On 27 March 2025, the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is proposing acceptability of the requested application to add Metaldehyde to Bushberries.
Metaldehyde is a chemical compound commonly used as a pesticide, particularly for controlling slugs and snails in agricultural settings. Over the years, there have been significant changes in the regulation and usage of Metaldehyde due to environmental concerns and health risks.
The evaluation of this metaldehyde application indicated that the end-use product has value, and the human health and environmental risks associated with the new use are acceptable. Dietary risks from the consumption of the food were shown to be acceptable when metaldehyde is used according to the supported label directions. Therefore, food containing residues resulting from this use are safe to eat, and an MRL is being proposed as a result of this assessment.
Following the review of all available data, the MRL proposed is recommended, in order to cover residues of metaldehyde. Dietary risks from exposure to residues of metaldehyde in these crop commodities at the proposed MRL were shown to be acceptable for the general population. Specifically:
|
Pesticide |
Food commodity |
MRL (ppm) current |
MRL (ppm) proposed |
|
Metaldehyde |
Lingonberries |
0.15 |
0.15 |
|
Lowbush blueberries |
0.15 |
0.15 |
|
|
Bushberries (crop subgroup 13-07B, except lingonberries and lowbush blueberries) |
- |
0.15 |
Health Canada invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed MRL for metaldehyde up to 75 days from the date of publication of this document (by 10 June 2025).
Comments received will be addressed in a response to comments document found in Pesticides and pest management consultations.
The established MRL will be legally in effect as of the date that it is entered into the Maximum Residue Limit Database.
