Herbicide and pesticide combinations known as weed-and-feed will be banned in Alberta beginning Jan. 1, 2010.
The ban is intended to help protect the quality of water downstream of urban areas.
“We need to take steps wherever possible to protect and preserve the quality of Alberta’s rivers and lakes,” said Alberta environment minister Rob Renner.
Herbicides and fertilizers that aren’t used in combination will not be affected.
The weed-and-feed combinations, which are often used on urban lawns, come in granular form and are often overapplied, said the news release announcing the ban.
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Excess chemical runs off lawns into storm drainage systems and into creeks and rivers, it added.
Brenda Harris of Dow Agrisciences’ regulatory and government affairs department, said a good public education program could have achieved the same results without the ban.
“I really feel education and stewardship programs that emphasize the proper use and timing could probably achieved the same objectives,” Harris said.
2,4-D declared safe
Meanwhile, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently re-evaluated 2,4-D and declared it safe for use in Canada.
“2,4-D meets Canada’s strict health and safety standards,” said Paul Duchesne, a Health Canada spokesperson.
Harris said Alberta is following a worrying trend by other provinces and municipalities to ban pesticides.
“It’s important for folks to realize government needs to make decisions based on science. Decisions should be science based, they should be transparent and clear.”
Ontario and Quebec have also banned the sale of weed-and-feed combination products.
