggregate risks from the currently registered uses are acceptable.

The environmental risk assessment found that there is a risk of death to individual non-target animals who are exposed to strychnine or sodium monofluoroacetate; however, population level effects are not expected given the limited use of these products. The risks to the environment were shown to be acceptable at the population level when strychnine and sodium monofluoroacetate are used according to the conditions of registration, which includes proposed new mitigation measures, such as improved label use directions, updated reporting requirements and a requirement for a registrant-implemented product stewardship program.

For a full list of products containing strychnine or sodium monofluoroacetate used as predacides, please consult Appendix I in the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision or visit the Pesticide Label Search database.

For more information on the proposed decision open the "Proposed Re-evaluation Decision".

How to get involved

This consultation is open for comment from 31 August 2022 to 29 November 2022 (90 calendar days).

To comment on PRVD2022-18:

• Step 1 Request the full consultation document to read the Science Evaluation that is the basis of this proposed regulatory decision.
• Step 2 Submit comments to the PMRA Publications Section.

All comments received will be considered. A final re-evaluation decision will consider additional scientific information provided during the public comment period.

Please refer to the document title (for example: PRVD2022-18, Predacide Uses of Strychnine and Sodium Monofluoroacetate and their Associated End-use Products) when providing comments.

Reporting to Canadians

Health Canada will make the results of this consultation available on this website. Once the decision is finalized, the PMRA will post a Re-evaluation Decision on the Pesticides and Pest Management Reports and Publications portion of Canada.ca.

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

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