Regulating Pesticides In Canada

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Lily Pilgrim Pilgrim 1
Dr. Edward Berkelaar
ENV 101
Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Regulating Pesticide Use in Canada The lives of Canadians depends much on the uses of chemicals in order to preserve crops, vegetation, health, and in some cases to eliminate pests that threaten to harm the livelihood of Canada’s growing population (Government of Canada). A major chemical that has been used in Canada are pesticides. The purpose of pesticides is to eliminate, destroy, and/or to kill unwanted organisms such as bacteria, fungi, weeds, and insects (British Columbia Government). Specifically, the commonly known pesticides are classified as follows: bactericides, fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides (British Columbia Government). …show more content…
Reasonably, farmers must use a certain amount of pesticides in order to kill insects that could potentially destroy the seasonal harvest of food as well as to stop the spread of diseases that could destroy the crops from growing properly and/or permanently (Government of Canada). According to the Government of Canada site, pesticides may still be present in as well as on our foods after it has been applied. Though, the pesticides have been known to break down leaving little …show more content…
Fortunately, Health Canada sets a limit on the amount of pesticides that can remain on Canadian imported/naturally grown food that must meet certain criteria pertaining to the use of pesticides with little to no health concerns inflicted on humans (Government of Canada). Furthermore, the set point for the highest amount of residue permissible on and in foods in Canada is referred to as the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) (Government of Canada). The recommendation set out by Health Canada in the long-term has supposedly enabled Canada to meet limits far below the levels of pesticide exposure that would cause significant health concerns/problems (Government of Canada). The amount of pesticide levels on our produce are measured under the Pest Control Products Act of Canada on the basis of chemical structures/molecules depending on the type of food one chooses to set an MRL on (Health Canada). For example, grapes have been identified to allow chemicals in/on them such as 1,3 dichloro-1-propene and 3-chloro-2-propen-1-ol along with a few others in accordance to their organic chemistry (Health Canada). In addition, Health Canada encourages farmers to reduce the use and exposure of pesticides used on their crops as they promote “sustainable pest management”. Health Canada also tries to implement different methods in controlling pesticide levels based on future investments in the economy, promoting
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