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