Consultation on Metaldehyde and Its Associated End-use Products, Proposed Special Review Decision PSRD2020-02

Health Canada is consulting Canadians over the next 45 days on its proposed special review decision for metaldehyde. Metaldehyde is a mulluscicide used to control snails and slugs in a wide variety of use areas, including agricultural crops and home gardens, such as fruit and vegetable crops, and greenhouse and outdoor ornamentals. Metaldehyde is formulated as granular or liquid bait form and is applied by band treatment for commercial class products or by hand spray or dispersal for domestic class products to soil surfaces.

This special review was conducted to assess potential acute risk to birds and mammals from applying metaldehyde. Evaluation of available information related to the aspect of concern indicates that the potential risk to birds and wild mammals are considered to be acceptable under current conditions of use. However, for consistency between product labels, label amendments are proposed to be included on product labels.

A complete list of currently registered products containing metaldehyde can be found in Appendix I of the consultation document or in the Pesticide Label Search results.

For more information on the assessment and proposed label amendments open the "Proposed Special Review Decision".

How to Get Involved

This consultation is open for comment from 20 July 2020 to 3 September 2020 (45 calendar days).

To comment on PSRD2020-02:

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: PSRD2020-02, Metaldehyde 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 Special Review 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.

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