In 2008, both the Alberta and Ontario governments announced separate proposed plans to limit the use of cosmetic pesticides.
While the Alberta weed and feed ban won’t take affect until 2010, the
Ontario government expects to have its cosmetic pesticide ban in place
by spring of 2009.
Over the past few months, Ontarians were given until
Dec. 22 to comment on the following areas in regards to the ban:
-the proposed list of products and ingredients to be banned for use
-the proposed list of products and ingredients to be banned or restricted for sale
-rules for pesticide use on golf courses
-the exceptions to the ban for public health or safety reasons.
The comments are now being reviewed and will help finalize a regulation
to enforce the ban. The ban would eliminate the use of conventional
pesticides for cosmetic purposes on lawns, gardens, schoolyards and
parks. The Ontario government released the following comment via a press release: "We have heard from Ontarians on the draft regulation and are
prepared to work with all partners to ensure an orderly implementation
of the legislation in 2009," said Environment Minister John Gerretsen. "In particular, we are working with retailers to
ensure that they will be able to comply with the tough sales ban aspect
of the legislation."
So I wanted to ask you: how are you preparing for these proposed bans
at your garden centre? What alternatives will you be offering your
customers and how do you plan to educate customers about these alternatives? Are
you concerned that your customers will seek out their pesticide
products across the border?
Click here to have your say!
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