Canadians re-register simazine

After a recent re-evaluation of the herbicide simazine, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has granted continued registration of products containing simazine for sale and use in Canada.

An evaluation of available scientific information found that products containing simazine do not present unacceptable risks to human health or the environment when used according to label directions. As a condition of the continued registration of simazine uses, new risk-reduction measures must be included on the labels of all products. No additional data was required at this time.

Currently, 76 simazine products are registered in Australia, including 10 different registrants for the control of algae in pools, aquariums and ponds.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) is in the process of undertaking a review into simazine, and is due to publish a scope report shortly.

On the present evidence, the APVMA has stated it does not believe that the use of simazine products as algaecides in swimming pools presents any significant health risk; but the question will be formally considered in the context of the forthcoming review.