Re-evaluation Decision RVD2022-10, Kaolin and Its Associated End-use Product

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
30 June 2022
ISSN: 1925-1025 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-28/2022-10E-PDF (PDF version)

Summary

Table of contents

• Re-evaluation decision for kaolin and associated end-use product
• Regulatory decision for kaolin and its associated end-use product
• Risk mitigation measures
• Next steps
• Other information
• Appendix I - Registered products containing kaolin in Canada as of 13 April 2022

Re-evaluation decision for kaolin and associated end-use product

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 health and environmental safety standards and continue to have value. The re-evaluation considers information from various sources such as data and information from pesticide manufacturers and other regulatory agencies, as well as comments received during public consultations. Health Canada applies internationally accepted risk assessment methods as well as risk management approaches and policies.

Kaolin is a naturally occurring clay mineral and has a long history of use in a variety of consumer and food products. It is used in conjunction with several other integrated pest management practices as a broad-spectrum crop protectant to decrease damage from listed insect pests, sunburn and heat stress on crops. Kaolin is registered for use on pome and stone fruit, tree nuts, carrots, cucurbits, dry beans, grapes, leafy vegetables except Brassica vegetables, potatoes, raspberries and strawberries, and onions and shallots. Kaolin can be applied as a spray using air blast, high-pressure hand-held or boom sprayers. Currently registered products containing kaolin can be found in the Pesticide Product Information Database and are listed in Appendix I.

This document (Re-evaluation Decision RVD2022-10, Kaolin and Its Associated End-use Product) presents the final regulatory decision^{Footnote 1} for the re-evaluation of kaolin. All pest control products containing kaolin that are registered in Canada are subject to this re-evaluation decision. Prior to finalizing this decision, Health Canada published the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2021-12, Kaolin and Its Associated End-use Product,^{Footnote 2}for 90-day consultation.

No comments were received during the consultation period. Therefore, this decision is consistent with the proposed re-evaluation decision stated in PRVD2021-12.

A reference list of all data used as the basis for the re-evaluation decision is included in PRVD2021-12.

Regulatory decision for kaolin and its associated end-use product

Health Canada has completed the re-evaluation for kaolin. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada has determined that continued registration of products containing kaolin is acceptable with label updates. Following a scientific review of the available information, Health Canada has determined that the health and environmental risks and the value of kaolin continue to be acceptable provided that the required label updates are implemented. Label amendments, as summarized below and listed in Appendix II of RVD2022-10, are required. No additional data are required at this time.

Risk mitigation measures

Registered pesticide product labels include specific directions for use. Directions must be followed by law and include risk mitigation measures to protect human health and the environment. The following label amendments are included as part of the re-evaluation:

Human health

• Update to standard label statements (wording related to personal protective equipment and health precautions).

Environment

• Updates to standard label statements (environmental precautions, directions for use, disposal and storage).

Next steps

To comply with this decision, the required amendments (label updates) must be implemented on all product labels no later than 24 months after the publication date of this decision document. Accordingly, both registrants and retailers will have up to 24 months from the date of this decision document to transition to selling the product with the newly amended updated labels. Similarly, users will also have the same 24-month period from the date of this decision document to transition to using the newly amended updated labels, which will be available on the Public Registry. Appendix I lists the products containing kaolin that are registered under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act and impacted by this re-evaluation decision.

Other information

Any person may file a notice of objection^{Footnote 3} regarding this decision on kaolin and its associated end-use product 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 section of the Canada.ca website (Request a Reconsideration of Decision) contact the PMRA's Pest Management Information Service.

The relevant confidential test data on which the decision is based (as referenced in PRVD2021-12) are available for public inspection, upon application, in the PMRA's Reading Room. For more information, please contact the PMRA's Pest Management Information Service.

Appendix I Registered products containing kaolin in Canada as of 13 April 2022