Special Review Decision SRD2020-03, Special Review Decision: Metaldehyde

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
19 November 2020
ISSN: 2561-6269 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-17/2020-3E-PDF (PDF version)

Table of contents

• Special review decision
• Other information
• Appendix I Registered products containing metaldehyde
• Appendix II Label amendments for products containing metaldehyde
• References

Special review decision

Pursuant to subsection 17(2) of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) initiated a special review of all registered pest control products containing metaldehyde based on the decision taken by Norway to prohibit the use of metaldehyde due to environmental concerns (Canada, 2020). The aspects of concern identified for the special review is potential risk to birds and mammals.

Health Canada evaluated the aspects of concern that prompted the special review in accordance with subsection 18(4) of the Pest Control Products Act. The proposed special review decision was published for consultation in the Proposed Special Review Decision PSRD2020-02, Special Review for Metaldehyde and Its Associated End-use Products (Canada, 2020). No comments were received during the consultation period.

Metaldehyde is a molluscicide 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. Currently registered products containing metaldehyde are listed in Appendix I.

Following an evaluation of the aspect of concern, Health Canada has determined that continued registration of products containing metaldehyde is considered to be acceptable with the label amendments (Appendix II). Therefore, Health Canada, under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, is confirming the current registration of pest control products containing metaldehyde in Canada, with revised label directions.

All pest control products containing metaldehyde that are registered in Canada are subject to this special review decision.

This document presents the final regulatory decision^{Footnote 1} for the special review of metaldehyde. To comply with this decision, the required label amendments (Appendix II) 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 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 labels, which will be available on the Public Registry.

Other information

Any person may file a notice of objection^{Footnote 2} regarding this decision on metaldehyde within 60 days from the date of publication of this special review 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) or contact the PMRA’s Pest Management Information Service.

Appendix I Registered products containing metaldehyde

Table 1 Registered products containing metaldehyde as of 14 September 2020

Registration number	Marketing class	Registrant	Product name	Guarantee
997	D	Matson LLC	Corry’s Slug & Snail Death	2%
10304	D	Premier Tech Ltd	Wilson SlugOut Pellets	2.75%
20785	D	Matson LLC	Corry’s Liquid Slug & Snail Control	4%
22689	T	Lonza Inc.	Meta-Metaldehyde Technical Molluscicide	98%
25908	D	Premier Tech Ltd	Wilson SlugOut Meal	2%
26650	C	Amvac Chemical Corporation	Deadline M-PS	4%
28287	D	King Home King Home &	King Slug & Snail Pellets	2.75%
32149	C	Lonza Inc.	Axcela	3%
32150	D	Lonza Inc.	Xiren	3%
32392	T	Sharda Cropchem Ltd	Sharda Metaldehyde Technical	99.36%
32483	D	Sharda Cropchem Ltd	Escar-go 3	3%
32484	D	Sharda Cropchem Ltd	Escar-go 5	5%
C = Commercial; D = Domestic; T = Technical

Appendix II Label amendments for products containing metaldehyde

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. Additional information on labels of currently registered products should not be removed unless it contradicts the label statements given below.

Application Directions

1. Add the following statement on the commercial-class product labels (Reg. Nos. 26650 and 32149)

   “Avoid applying pellets in piles.”

2. Add the following statement on all domestic and commercial class product labels (Reg. Nos. 997, 10304, 20785, 25908, 26650, 28287, 32149, 32150, 32483 and 32484)

   “Do not over apply.”

3. Add the following statement on the domestic-class product labels (Reg. Nos. 997, 10304 and 32150)

   “Moisten pellets slightly and cover with boards, bricks, flat stones, etc.”

4. Add the following statement on domestic-class product Reg. 25908:

   “Moisten pellets slightly.”

5. Add the following statements on domestic and commercial-class product labels (Reg. Nos. 10304, 25908, 26650, 32149, 32483 and 32484)

   “Certain cultural practices may reduce damage from snails and slugs. These practices include:

   • Eliminating hiding places by removing leave litter and debris in the garden;
   • Removing slugs and snails during daylight hours from nearby leaf litter, mulch and other protected areas
   • Watering in the morning to reduce humidity during the night when snails and slugs are active”

References

Published information

PMRA document number	Title
3131890	Canada, 2020. Proposed Special Review Decision: Special Review for Metaldehyde and Its Associated End-use Products Consultation Document. PSRD2020-02.