Minister of Environment, Energy and Forestry Jamie Ballem announced today that Government intends to amend provincial pesticide regulations to clarify transportation requirements and provide a one-year phase-in period for changes to the applicator certification system.
Following an extensive public consultation process, Government approved major amendments to the Pesticides Control Act Regulations in December 2005. The changes are designed to safeguard the health and well-being of Islanders by helping ensure that pesticides are applied in a safe and appropriate manner by individuals who are trained and qualified to use pesticide products.
At the request of Souris-Elmira MLA Andy Mooney, Minister Ballem recently met with a group of farmers in the Souris area who expressed concerns about the changes in the certification system and the impact on their operations this year. As a result of this meeting and consultations with MLAs, Government is moving to clarify the regulations.
“When the new regulations came into effect in December, we introduced an entirely new certification system for pesticide application. As a result, many people who applied pesticides in the past could no longer do so,” said Minister Ballem. “With the amendments Government approved in principle today, we are not changing the original intent of the regulations, but simply allowing agricultural operations time to make the transition to the new certification system.”
Under the old regulations, those applying agricultural pesticides held either an AG-1 or AG-2 Pesticide Use Certificate. The regulations approved in December eliminated these certificates and introduced a Class A Pesticide Applicator Certificate which allows the holder to apply a pesticide to agricultural land or to an agricultural crop; and a Loader/Mixer Certificate which allows the holder to transport and mix non-domestic pesticides but not to apply them. Under the December changes, AG-1 certificates that have not expired are to be considered as Class A Pesticide Applicator certificates until their date of expiry; and AG-2 certificates that have not expired are to be considered as Loader/Mixer Certificates.
Minister Ballem said the proposed amendments will allow those who hold an AG-2 Pesticide Use Certificate to retain the ability to apply pesticides until December 31, 2006. If, by that time, they have completed the required continuing education credits – two hours training in Environmental Safety and two hours in Pest Management – they will be issued a Class A Pesticide Applicator Certificate with the same expiry date as their current AG-2 certificate. If they do not complete the required training, they will be issued a Loader/Mixer Certificate with the same expiry date as their current AG-2 certificate.
Minister Ballem said Tuesday that Government also intends to clarify the section of the regulations dealing with transportation requirements. The regulations approved in December indicate that a Loader/Mixer Certificate or a Pesticide Applicator Certificate is required to handle or transport a concentrated non-domestic pesticide on a public roadway. Minister Ballem said it was not the intent of the regulations to require certification for those transporting treated seed, however, some people have interpreted the regulations that way. Therefore, they will be clarified to specify that a certificate is not required to transport seed treated with a pesticide. This section of the regulations will also be revised to allow the holder of a Transportation of Dangerous Goods Certificate to transport a non-domestic pesticide.
The amendments to the Pesticides Control Act Regulations are currently being drafted and the plan is to have them in place for this growing season.