The 90-day consultation period regarding access to strychnine for rodent control in Canadian fields is drawing to a close.
Back in July, Health Canada proposed the de-registration of the chemical, often used to curb rodent population in farmers fields as the department found the chemical was also causing harm to species-at-risk, such as the swift fox and the burrowing owl.
As the deadline for comments inches closer (September 30), Saskatchewan’s four major agricultural associations are stepping up in hopes to get a 30-day extension on the consultation period. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities (SARM), Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association (SCA), Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA), and the Agricultural Producers’ Association of Saskatchewan (APAS) are all asking for the extension.
“Saskatchewan’s ranchers and farmers are the only sector that would be impacted by the PMRA review,” Todd Lewis, president of APAS says in a news release. “The time period for the consultation is totally unreasonable, given that they are all completely involved in harvest and preparation for winter.”
As of right now, the four associations hope they will be able to get a one month extension so they can have more time to be able to research and present scientific facts to Health Canada about why access to strychnine is important.
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