A private member’s bill introduced in the BC legislature on November 25, 2009 would ban the sale and use of cosmetic pesticides in the province of British Columbia. The bill is called the Cosmetic Pesticide and Carcinogen Control Act, 2009.
 

 “The purpose of this Act is to protect the health of British Columbians and the environment by reducing the production, use and sale of toxic and hazardous substances in the province of British Columbia, without adversely affecting the forestry or agriculture industry,” states the bill.

More than 20 municipalities in the province have already banned the use of cosmetic pesticides within their boundaries, but without a provincial ban there remains a loophole through which stores can still sell pesticides. Some stores in Burnaby and Vancouver, which both have municipal bans, still stock cosmetic pesticides.

Vancouver introduced a bylaw banning the use of cosmetic pesticides in 2005. Other Metro Vancouver communities have been slower to act, with communities like Delta having only approved a bylaw this past fall – which will not take effect for a year.

In a media release, the Wilderness Committee and Toxic Free Canada claim that : “a 2008 poll suggests that over 80% of British Columbians support a ban on pesticides for lawn and garden uses."
 

"Toxic Free Canada has carefully studied the ingredients of good pesticide legislation, and the bill introduced today hits all the right notes. There is compelling scientific evidence that common pesticides contain chemicals harmful to human health and the environment. Getting them off the market is the provincial government's responsibility,” said Mae Burrows, executive director of Toxic Free Canada.
 

Other groups like the Canadian Cancer Society  are also pushing for province-wide legislation banning the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides – stating  “the cosmetic use of pesticides may cause harm and provides no health benefit.”

BC residents are encouraged to contact their MLAs to make their views known about this new proposed bill.

Quebec and Ontario have already enacted similar laws – although the Quebec ban is being challenged by Dow AgroSciences LLC (“Dow”) under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
 

Non-toxic lawn and garden pesticide alternatives

Here are some suggestions from the David Suzuki Foundation to replace home use of pesticides with
non-toxic alternatives