Consultation on Silica Aerogel and Silicon Dioxide and Its Associated End-use Products, Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2022-12

Health Canada is consulting Canadians on the proposal to continue registration of products containing silicon dioxide and silica aerogel registered for sale and use in Canada.

Silicon dioxide and its amorphous form, silica aerogel are non-conventional and non-selective insecticides, acaricides and molluscicides. These active ingredients have a physical mode of action that kill arthropod and terrestrial mollusc pests. Silicon dioxide and silica aerogel are used both inside and outside of structures, for commercial greenhouse uses on tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, indoor plants and cannabis, as well as domestic uses including points of entries, general outdoor and garden areas, home structures, animal burrows, and indoors where insects crawl and hide, such as, furniture, mattresses, and sleeping quarters for pets.

Silicon dioxide and silica aerogel are found naturally in soil with a low potential for resistance. Due to its low toxicity profile and its history of use as a food/feed additive, dietary risk to silicon dioxide and silica aerogel is not anticipated. There is potential for occupational, residential, and bystander exposure from registered commercial and residential uses. Label statements, including updates to personal protection equipment and restricted-entry intervals, as well as clarifying label use directions and precautionary statements, are being proposed to further mitigate potential human health risks. To support the label update process, registrants are required to provide detailed use information.

The potential environmental risk is considered acceptable when products containing silicon dioxide and silica aerogel are used according to the current label directions.

For a full list of products containing silicon dioxide and silica aerogel, 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 June 16, 2022 to September 14, 2022 (90 calendar days).

To comment on PRVD2022-12:

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: PRVD2022-12, Silica Aerogel and Silicon Dioxide and Its 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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