OTTAWA - The federal government is moving to phase out a common neonicotinoid insecticide after finding that it accumulates in waterways and harms aquatic insects.
Health Canada has announced a 90-day public consultation period on imidacloprid, which is used on everything from cereals, grains, pulses and oilseeds to forestry woodlots and flea infestations on pets.
Neonicotinoids as a class of pesticides have come under heavy scrutiny in recent years for their potential impact on bee populations.
A study by Health Canada found that measurements of imidacloprid in surface water have been found as high as 11.9 parts per billion, while levels above 0.041 parts per billion are a considered to be of scientific concern.
The government is proposing to phase out all agricultural usage and most other outdoor uses of imidacloprid over a period of three to five years.
Ontario's provincial government moved to restrict the use of imidacloprid last year, as have some European countries.
