Hundreds of farmers who bought ClearOut 41 Plus through the Own Use Import program did not get what they paid for.
The United States manufacturer of the generic glyphosate has recalled six lots of the product made between September and November 2006 because they contain less active ingredient than what was specified on the label.
“We regret the inconvenience that this may cause to our customers and will work with you to ensure that your needs will be met to the best of our ability,” said Albaugh Inc. in a May 22 news release.
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Farmers of North America, which has an exclusive arrangement with Albaugh to bring the generic glyphosate into Canada on behalf of its members, is handling the details of the recall.
The company estimates 300 to 400 of its members possess substandard product. As of May 25, FNA had contacted 200 members, all of whom had already applied the glyphosate.
“Everybody has used the product and everybody has been happy with what the result was,” said FNA vice-president Glenn Caleval.
Ontario growers already had a practice of applying the product at rates exceeding what was recommended on the label and those in Western Canada who were using ClearOut for spring burnoff reported good weed kill.
Caleval said farmers with unused product will be entitled to a full reimbursement.
Those who have already applied it will get a proportional refund based on the difference in concentration. For instance, if there was one-third less active ingredient than there should have been, they will get a 33 percent refund on their purchase.
Caleval said the two companies will figure out what to do about any yield loss associated with inadequate weed control if that happens.
Lorne Hepworth, president of CropLife Canada, said one of the concerns raised by the OUI task force was that imported product was not subject to the same rigorous regulations as Canadian product.
In this case the imported glyphosate was not equivalent to what is sold in Canada, which was one of the potential flaws identified by the task force.
Hepworth said under the new Grower Requested Own Use program, which is to be implemented by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency by July, the eligibility requirement for the chemical makeup of imported products shifts from equivalent to identical.
“That’s much more precise and, ergo, I would say from a safety and efficacy standpoint, provides a much higher degree of comfort both to the regulator and to the farmer who might be importing it.”
Caleval doesn’t see the latest incident as a setback for the popular OUI program because growers have been satisfied with the response from Albaugh.
“I was very nervous that this could become a very difficult process and it hasn’t been,” said Caleval.
FNA is attempting to contact all affected growers but some may fall through the cracks. Caleval encouraged all farmers who have purchased ClearOut since September 2006 to contact the FNA. Company representatives will assist farmers in confirming the lot number and devising a workable solution.
The lot numbers being recalled are A505360936, A505360901, A505360902, A505360903, A505361004 and A505361105.
