Backgrounder: Proposed Legislation to Ban the Use of Pes... http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/news/2008/042201mb4.p...

Backgrounder
April 22 , 2008

Proposed Legislation to Ban the Use of Pesticides for Cosmetic Purposes

The Minister of the Environment introduced the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act in the Legislature of Ontario on April 22, 2008. The bill contains provisions that
would ban the use and sale of certain prescribed pesticides in Ontario. The bill also contains proposed regulation making authority for the Lieutenant
Governor in Council to make regulations prescribing pesticides to which the use and sale bans contained in the Bill would apply. Accordingly, if the bill is
enacted, a regulation may be made prescribing such pesticides.

Who Proposed ban Alternatives Proposed Why Proposed Approach

exemptions
Agriculture Uses related Farmers already have Uses related to agriculture to be
to agriculture strict rules for the use defined by regulation
and storage of
pesticides
Front and back yards Fertilize and water properly to keep Uses related Necessary use of Uses related to health or safety to
of farm homes lawns healthy and pull weeds by hand or to health or pesticides for health be defined by regulationUse of
including lawns, use special tools designed for the safety or safety purposes lower-risk products to be
ornamental plantings, job.Maintain healthy plants and monitor - Manage West Nile considered and defined by
vegetable gardens, for early signs of pest problems.For tips Virus regulation Use exemption for
patios, driveways, on caring naturally for lawns and - Stinging insects trees or tree injection only to be
trees gardens, visit www.ontario.ca/ considered and defined by
environment and click on “pesticides” regulation
Commercial Commercial, See above See above See above See above
businesses institutional and
industrial properties
including parks, school
yards, cemeteries,
rights-of-way
Cottage Cottage properties See above See above See above See above
owners including lawns,
ornamental plantings,
vegetable gardens,
patios, driveways,
trees
Federal Uses on federal Complying with proposed
government properties such as provincial legislation would be
army bases, railroad encouraged.
and utilities are for
the most part not
subject to provincial
legislation.
First Nations First Nations land is Complying with proposed
not subject to provincial legislation would be
provincial legislation. encouraged.
Forestry Uses related There are strict rules Uses related to forestry to be
to forestry around the use of defined by regulation
pesticides in forestry
General public Residential properties Fertilize and water properly to keep Uses related Necessary use of Uses related to health or safety to
including lawns, lawns healthy and pull weeds by hand or to health or pesticides for health be defined by regulation
ornamental plantings, use special tools designed for the safety or safety purposes Use of lower-risk products to be
vegetable gardens, job.Maintain healthy plants and monitor - Manage West Nile considered and defined by
patios, driveways, for early signs of pest problems.For tips Virus regulation
trees on caring naturally for lawns and - Control stinging Use exemption for trees or tree
gardens, visit www.ontario.ca/ insects injection only to be considered
environment and click on “pesticides” and defined by regulation
Golf Courses Uses related Increased need for Uses related to golf courses and
to golf courses pesticides to maintain attendant conditions to be
specialized turf defined by regulation
required for playing
and putting surfaces
Land around the See above Uses related Necessary use of Uses related to health or safety to
clubhouse including to health or pesticides for health be defined by regulationUse of
lawns, ornamental safety or safety purposes lower-risk products to be
plantings, gardens, - Manage West Nile considered and defined by
trees, driveways Virus regulationUse exemption for trees
- Control stinging or tree injection only to be
insects considered and defined by
regulation
Licensed All residential, See above See above See above See above
exterminators industrial, commercial
and institutional

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Backgrounder: Proposed Legislation to Ban the Use of Pes... http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/news/2008/042201mb4.p...

properties including
parks, school yards,
cemeteries, rights-
of-way
Municipalities Municipal land including See above See above See above See above
parks, school yards,
rights-of-way,
conservation
authorities
Provincial Provincial land See above See above See above See above
government including parks,
gardens

Note: Prohibitions are proposed for uses on land; not inside buildings, homes or other structures.

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Contacts: Contact information for the general public:

416-325-4000 or 1-800-565-4923/
John Steele, Communications Branch, 416-314-6666
www.ontario.ca/environment

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