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if, Pesticide Vendor Certification Course Manual CROP Ontario PROTECTION INSTITUTE Copyright Provisions and Restrictions on Copying: This Ontario Ministry of the Environment work is protected by Crown copyright (unless otherwise indicated), which is held by the Queen's Printer for Ontario. It may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes if credit is given and Crown copyright is acknowledged. It may not be reproduced, in all or in part, for any commercial purpose except under a licence from the Queen's Printer for Ontario. For information on reproducing Government of Ontario works, please contact ServiceOntario Publications at Ontario Pesticide Education Program is grateful for the technical advice and support received from: Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs AGCare Agricultural Groups Concerned about Resources and the Environment (representing 45,000 Ontario farmers) C.P.L Crop Protection Institute, Ontario Chapter (representing pesticide manuficturers and distributors) Pesticide Education Network Ontario Pesticide Education Program also wishes to thank the British Columbia Ministry of the Environment and the Co-operative Extension Department of Cornell University. Copyright ®1994, Ridgetown College of Agricultural Technology. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written consent of the Publisher. The use of any product is not endorsed, recommended or criticized by its being in the Pesticide Vendor Certification Course (PVCC) material. (This manual is based on the 1991 clear written edition of the Pesticide Vendor Certification Course manual.) 1990-91 Clear Writing and Design Project Managed by Centralia College of Agricultural Technology Sponsored by a Workplace Literacy incentive Grant, Ontario Ministry of Education Available through any office of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs This book is also available from the Ontario Pesticide Education Program Ridgetown, Ontario, NOP 2C0 (519)674-1580 ISBN 0-7778-3659-9 Table of Contents Regulations How Pesticides are Regulated 1 Enforcement of the Pesticides Act 9 Classification of Pesticides 13 Selling Pesticides 17 Product Information The Pesticide Label 31 Pesticide Formulations 45 The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) 53 Human Health Risk of Pesticide Use 61 Pesticide Poisonings 67 First Aid 79 Pesticide Safety Protective Clothing and Equipment 87 Transportation of Pesticides 99 How to Dispose of Pesticides Safely 107 How to Store Pesticjdes Safely 117 Pesticides and the Environment 129 Food Safety 143 Pest Management Choosing the Right Pest Control 147 Weeds and Theft Control 157 Insects and Their Control 167 Diseases and Their Control 173 Animal Pests and Their Control 179 Selecting and Purchasing Advice to Customers 183 Pesticide Vendor Cenification course Applying Pesticides Application Equipment 187 Calibration of Application Equipment 221 How Well Pesticides Work 235 Applying the Right Amount pf Pesticide 241 Keeping Pesticide Records 259 Emergency Response Health and Safety on the Job 265 Pesticide Spills 269 Pesticide Fires 279 Emergency Planning 285 Be A Professional 291 Appendices Glossary of Terms 297 Answers to Review Questions 313 Information Numbers 329 MOEE Pesticides Control Field Offices 331 Safety Supply Companies 333 The Metric System 337 References 341 Notes 345 Pesticide Vendor Certification Course How Pesticides are Regulated Federal Laws The Pest Control Products Act (PCP Act) is the federal law that regulates all products used to control pests in Canada. The PCP Act was first passed in 1939 and new Regulations were added in 1972. The law was revised again in 1982. The Pest Control Before a pesticide can be sold or used in Canada, it must be registered Products Act under the PCP Act. How a Product Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is responsible for administering the is Registered PCP Act and its Regulations. Before a pesticide is registered, the manufacturer must prove that it is safe and effective when used as directed on the label. The manuficturer must submit scientific data on the chemistry, toxicology, metabolism, residues, environmental impact and effectiveness of the product. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada works with experts from Health Canada, Environment Canada and Natural Resources Canada to review the information presented. They must be sure that the product will not be harmful to plants, animals or the public health. Health Canada (Environmental Health Directorate), is responsible for assessing how dangerous pesticides are for the people who are exposed to them. They determine what precautionary statements and hazard symbols must appear on the label. Regulations - How Pesticides are Regulated Re-evaluation of The federal legislation on pesticides allows Agriculture and Agri-Food Registered Canada to re-evaluate a registered product at any time if new Pesticides infonnation becomes available or if the manufacturer asks for a new use to be added to the label. Within the past ten years. we have learned a lot more about the effectiveness of pesticides and their safety for the user and the environment. