Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 7612 / SEEDWORLD.COM SEPTEMBER 2016 A MOVE BY Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency to ban the fungicide thiram has raised concerns from both within and outside the country. The agency is recommending that all uses of thiram — includ- ing as a seed treatment — be cancelled in Canada, and it gave industry officials until May 29, 2016, to comment on the proposed re-evaluation. According to Health Canada officials, all comments are currently being reviewed and a final registration decision on thiram is expected by June 2018. “An evaluation of available scientific information found that, under the current conditions of use, thiram products pose poten- tial risks of concern to human health and the environment,” the PMRA states on its website. “Based on the health and environ- mental assessments, risks of concern were identified for both workers and the general public in addition to birds, mammals and aquatic organisms.” The American Seed Trade Association voiced numerous objections to the proposed ban in a letter to the PMRA. “The cancellation of the registration for thiram will have a significant impact on U.S. seed suppliers, Canadian seed dealers and com- mercial vegetable growers in Canada,” stated Andy LaVigne, ASTA’s president and CEO, in the letter. According to ASTA, thiram is widely used as a seed treatment on vegetable seed that is treated in the U.S. and then exported to Canada. The association maintains thiram is the preferred choice for seed traders and growers because of its broad functionality, low cost, and the extensive list of countries (including within the European Union) where the fungicide is registered and continues to be sold and used. ASTA is asking the PMRA to revisit its decision based on new risk data and low potential exposure resulting from the use of thiram as a seed treatment. “Our analysis of PMRA’s risk assessment uncovered a number of assumptions that are incorrect based on our knowledge of the seed production and seed treatment industries and usage patterns for thiram in Canada,” said LaVigne. “We believe the risk assessment greatly over-estimated the amount of thiram used as seed treatment in Canada and the potential exposure from thiram-treated seed.” ASTA maintains pulling the popular fungicide from the market will put Canadian farmers at a disadvantage, because seed sup- pliers would be forced to sell a limited number of varieties that were treated with more expensive fungicides or not treated at all. “If thiram is not allowed in Canada, seed companies will be required to establish separate inventories of seed to address Canada’s specific restrictions or choose to stop supplying the market. The net result would be fewer options for Canadian growers,” said LaVigne. “Selling untreated seed to Canada would not be a desirable outcome as it would potentially result in more worker and environmental exposure to pesticides,” he added. Craig Hunter, who oversees crop protection and research for the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Grower’s Association, says almost all commercial vegetables in Canada are grown with imported seed and most of that is treated with thiram. Banning thiram, therefore, would have far-reaching implications. Hunter believes the PMRA’s position on the fungicide’s expo- sure risks is based on outdated data, and that growers should have been consulted prior to the agency’s proposed re-evalua- tion decision. Thiram-treated seed has been used for a long time in this country, he says, and taking away this important tool would put vegetable growers in a very tough spot. “How many other fun- gicides do we have that are registered for use as seed treatment besides thiram?” Hunter asks. “Not very many.” Hunter maintains planting untreated seed would mean a much greater chance of vegetable crops becoming diseased early and rotting in the ground. That would not only impact farmers’ bottom lines but would also have a serious effect on Canada’s agricultural economy, he adds. SW The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency is calling for a ban of a popular fungicide used in seed treatments for most commercial vegetables grown in Canada. What would the loss of thiram in Canada mean for the United States? Mark Halsall GOING WITH UT GOING WITH UT THIRAM “We believe the risk assessment greatly over-estimated the amount of thiram used as seed treatment in Canada and the potential exposure from thiram-treated seed.” — Andy LaVigne