Market issues over pesticide residue could impact quinclorac use on Canola

LETHBRIDGE – Canola growers are being advised to contact their grain buyer before using the herbicide quinclorac this growing season.

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) says the issue is pesticide residue limits.

Jim Everson, president of the council, says it is important to ensure exported canola meets the requirements of foreign markets, including with respect to pesticide residues.
 
The Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues recently decided to promote the adoption of proposed maximum residue limit (MRL) for quinclorac in canola.  However, an international MRL has not yet approved the Codex Alimentarius Commission is expected to officially adopt the report of the Codex Committee on Pesticide Residues at its July 2018 meeting.
 
The CCC is concerned about market access issues.  For that reason, it is monitoring pesticide residue requirements in major market, while working with life science companies to promote voluntary responsible commercialization.  It is also working with the Government of Canada to get MRLs established as fast as possible in export markets and promoting best practices with growers through the Keep it Clean program to meet specific export requirements. 

Processors and exporters continue to have concern about quinclorac-treated canola being accepted in China and won’t accept canola treated with the herbicide this year.