What does David Suzuki Think? Of the SPP

Letter I got from David Suzuki

May 17, 2007

The Hon. Tony Clement

Minister of Health

Government of Canada

House of Commons

Ottawa, Ontario K1A0A6

Fax: (613) 992-5092



Dear Minister Clement:

I am writing in response to recent news reports that the Government of Canada

Intends to raise maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides on fruits and

vegetables in order to "harmonize" with weaker U.S. standards. On behalf of the

David Suzuki Foundation, I urge you to abandon this misguided initiative.



Establishing the legal benchmarks for monitoring contamination by pesticides

and other toxic substances is a key element in ensuring that Canadians are eating

healthy food.



Even exposure to very small amounts of some of these chemicals may be harmful.



It is our understanding that the proposal to raise the MRLs is related to priorities

of the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP). The 2006 SPP report identified

the need to "resolve differences in pesticide maximum residue limits that may be

Barriers to trade."



The Canadian public is clearly concerned about health issues and the safety of food, so it is deeply concerning that controls on pesticide residues would be treated primarily as a trade technicality. As the Minister of Health, we believe it is your responsibility to ensure that the SPP will not be used to justify weakening Canadian standards.



In a study published last fall by the David Suzuki Foundation, The Food We Eat:

An International Comparison of Pesticide Regulations, we compared the MRLs of

Canada, the U.S., the European Union, Australia and the World Health Organization for 40 pesticide/food combinations.



In our analysis we found that the U.S. had the weakest rules for more than half of the pesticide uses studied.



What's more, we found that Canadian MRLs are already weaker in many cases

than parallel standards in the European Union and Australia. In some cases,

Canadian standards do not even meet the minimum guidelines



Based on these findings, the David Suzuki Foundation continues to recommend

that Canada review its MRLs and look to strengthening them to ensure that they are at least as protective as the strongest standards in place in other OECD countries.



The recently reported SPP initiative is a step in the wrong direction. Harmonization to the lowest common denominator is not in the best interests of Canadians. The David Suzuki Foundation asks you to assure Canadians that maximum residue limits for pesticides will not be weakened.



We would be happy to discuss our concerns with you or a member of your staff.



Please do not hesitate to contact our Foundation's environmental health policy analyst, Lisa Gue, at 613-594-5428. Thank you for your attention to this



Important matter.

Ann Rowan

Director, Sustainability Program

Cc: The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister (613) 941-6900

The Hon. David Emerson, Minister of International Trade (613) 943-0219

Ms. Bonnie Brown, Health Critic (613) 992-0520

Ms. Penny Priddy, Health Critic (613) 992-0252

Ms. Christiane Gagnon, Health Critic (418) 523-6672