This headline that was in today's G&M: *Pesticide that's killing eagles
in BC faces ban - Health Canada to crack down on carofuran.* /A little
bit of web researching and I'm just frustrated at what I have found and
not found. /
Biologist Pierre Mineau has been raising questions about carofuran for
more than 16 years yet even he can't speak without clearance as reported
in the Globe and Mail. I did find this interesting article on him on
the Canadian Council for Geographic Education. For complete story visit
- http://www.ccge.org/ccge/english/Resources/geoJob/geoJob_biology.asp
It does mention that liquid carbofuran is still registered for use on
potato, corn and sugar beet crops in Canada - a fact that has
environmentalists in P.E.I. preparing for round two of the battle over
the neurotoxin, which kills by destroying its victims' nervous systems.
Affected birds typically stumble, begin trembling or convulsing, then
become paralyzed. /This isn't enough yet? /
From a USA based blogger who grew up in the Prairies: *Today EPA
announced that carbofuran, a highly toxic pesticide, will not be allowed
on your food anymore*
(http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jsass/today_epa_announced_that_carbo.html).
She goes on to add that .....U.S. production cap of 2,500 lbs per year
for domestic uses, although there is more carbofuran that is produced in
the U.S. and exported. How much more? That production information is
considered confidential business information, not available to the
public.I hope that today's decision by EPA will weaken the ability of
FMC to sell its toxic products in other countries.
Agriculture Canada and Health Canada are puttering around saying they
would be releasing a publication on the e-evaluation of carbofuran in
the summer. After all the studies, the evidence, the bans in other
countries, we still have our tax-supported officials humming and hawing
- maybe they are waiting for the manufacturer FMC Corp in Philadelphia
to convince Canadians that there is no danger.
If you check out this link
http://www.oag-bvg.gc.ca/internet/English/att_c903xe09_e_10069.html
which is from the Office of the Auditor General of Canada you'll see
that this was brought up in 1990 - Agriculture Canada (responsible at
the time for pesticide regulation) announced a special review of
carbofuran, to be concluded in 1992. The expected completion date was
subsequently moved to 1994, and then to 1995. Further in the article
they talked about negotiating with the manufacturer /- please. /