opha resolution on the non-essential use of chemical pesticides on public & private lands
DESCRIPTION
OPHA RESOLUTION ON THE NON-ESSENTIAL USE OF CHEMICAL PESTICIDES ON PUBLIC & PRIVATE LANDS. Presented to alPHa - Feb 1/02 by: Helen Doyle, representing the OPHA Environmental Health WG. Resolutions Whereas’ Legislation Municipal Jurisdiction Pesticide Reduction Initiatives - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
OPHA RESOLUTION ON THE
NON-ESSENTIAL USE OF
CHEMICAL PESTICIDES ON
PUBLIC & PRIVATE LANDS
Presented to alPHa - Feb 1/02
by: Helen Doyle, representing the OPHA Environmental Health WG
OPHA Resolution Resolutions Whereas’ Legislation Municipal Jurisdiction Pesticide Reduction
Initiatives Fed/Prov/Municipal Industry
Background -Possible Health Effects
Precautionary Principle
Public Health Role? Implementation Plan
‘..therefore be it resolved, that the OPHA..’
urge Ontario municipalities to restrict the non-essential use of chemical pesticides on public and private lands
urge the 3 levels of government to work together to: strengthen legislation governing pesticide
use, reduce the non-essential use of pesticides, educate the public about the health effects
and alternatives to chemical pesticides, & promote IPM Strategies
Advocate to the MOHLTC for adequate resources for HU’s to: act as a resource to municipalities on
pesticide reduction initiatives educate the public about the health effects
of pesticides (as per MHPSG)
•request to meet with the appropriate government agencies to express our concern on this matter, and to request their support to take action to restrict the non-essential use of pesticides
•collaborate and network with other health and environmental organizations that support restricting the non-essential use of pesticides
also, be it resolved that,
•this resolution be forwarded to the Ont. and Fed. Ministers of Health, the Minister of the Environment, FCM, AMO & HU’s and boards of health
Background - ‘WHEREAS..’#1 priority in pest management -
protection of human health esp. vulnerable populations
associations between certain pesticides and human health effects
limitations of research re: impact of pesticide exposure on health
…whereas,Absence of conclusive evidence to
prove causal relationship, but reason to believe potential harm… Precautionary Principle HPPA - health hazard?
..whereas,PMRA has taken initiatives to reduce
urban pesticide use: Healthy Lawn Strategy
reduce reliance on pesticides use IPM - pest prevention, reduced risk
products, pesticide use as a last resort! Priority re-evaluations - applying current risk
assessment principles e.g. safety factors to protect children
..whereas,Of the 7000 pesticides approved for use
in Canada, many have not been re-evaluated to account for current risk assessment standards & vulnerability of children
alternative, non-toxic methods of pest prevention exist (e.g. IPM?)
..whereas,Certain pesticides persist in the
environment and migrate beyond the application area
decision of Supreme Court of Canada in Hudson, Quebec case..powers of municipal governments to restrict the use of non-essential pesticides
Possible Health EffectsLiterature search/limitations toxicological & epidemiological studiescancer studies (occupational/childhood)developmental & reproductive studiesacute & chronic health effectsneurotoxic & immune system effectsendocrine disruption
LegislationPest Control Products Act (PMRA)
manufacture, importation & registration of pesticide products in Canada
reviews health & environmental assessments on new pesticide products
Pesticides Act (MOE) sale, handling & use of pesticides licensing of operators & applicators
Municipal Jurisdiction?By-laws to regulate the use of
pesticides on private property? Interpretation of Supreme Court
decision in Quebec? Quebec Cities & Towns Act = Ontario Municipal Act?
Authority on ‘lands owned by municipality’- policy
Pesticide Reduction InitiativesFed/Prov/Terr:
Action Plan for Urban Use Pesticides - Healthy Lawn Strategy
Fed Dept Pest Mngt. Programs: DND - commitment to 50% reduction, IPM &
naturalization Public Works - IPM plans for Crown-owned
lands Parks Canada - IPM Directive
Municipal InitiativesYork Region - draft Pesticide Reduction
Guidelines/IPMCity of Toronto- IPHC; Public
ConsultationsCity of Ottawa- Interim IPM PolicyCity of Waterloo- PHCP
The Lawn Care IndustryLandscape OntarioTraining & Certification
Ridgetown College/MOE IPM AccreditationOrganic Landscape Alliance
Precautionary PrincipleCEPA
‘where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for’ .. inaction
Environment Canada registration “if accepted it must be safe for
use, with the restrictions of current scientific knowledge”
Precaution cont’Health Canada
Discussion Paper on A Canadian Perspective on the Precautionary Approach/Principle
“Canada has a history of implementing the precautionary approach in science-based programs of health & safety, ..”
PrecautionsEnvironment Canada Fact Sheet
“pesticides are poisons, otherwise they wouldn’t kill”
“consider using non-chemical methods of control”
“pesticides are toxic to many forms of life in addition to the species to be controlled”
“ultimately some side effects may extend to human life as well”
“..benefits must be weighed against the side effects”
Public Health Role?MHPSG-Health Hazard Investigation
Goal: “to prevent or reduce adverse health outcomes resulting from exposure to health hazards”
HPPA: “reasonable & probable grounds that a health hazard exists”
Precautionary Principle: suggestive evidence/associations but absence of scientific certainty
Implementation Plan for OPHA ResolutionDistribute to govt’ and health
organizationscollaborate with other health &
environmental agenciesmonitor progress of pesticide reduction
initiatives by govt’ and non-govt’ agencies