Proposed Maximum Residue Limit: Dimethenamid

This consultation is now closed.

June 3, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-662-48951-1 (978-0-662-48952-8)
Cat. No.: H113-24/2008-20E (H113-24/2008-20E-PDF)
(PMRL2008-20)

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), under the authority of the  Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), has concluded that the addition of a new use to the label of Frontier Herbicide, containing technical grade dimethenamid, for the control of labelled weeds on transplanted cabbages is acceptable. The specific use that was approved in Canada is detailed on the Frontier Herbicide label (PCPA Registration Number 23462).

The evaluation of this dimethenamid application indicated that the end-use product has merit and value and that the human health and environmental risks associated with the new use are acceptable. Details regarding the registration can be found in the corresponding Evaluation Report that is available on the PMRA website under Public Registry, Product Information, Current Applications¹.

Before registering a pesticide for food use in Canada, the PMRA must determine the quantity of residues that are likely to remain in or on the food when the pesticide is used according to label directions and that such residues will not pose an unacceptable health risk. This quantity is then legally established as a maximum residue limit (MRL). An MRL applies to the identified raw agricultural food commodity as well as to any processed food product that contains it, except where separate MRLs are specified for the raw agricultural commodity and a processed product made from it. Currently, MRLs are legally established under the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) after consultation through the Canada Gazette. Amendments to the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) via Bill C-28, anticipated to come into force in 2008, will allow pesticide MRLs to be established legally under the PCPA without having to adopt MRLs by regulation under the FDA. This will result in a more efficient means of establishing, revising and revoking pesticide MRLs.

Consultation on the proposed MRL for dimethenamid is being conducted via this document (see Next Steps). This action is being taken in advance of  Bill C-28 coming into force to allow the MRL to be established legally as soon as possible after the FDA is amended.

The proposed MRL for dimethenamid in Canada in or on food, to be added to those already legally established, is as follows.

Table 1 Proposed Maximum Residue Limits for Dimethenamid

Common Chemical Name	Chemical Name of Substance	MRL (ppm)	Food Commodity
Dimethenamid	2-chloro-N-(2,4-dimethyl-3-thienyl)-N-(2-methoxy-1-methylethyl)acetamide	0.01	Cabbages

A complete list of all MRLs established in Canada can be found in  Table II, Division 15 of the FDR. Once the amendments to the FDA via Bill C-28 are in force, the list of legally established Canadian MRLs will be available on the PMRA's MRL webpage, which will be updated to include the MRL listed in this document.

International Situation and Trade Implications

The United States has not established a tolerance for dimethenamid on cabbages (tolerances listed in  40 CFR Part 180 by pesticide). Codex² has established MRLs for dimethenamid-P, but not on cabbages ( Codex MRLs searchable by pesticide or commodity).

Next Steps

The PMRA invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed MRL for dimethenamid up to 75 days from the date of publication of this document. Please forward your comments to Publications (see contact information on the cover page of this document). The PMRA will consider all comments received before making a final decision on the proposed MRL for dimethenamid and posting an Established Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) document on the PMRA's website once the amendments to the FDA are in force.

¹ The relevant report can be accessed by selecting the Programs and Special Actions/Minor Use/ Historical tab and opening the Evaluation Report found under Application Number 2007-8090.

² Codex is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations that develops international food standards, including MRLs.