US groups seek reverse of Ontario pesticide ban

US industry groups have urged the Canadian province of Ontario to withdraw its ban on the sale of pesticides for cosmetic or non-essential purposes. CropLife America (CLA) and its non-crop arm, RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), fear that the move could set back harmonisation efforts in the NAFTA region. The Ontario government recently proposed detailed regulations to implement the ban, which is due to come into force in spring 2009 ( Agrow No 556, p 17).