The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) notified registrant of spinosad of the initiation of the re-evaluation of spinosad.

Spinosad is a broad spectrum systemic insecticide registered for use on agricultural crops including greenhouse vegetables and ornamentals, a large number of agricultural filed crops (such as potatoes, grapes, pome fruits, stone fruits, berries, vegetables), outdoor ornamentals, and turf. It is also registered in residential areas on home gardens (such as fruits, vegetables and ornamentals), and control of ants in residential areas.

The re-evaluation of spinosad is defined as a Category 1 as described in Regulatory Directive DIR2016-04, Management of Pesticides Re-evaluation Policy. For this re-evaluation, 980 calendar days are required between re-evaluation initiation and publication of the proposed decision. Currently, a proposed re-evaluation decision for spinosad is anticipated to be published for consultation by January 2020. The re-evaluation timeline may be updated if, during the risk assessment, the PMRA identifies additional areas of focus that should be considered.

New assessments will be conducted for toxicology, dietary exposure, occupational exposure and residential exposure. Due to the common mechanism of toxicity for spinosad and the active ingredient spinetoram, a cumulative assessment will be undertaken.

New assessments will be conducted for environmental fate, water modelling and environmental exposure.

The value of spinosad will be considered. The viability of alternatives will be examined for certain uses if risks of concern requiring mitigation are identified.

Source: Health Canada