19 November 2008
ISBN: 978-1-100-10737-0 (978-1-100-10738-7)
Cat. No.: H113-24/2008-32E (H113-24/2008-32E-PDF)

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Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), has granted conditional registration to technical grade acequinocyl and the end-use product Kanemite 15 SC Miticide for use in Canada on pome fruits (Crop Group 11; see Appendix I). The specific uses approved in Canada are detailed on the product label of Kanemite 15 SC Miticide, Pest Control Products Act Registration Number 28641.

The evaluation of these acequinocyl applications indicated that the end-use product has merit and value and that the human health and environmental risks associated with the new uses are acceptable. Details regarding these registrations can be found in Evaluation Report ERC2007-10, Acequinocyl.

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.

In addition, the PMRA is also proposing to establish import MRLs for acequinocyl on citrus fruits (Crop Group 10; see Appendix I), almonds, pistachios and strawberries to permit the import and sale of food containing these residues. The PMRA has determined the quantity of residues that are likely to remain in or on the imported commodities when acequinocyl is used according to label directions in the exporting country. The Agency has also determined that such residues will not pose an unacceptable dietary health risk. Details regarding the establishment of these import MRLs can be found in the corresponding Evaluation Report that is available on the PMRA website, under Public Registry, Product Information, Current Applications.¹

Consultation on the proposed MRLs for acequinocyl is being conducted via this document (see Next Steps).

To comply with Canada's international trade obligations, consultation on the proposed MRLs is also being conducted internationally by notifying the World Trade Organization, as coordinated by the Standards Council of Canada.

The proposed MRLs for acequinocyl in Canada in or on food are as follows.

Table 1 Proposed Maximum Residue Limits for Acequinocyl

Common Name	Residue Definition	MRL (ppm)	Food Commodity
Acequinocyl	2-(acetyloxy)-3-dodecyl-1,4-naphthalenedione, including the metabolite 2-dodecyl-3-hydroxy-1,4-naphthalenedione	30	Citrus oil
		0.5	Strawberries
		0.35	Citrus fruits (Crop Group 10)*
		0.3	Pome fruits (Crop Group 11)*
		0.02	Almonds; fat, meat and meat byproducts of cattle, goats, horses and sheep; milk; pistachios

* see Appendix I for a list of crop group commodities)

A complete list of all MRLs established in Canada can be found on the PMRA's MRL webpage.

International Situation and Trade Implications

MRLs may vary from one country to another for a number of reasons, including differences in pesticide use patterns and the locations of the field crop trials used to generate residue chemistry data. Table 2 identifies differences among MRLs in Canada, tolerances in the United States and Codex² MRLs. The proposed MRLs in Canada for pome fruits, citrus fruits and strawberries differ from the corresponding tolerances established in the United States (tolerances listed in  40 CFR Part 180 by pesticide). In addition, American tolerances for livestock commodities are limited to fat and liver. Currently,  Codex Maximum Residue Limits have not been established for acequinocyl on any commodity (Codex MRLs searchable by pesticide or commodity).

Table 2 Comparison of Canadian MRLs, the American Tolerances and Codex MRLs (where different)

Food Commodity	Canadian MRL(ppm)	American Tolerance (ppm)	Codex MRL (ppm)
Strawberries	0.5	0.4	No Codex MRL established
Citrus fruits (Crop Group 10)	0.35	0.2
Pome fruits (Crop Group 11)	0.3	0.4
Meat of cattle, goats, horses and sheep	0.02	--
Meat byproducts of cattle, goats, horses and sheep	0.02	--* (other than liver)
Milk	0.02	--

* American livestock tolerances are limited to fat and liver, both at 0.02 ppm, consistent with the MRLs proposed for fat and meat byproducts in Canada.

Next Steps

The PMRA invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed MRLs for acequinocyl 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 MRLs for acequinocyl and posting an Established Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) document on the PMRA's website.

Appendix I

Crop Groups: Numbers and Definitions

Crop Group Number	Name of Crop Group	Food Commodities Included in the Crop Group
10	Citrus fruits	Calamondins Citrus citrons Citrus hybrids Grapefruits Kumquats Lemons Limes Oranges Pummelos Satsuma mandarins Tangerines
11	Pome fruits	Apples Crabapples Loquats Mayhaws Oriental pears Pears Quinces

References