CHAPTER Pesticides in Agricultural Areas 3 Audited Entities: Ministère de l Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l Alimentation Ministère du Développement durable, de l Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques
Why Did We Perform this Audit? Pesticides can have negative effects on human health and the environment. Pesticide sales are increasing in agricultural areas. 29% increase in kg of active materials sold between 1992 and 2014 30% increase in volume per cultivated hectare from 2006 to 2014 14% increase in the health risk indicator and 4% increase in the environmental risk indicator since the 2006-2008 reference period Concentration of pesticides criteria in river water frequently exceeded Ch. 3, Par. 3, 5, 6 2
What Did We Verify? Does the Ministère du Développement durable, de l Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MDDELCC) monitor pesticide use in agricultural areas and measure its impact on environmental quality? Does the Ministère de l Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l Alimentation (MAPAQ) assess the effects of pest control methods used on food quality? Do the MDDELCC and the MAPAQ take steps to reduce the impact of pesticide use in agricultural areas to ensure the protection of the environment, the preservation of biodiversity and the public health? Ch. 3, Appendix 1 3
Key Concepts Control and management of pesticides: responsibilities shared by the federal and provincial or territorial governments Federal government: product approval, marketing and labelling Provinces: ability to establish more restrictive regulations than the federal government and regulate the storage, sale and use of pesticides Neonicotinoids (insecticides) Used to coat seeds (approximately 97% of corn seeds and 60% of soy seeds) Systemic pesticides that enter into all parts of the plant, including the fruit (cannot be eliminated by washing) Negative effects on bees, birds, earthworms and aquatic invertebrates Ch. 3, Par. 11, 23, 75 4
Key Concepts (cont.) Glyphosate (herbicide) is generally associated with the use of genetically modified organism seeds (mainly in corn and soy crops) and prevents all weeds from growing, except the genetically modified plant, which is resistant to the herbicide. Ch. 3, Par. 75 5
Principal Findings Deterioration of River Water Since 1992, the MDDELCC has been noting annually the presence of several pesticides, most likely to harm human health and to the environment, in watercourses in regions with a high concentration of farms. Among the samples collected from 2011 to 2014 97% contained atrazine 96% contained neonicotinoids 91% contained glyphosate Ch. 3, Par. 34-36 6
Principal Findings Deterioration of River Water (cont.) Increase in the frequency of concentrations in excess of water quality criteria since 2011 Frequency of excess concentrations for certain pesticides in 2014: 6.9% for atrazine 99.1% for neonicotinoids 7.7% for chlorpyrifos The indicator used to assess the quality of biodiversity shows that several rivers are in a precarious or poor state. Ch. 3, Par. 34, 36, 42, 43 7
Last report published (2005-2009) Principal Findings Low Concentration of Pesticides in Drinking Water Pesticide concentrations detected: levels below the standards Not all of the 45 pesticides present in the river water tested No data published on the presence or absence of neonicotinoids in drinking water (tests began at the end of 2015) Well water in agricultural areas 69% of wells sampled: low concentration of pesticides (not exceeding the standard for drinking water) Ch. 3, Par. 39-41 8
Principal Findings Pesticides in Food The MAPAQ can determine the level of health risks only for the tested foods and pesticides. 14 fruits or vegetables grown in Québec or imported were tested over a period of 5 years (same products tested every year) Products purchased in public markets or from pick-your-own locations not tested 8 pesticides sold in large quantities to farmers not tested Although the standards are rarely exceeded, risks remain. The impact on health of several different pesticides present in a given food is relatively unknown. Ch. 3, Par. 49, 52, 53 9
Principal Findings Insufficient Government Interventions Pesticide sales continue to increase. Risk indicator targets are far from being achieved, although phytosanitary strategies have existed since 1992. Ch. 3, Par. 65, 66 10
Principal Findings Insufficient Government Interventions (cont.) The 2011-2021 phytosanitary strategy presents deficiencies. Few actions (14 of 77) target reducing pesticide use. The majority of actions (56 of 77) pertain to raise awareness and complete studies. Several actions are measured by activities indicators rather than results. It is difficult to know whether the situation is improving. Few budgetary resources are devoted to its implementation. Ch. 3, Par. 67, 68 11
Principal Findings Insufficient Government Interventions (cont.) The incentives are insufficient to entice farmers to adopt farming practices that favour sustainable development. Only 27% of producers always or mostly use integrated pest management practices. 20% of respondents do not consider the minimum thresholds justifying the use of pesticides and fungicides prior to applying them. Only 32% of farmers use independent consulting services; however, better integrated pest management results are observed when these services are used. Pesticides are often used as a preventive measure without justification. Use of glyphosate (herbicide) with genetically modified organisms prior to weed presence Seeds coated with neonicotinoids (insecticides) used without prior verification of insect pests presence in soil Ch. 3, Par. 70, 73-75, 80 12
Principal Findings Minimal Regulatory Framework The framework pertains to the sale of products to farmers (holding of a certificate), safe storage, and the minimum distances to maintain when preparing and applying products. No obligation to produce a register to report on the use of products There are few controls for maintaining minimum distances and following the manufacturer s instructions. 21 inspections for crop spraying in 2015 (10 000 certificate holders) In November 2015, the MDDELCC tabled the Stratégie québécoise sur les pesticides 2015-2018. Legislative and regulatory changes planned to improve the pesticide use framework (consultations with partners to come) No measures put in place yet Ch. 3, Par. 84, 86, 88, 90 13
Other Subjects Covered Pesticide evaluation during the approval process The federal Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development reports deficiencies in the approval process. Pesticides sold in Québec No complete picture of product sales or use no relationship between the products used, the crops on which the products are used and the producers seeds coated with neonicotinoid insecticides used on more than 500,000 hectares annually not included Measures put in place for a responsible agriculture Tools put in place are seldom used: the Réseau d avertissements phytosanitaires and SAgE pesticides Measures not implemented: conditional financial assistance for farmers and the polluter pays principle Ch. 3, Par. 23, 27, 28, 77, 82 14
Comments of the Audited Entities The audited entities accepted all our recommendations. Ch. 3, P. 28 15