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada reviews registered products according to the current information. They may decide that the product should be used in a different way or that additional precautions must be included on the label. They may even suspend or cancel a product. When a product is suspended, any packages already at retail outlets may be sold, but the registrant may not distribute any more of the product. When a product is cancelled, the product may not be sold even if it is already at retail outlets. In some cases, the product may even be recalled. . The company that registered the product (the registrant) may appeal any decision or change in the registration of their product. In some cases, the registrant may choose to remove the product voluntarily. Other Federal Other federal laws also regulate pesticides: Acts Food & Drugs The Food and Drugs Act is administered by the Food Directorate of Act (FDA) Health Canada. This Act protects the health of consumers by preventing the sale of food that contains any harmful or poisonous substance. The Food Directorate determines the maximum amount of pesticide residue that may safely be contained in our foods. This amount is called the maximum residue limit (MRL). The MRL is measured in parts per million and is based on the toxicity of the pesticide, its application rate and timing, and the crop to which it is being applied. The Food Directorate sets limits on the time when pesticides may be applied to the crop. For example, they are responsible for statements . on the label such as, "Do not apply within 10 days of harvest". The Food Directorate also sets restrictions for feeding crop refuse to livestock. Any restrictions must appear on the label. 2 Reglations How Pesticides are Regulated It is the responsibility of the primary producer (the farmer), the spray operator, and the food processor to make sure that all the restrictions are followed, if you ignore the restrictions you are breaking the law. Your crops or produce may be seized and you may flee a fine or jail sentence. Fertilizer Act The Fertilizer Act is the federal law that regulates all fertilizers used in Canada, including fertilizers containing pesticides. Before a fertilizer! pesticide can be sold or used in Canada, it must be registered under the Fertilizer Act. Pesticide This Act pays the producer for damages or losses if the sale of his Residues produce is stopped because it contains more pesticide residue than the Compensation Food and Drugs Act allows. Act The producer must prove that the pesticide was applied according to the label directions in order to be considered for compensation. Feeds Act The Feeds Act provides regulations to prevent the contamination of feed. Fisheries Act The Fisheries Act prevents anyone from placing harmful substances in water frequented by fish. Migratory Birds The Migratory Birds Convention Act prevents anyone from placing Convention Act harmful substances in water, or any area, frequented by waterfowl and migratory birds. Transportation This Act is administered by Transport Canada. It controls the of Dangerous handling, offering for transport, and transport of hazardous products Goods Act including some pesticides. Canadian This Act protects the environment as well as human life and health. Environmental The Act covers many different areas including: Protection Act (CEPA) • procedures to review and approve chemicals • mandatory reporting • export and import controls • recalls and clean-ups • new inspection and enforcement powers. Regulations - How Pesticides are Regulated Provincial Laws In Ontario, pesticides, and fertilizers containing pesticides, are regulated by the Pesticides Act and Regulation. They are administered by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. All pesticides registered under the federal PCF Act must be classified in Ontario before they can be offered for sale in Ontario. Pesticides Act Products are classified into one of six schedules (or categories) depending on: • how poisonous they are (toxicity) • whether they create environmental or health hazards • how long they last in the environment (persistence) • their concentration • how they are used. . The Ontario Pesticides Advisory Committee (OPAC) reviews the technical information on each pesticide and recommends a classification to the Minister of Environment and Energy for approval. The classification system allows Ontario to make sure that pesticides are only used by people who need them and have the knowledge to use them properly. Ontario's Pesticide Schedules Schedule Used By Licensed Applicator or Certified Farmer with 1 approved permit 2,5 Licensed Applicator or Certified Farmer - no permit required 3,4,6 Licensed Applicator or Certified Farmer or Farmer (not certified) or Homeowner - no permit required 4 Reglations - How Pesticides are Regulated You can find the schedules of pesticides and fertilizers containing pesticides in the book "Pesticide Products Classified in Ontario" produced by the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Energy. The schedules are also listed in the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs recommendation publications. You can also ask your supplier. - The Pesticides Act and Regulation control the use, sale, storage, display, disposal and transportation of pesticides, and fertilizers containing pesticides. As of April 1, 1991, Schedule 1, 2 or 5 pesticide products may only be purchased and used by growers (farmers) who have been certified by taking the Grower Pesticide Safety Course. Farmers must be re-certified every 5 years. Under the Pesticides Act, a grower (farmer) is a person who farms at least 5 hectares, or has an average annual gross revenue over three years of not less than $4,000 from the sale of agricultural or forestry production. You will find more details about the regulations in other sections of this manual. Other Provincial There are three other Ontario laws that regulate the use of pesticides. Acts Environmental The purpose of the Environment Protection Act is to protect and Protection Act conserve the natural environment. This Act is administered by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. lit would apply to pesticides if they contaminate the natural environment in any way. Part X of the Environmental Protection Act is commonly known as the "Spills Bill". It regulates the spill of any kind of pollutant. Ontario Water This Act states that it is illegal to deposit in any body of water in Resources Act Ontario any material that may impair the quality of the water. This Act is administered by the Ministry of Environment and Energy. Regutations - How Pesticides are Regulated 5