Re-evaluation Decision RVD2018-18, Zinc Oxide and Its Associated End-use Products (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses)

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
12 June 2018
ISSN: 1925-0886 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-9/2018-18E-PDF (PDF version)

(PDF Version - 176 KB)

Table of Contents

• Re-evaluation Decision
• Regulatory Decision for Zinc Oxide (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses)
• Risk Mitigation Measures
• Next Steps
• Other Information
• Appendix I - Registered Zinc Oxide Products (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses) in Canada
• Appendix II - Label Amendments for Products Containing Zinc Oxide (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses)

Re-evaluation Decision

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

Zinc oxide possesses antimicrobial properties and it is registered for use in domestic class swimming pool and spa products. Zinc oxide is co-formulated with trichloro-s-triazinetrione, which releases free chlorine when in contact with water. Currently registered products containing zinc oxide for swimming pool and spa uses are listed in Appendix I.

This document presents the final regulatory decision^Footnote 1 for the swimming pool and spa uses of zinc oxide, including the required risk mitigation measures to protect human health and the environment. All pest control products containing zinc oxide for swimming pool and spa uses that are registered in Canada are subject to this re-evaluation decision. This re-evaluation decision has undergone a 90-day consultation period as the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2017-17, Zinc Oxide and Its Associated End-use Products (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses)^Footnote 2. The use of zinc oxide as a wood preservative was previously re-evaluated (RVD2011-06) and is not considered in this re-evaluation decision.

No comments were received during the consultation period. Therefore, this decision is consistent with the proposed re-evaluation decision stated in PRVD2017-17, which lists all data used as the basis for the re-evaluation decision.

Regulatory Decision for Zinc Oxide (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses)

The PMRA has completed the re-evaluation for zinc oxide. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, the PMRA is granting continued registration of products containing zinc oxide for swimming pool and spa uses for sale and use in Canada. An evaluation of available scientific information found that uses of zinc oxide products for swimming pool and spa uses do not present unacceptable risks to human health or the environment when used according to the conditions of registration, including amended label directions. Label amendments, as summarized below and listed in Appendix II, are required for all end-use products. No additional data are requested at this time.

Risk Mitigation Measures

Registered pesticide product labels include specific direction for use. Directions include risk mitigation measures to protect human health and the environment and must be followed by law.

The following label amendments are included as part of the re-evaluation.

• Storage label statements
• Disposal label statements
• Environmental label statements

Next Steps

To comply with this decision, the required mitigation measures must be implemented on all products labels sold by registrants no later than 24 months after the publication date of this decision document. Appendix I lists the products containing zinc oxide for swimming pool and spa uses that are registered under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act.

Other Information

Any person may file a notice of objection^Footnote 3 regarding this decision on zinc oxide within 60 days from the date of publication of this Re-evaluation Decision. For more information regarding the basis for objecting (which must be based on scientific grounds), please refer to the Pesticides and Pest Management portion of Canada.ca (Request a Reconsideration of Decision) or contact the PMRA's Pest Management Information Service.

Appendix I - Registered Zinc Oxide Products (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses) in Canada

Appendix II - Label Amendments for Products Containing Zinc Oxide (Swimming Pool and Spa Uses)

The label amendments presented below do not include all label requirements for individual end-use products, such as first aid statements, disposal statements, precautionary statements and supplementary protective equipment. Information on labels of currently registered products should not be removed unless it contradicts the label statements provided below.

The following label statements are required:

• I) The following statements must be included in a section entitled STORAGE:
  

  "To prevent contamination store this product away from food or feed."

• II) The following statements must be included in a section entitled DISPOSAL:
  

  "DO NOT reuse the empty containers. Dispose in household garbage. Unused or partially used products should be disposed at provincially or municipally designated hazardous waste disposal sites."

• III) The following statements must be included in a section entitled DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
  "DO NOT contaminate irrigation or drinking water supplies or aquatic habitats by cleaning of equipment or disposal of wastes."