10 March 2009
HC Pub: 8152
ISBN: 978-1-100-11521-4 (print publication)
ISBN: 978-1-100-11522-1 (PDF version)
Cat. No.: H113-24/2009-1E (print publication)
Cat. No.: H113-24/2009-1E-PDF (PDF version)

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Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has concluded that the addition of a new use on leaf lettuce to the product labels of Matador 120 Emulsifiable Concentrate Insecticide and Warrior Insecticide, containing technical grade lambda-cyhalothrin, is acceptable. The specific use approved in Canada is detailed on the labels of Matador 120 Emulsifiable Concentrate Insecticide and Warrior Insecticide, Pest Control Products Act Registration Numbers 24984 and 26837, respectively.

The evaluation of these lambda-cyhalothrin applications indicated that the end-use products have 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 Applications.¹

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 be a concern to human health. 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.

Consultation on the proposed MRL for lambda-cyhalothrin is being conducted via this document (see Next Steps).

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

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

Table 1 - Proposed Maximum Residue Limit for Lambda-cyhalothrin

Common Name	Residue Definition	MRL (ppm)	Food Commodity
Lambda-cyhalothrin	(S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (Z)-(1R,3R)-3-(2-chloro- 3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate and (R)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (Z)-(1S,3S)- 3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2-diemthylcyclopropanecarboxylate, including the epimer, in a 1:1 mixture, (R)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (Z)-(1R, 3R)-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and (S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl (Z)-(1S, 3S)-3-(2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-enyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylate	2.0	Leaf lettuce

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

International Situation and Trade Implications

The proposed MRL in Canada is the same as the corresponding tolerance established in the United States (listed in  40 CFR Part 180 by pesticide). Currently, a Codex² MRL has not been established for cyhalothrin on leaf lettuce ( Codex MRLs searchable by pesticide or commodity).

Next Steps

The PMRA invites the public to submit written comments on the proposed MRLs for lambda-cyhalothrin up to 75 days from the date of publication of this document. Please forward your comments to Publications (see the 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 lambda-cyhalothrin and posting a corresponding Established Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) document on the PMRA Website.

References

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 2008-2812 or 2008-2813.
² Codex is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations that develops international food standards, including MRLs.