A popular farm fungicide, now banned in Europe as a suspected carcinogen, remains in widespread use in Canada today.
The European Union halted sales of all crop fungicides containing the active ingredient, chlorothalonil this spring. The move followed advice from its Food Safety Agency (EFSA) that chlorothalonil "may cause cancer in humans." Canada, on the other hand, re-approved the same product just over a year ago. Hard numbers on amounts still being applied in this country are hard to come by. But official government documents show it continues to be approved for use in no less than 29 crop protection products. by Larry Powell A ground sprayer in Manitoba. Stats Canada says farmers in that province apply fungicides "more frequently" than their counterparts in any other province, " possibly due to its large potato sector." A PinP photo. Chlorothalonil is the active ingredient in several agricultural fungicides used to treat mildew, blight and mold in many food crops. It's