Ross Campbell can’t understand why Ottawa is tampering with a popular program that saved thousands of farmers thousands of dollars on glyphosate purchases.
Earlier this year he used the federal government’s Own Use Import program to bring in eight barrels of a generic glyphosate called ClearOut 41 Plus from the United States.
He claimed the bargain chemical performed just as well as Roundup Transorb, saving him $2,600 on his 2005 herbicide bill.
“That’s better than any government cheque I got this year,” said the Maidstone, Sask., farmer.
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Campbell intends to use the program again next year but he understands it is in jeopardy of being neutered through proposed new regulations.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has launched a task force to investigate complaints raised about the OUI program and to determine if any changes need to be made.
“All the federal government has to do is keep their mouth shut,” said Campbell.
Farmers of North America said chemical companies are pressuring the government to shut down the program, through which individual producers imported 5.7 million litres of glyphosate from the U.S.
The program saved 2,600 FNA members an average of $4,289 on their herbicide purchases this year, a combined savings of more than $11 million.
But according to the PMRA, a variety of groups, including other federal government departments, raised concerns about the extensive use of the program.
The volume of chemical brought in by individual farmers represents about 18 percent of annual glyphosate sales in Canada, a far cry from the 100,000Ð500,000 litres Monsanto officials originally thought would cross the border.
“That’s why they’re fighting so damn hard,” said Glenn Caleval, vice-president of Farmers of North America, the bulk buying firm that paved the way for its members and other farmers to bring in the cheap glyphosate.
FNA members have indicated they want to bring in at least an equal amount of chemical in 2006. But if the PMRA accepts proposals put forward by CropLife Canada, it could spell the end of the program for all practical purposes, said Caleval.
The suggested changes would put pressure on foreign manufacturers of generic glyphosate and could place unreasonable demands on importers of the product, he said.
Lorne Hepworth, president of CropLife Canada, said the issues that have been raised run deeper than losing market share.
His member companies are concerned about several problems that can occur when a product is brought into Canada through a permit-based system as opposed to being fully registered in the country.
Topping the list is the potential for a trade disruption.
“What if a boatload of grain gets challenged because it is treated with non-registered product?” said Hepworth.
“I don’t think farmers or others in the chain, including ourselves, are well served by a policy that could have these kinds of trade implications.”
The PMRA’s OUI policy could also widen the technology gap between Canada and the U.S. by putting a chill on new product registration.
As well, he said there are human health and environmental safety issues associated with products that don’t comply with industry stewardship standards such as adverse effects reporting and materials safety data sheets.
Caleval said the chemical companies are engaging in fear mongering and turf protection.
He finds it ironic that CropLife Canada is worried about potential trade disruptions caused by the OUI program, while its sister association in the U.S. has testified before Congress that there should be a similar program operating in America.
Caleval said if the investment chill argument had any merit, the cheap generic glyphosates available in the U.S. would have chased investment into Canada a long time ago, but that hasn’t happened.
He said there is no health and safety concern with ClearOut 41 Plus because the FNA has already proven to the PMRA it is chemically equivalent to glyphosates already registered in Canada.
Caleval said the task force should not disrupt 2006 glyphosate requests. But Pierre Petelle, project manager with the PMRA, said he shouldn’t jump to that conclusion because recommendations are expected by March 2006.
“If anything needs to be corrected or improved or changed for next year, hopefully that could be done prior to the 2006 growing season,” said the Ottawa bureau
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