Measures to reduce the use of pesticides

Photo CHANTAL POIRIER
Marcel Groleau, president of UPA

Marie-Eve Dumont

Monday, February 19, 2018 04:30

UPDATE
Monday, February 19, 2018 04:30

Look at this article

The government will announce today new measures to reduce the use of five pesticides, but these should give more red tape than results, says the Union of agricultural producers.

“We are trying to show that the department be responsible so that we do not add administrative tasks. This is more of a sense of security for the population than a true change in practice, ” said Marcel Groleau, president of the Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA).

The Journal has learned that the minister of sustainable Development, the Environment and the Fight against climate change, Isabelle Melançon, will officially present his plan today in order to modernize regulations governing the use and sale of pesticides of highest risk.

The government will prohibit gradually by April 1, 2019 the farmers ‘ use of atrazine, chlorpyrifos and three neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) as well as pelleted seed, except if their use is justified in advance by an agronomist. The sale and application of neonicotinoids on the lawns will also be banned.

The farmers want to use pesticides will therefore need to obtain a prescription from an agronomist, who will have to sign a document to justify the use.

Pre-authorization

“We wonder what leverage there will be to ensure that the agronomists are not going to prescribe any time pesticides or that farmers do ask for it not always “, was concerned about Sidney Ribaux, confondateur and executive director of Équiterre.

The Union of agricultural producers is also a concern that the regulations will allow for a pre-authorization of pesticides by an agronomist. The decision whether or not to apply the pesticide will be still to the farmer.

“If it is urgent, a farmer could also make a product without a prescription, if it is going to look for one within 48 hours,” says Groleau, who would have preferred that farmers be better trained rather than giving the responsibility to the agronomists.

Late

The ministry is also understood with the Order of the agronomists to document the issue of the independence of professional agronomists and make adjustments, as needed. An amount of$ 14 Million over five years will be allocated to support farmers.

The regulations will also provide for the creation of a committee that will analyze the justifications given by the agronomists to prescribe pesticides and give recommendations. A compilation of the requirements made by the agronomists will also be available.

Équiterre is hoped, however, that other measures will follow after these measures, since they should be included in the Strategy 2015-2018 on pesticides.