Resolution No. 40-03A

WHEREAS, the spread of leafy spurge is a serious problem in some areas of the province, not only on municipal road allowances, but on private property as well; and

WHEREAS, Tordon 22K is the only chemical registered for the control of leafy spurge; and

WHEREAS, the BASF chemical labeled as Plateau has been found to be successful in the control of leafy spurge, and is registered for use in the United States; and

WHEREAS, Plateau has a broader application period and is less harmful to the environment than Tordon 22K;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that SARM lobby Agriculture Canada and the Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada to take whatever steps are required to make Plateau available for use in Canada.

Response from the Honourable A. Anne McLellan, Minister of Health Canada:

Thank you for your correspondence of March 17, 2003, on behalf of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities concerning the resolution and availability of the product, Plateau. I am pleased to address the resolution posed by the Annual Convention of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities. I apologize for the delay in responding.

With respect to the enclosed resolution, leafy spurge is recognized as a significant weed problem in Canada. There are currently six herbicide active ingredients (found in numerous end-use products) registered in Canada for the control of leafy spurge. Plateau is not registered for use in Canada. That product's active ingredient, imazamox, is registered in Canada and is used in a variety of end-use products which are registered for use in Canada.

It is possible that the registrations of one or more of those products could be amended to include use in controlling leafy spurge. However, I must point out that Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency cannot register a new product or expand an existing registration, without first receiving an application from the manufacturer.