Re-evaluation Note REV2012-11, Label Amendments for Soil Fumigant Products Containing Metam Sodium or Metam Potassium

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
14 September 2012
ISSN: 1925-0649  (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-5/2012-11E-PDF (PDF version)

Summary

Background

Metam sodium and metam potassium are under re-evaluation by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), and are two of the active ingredients included in the soil fumigant cluster.

Metam sodium and metam potassium are non-selective pre-plant soil fumigants and antimicrobials used to control pathogens including insects, nematodes, fungi and weeds. In Canada, metam sodium and metam potassium are currently registered for use as soil fumigants on terrestrial and greenhouse food/feed and non-food/non-feed crops, forests/woodlots, ornamentals and turf. End-use products formulated as liquids, solutions or emulsifiable concentrates, are applied and incorporated into soil as a broadcast or row treatment. The soil is sealed and is aerated prior to planting. Metam sodium and metam potassium are also used either as wood preservatives to treat structural timber (such as poles), herbicides for tree roots in sewer lines and/or as a material preservatives in industrial process fluids (for example, pulp and paper mills, water cooling towers). End-use products are formulated as liquids or solutions which are applied to wood or sewers, or are added during the manufacturing process. All currently registered uses are being considered in the re-evaluation.

The regulatory approach and proposed label improvements for metam sodium and metam potassium were first presented in Re-evaluation Note REV2010-10, Soil Fumigants Proposed Mitigation Measures and REV2010-09, Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium - Proposed Mitigation Measures, published on 13 August 2010. Please refer to Re-evaluation Note REV2012-08, Chloropicrin, Dazomet, Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium - Label Improvements for Soil Fumigants for a summary of the comments received during the consultation, and the PMRA's response to these comments. Re-evaluation Note REV2012-11, Label Amendments for Soil Fumigant Products Containing Metam Sodium or Metam Potassium describes this stage of PMRA's regulatory process for the re-evaluation of the soil fumigant cluster and outlines label improvements required for soil fumigant products containing metam sodium and metam potassium. The regulatory process for the re-evaluation of antimicrobial products containing chloropicrin, dazomet, metam sodium or metam potassium is communicated separately in Re-evaluation Note REV2012-07, Chloropicrin, Dazomet, Metam Sodium and Metam Potassium Label Improvements for Antimicrobial Products.

Regulatory Strategy

The PMRA's re-evaluation of metam sodium and metam potassium is ongoing. At this time, the PMRA is requiring registrants of products containing metam sodium and metam potassium to implement label improvements to further limit user exposure and further protect bystanders and the environment. These label improvements are considered a first step in the re-evaluation of the Canadian uses of the products containing metam sodium and metam potassium.

A key component of the label improvements for soil fumigant products containing metam sodium and metam potassium is the requirement of a Fumigation Management Plan (FMP) for all applications. A Fumigation Management Plan is an organized, written description of the required steps involved to help ensure a safe and effective fumigation. It will also assist in complying with pesticide products label requirements. Instructions for the preparation of a Fumigation Management Plan are required to be part of the product label. In addition, a Fumigation Management Plan template will be developed by the PMRA in consultation with registrants in order to help users meet the Fumigation Management Plan requirements. Specific label improvements are also required for all soil fumigant products containing metam sodium and metam potassium.

Appendix I of Re-evaluation Note REV2012-11, Label Amendments for Soil Fumigant Products Containing Metam Sodium or Metam Potassium outlines the required label amendments for products containing metam sodium and metam potassium.

Additional Information

Any person may file a notice of objection regarding this decision for metam sodium and metam potassium within 60 days from the date of publication of this Re-evaluation Note. For more information regarding the basis for objecting (which must be based on scientific grounds), please refer to the Pesticides and Pest Management portion of Health Canada's website (Request a Reconsideration of Decision) at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/protect-proteger/publi-regist/index-eng.php#rrd or contact the PMRA's Pest Management Information Service.

PMRA documents can be found on the Pesticides and Pest Management portion of Health Canada's website. PMRA documents are also available through the Pest Management Information Service.