LUNATIC FEARMONGERING, JUNK SCIENCE ACTIVISTS EXPOSED :
[Paul Tukey's movie "A Chemical Reaction" is now legally discredited, and reduced to a money making conspiracy theory]
[The Canadian Cancer Society has failed in its Activist Attempts, they will now feel the financial repercussions]
[Gideon Forman needs to be FIRED immediately]
[David Suzuki has come to his end, what a memory he will have become]
Quebec backs down on 2,4-D, says it is not harmful to humans
Dow scores NAFTA challenge victory over famous herbicide. What about BPA?
The details have yet to emerge, but Dow AgroSciences says it has settled a NAFTA challenge case with Ottawa over the pesticide 2,4-D. As part of agreement, a victory for the company, the government of Quebec has agreed to a statement saying the pesticides used chemical does “not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment.”
Quebec was the first province to declare weed-killers containing 2,4-D as possibly carcinogenic. On that basis, municipalities in Quebec instituted bans of its use as a lawn weed killer. Other jurisdictions also banned 2,4-D, but often stopped short of declaring the chemical a carcinogen. Instead, they invented other reasons for eliminating the chemical, but the junk science cancer scare always lurked in the background as a motivation.
Laws against lawn herbicides containing 2,4-D therefore remain in place, but not because they pose any real health land environmental risk. Under the NAFTA agreement with Dow, “the government of Quebec agrees that products containing 2,4-D do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, provided that the instructions on their label are followed.” This is consistent with Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory agency and regulators in the U.S. and Europe.
What this means in Canada is that we now have chemical bans in existence in all regions that are based on junk science scares perpetrated by environmental activists. Quebec set a precedent on the basis of a cancer scare, other regions followed.
Meanwhile, Canadian farmers–where almost 99% of 2,4-D is used–can continue to spray know that there is now little chance that any ban will ever be extended to their industry. Within Canadian cities, however, dandelions and weeds cannot be removed using perfectly safe chemicals.
Which brings up Bisphenol-A (BPA), another chemical that’s safe by any measure and in most countries (Europe, US) but which is on Ottawa’s junk science list and helped turn Tory Cabinet Minister John Baird into local hero for mounting a baby bottle BPA ban. How many safe chemicals can governments ban on the basis of junk science claims by activists such as Rick Smith at Environmental Defense, aka more recently as the Lipstick Man.
Coming June 14 to FP Comment: JUNK SCIENCE WEEK.
Posted in: FP Comment Tags: 2, 4-D, carcinogen, chemicals, Dow AgroSciences, herbicide, NAFTA, pesticides
Quebec backs down on 2,4-D, says it is not harmful to humans | FP Comment | Financial Post.
For Immediate Release
Dow AgroSciences LLC and Government of Canada settle NAFTA claim
Importance of scientific evidence in public health decisions reaffirmed
Government of Quebec agrees with Health Canada’s PMRA findings on safety of 2,4-D
Calgary, Canada (May 25, 2011) – Dow AgroSciences today announced a formal settlement agreement with the Government of Canada with regard to its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) challenge against the Government of Canada.
In March 2009, Dow AgroSciences LLC alleged Canada had breached its obligations under Section A of Chapter 11 of NAFTA, under Article 1105 (Fair and Equitable Treatment in Accordance with International Law) and Article 1110 (Expropriation). Dow AgroSciences LLC based its claim on the actions of the Government of Quebec in starting a campaign in 2002 to ban certain non crop uses of herbicides containing the active ingredient 2,4-D without any scientific basis for such a ban.
This ban came into force on April 3, 2006, despite advice received by the Government of Quebec's own officials that there was no scientific basis for this ban and despite numerous attempts by Dow AgroSciences Canada to work with the Government of Quebec in using a science-based, transparent policymaking framework for its decision on 2,4-D.
As part of the settlement agreement, Dow AgroSciences LLC will waive its legal actions and claims against the Government of Canada under NAFTA. In addition, Section 3 a) of the settlement agreement, states:
"… the Government of Quebec agrees that products containing 2,4-D do not pose an unacceptable risk to human health or the environment, provided that the instructions on their label are followed, as concluded by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency ("PMRA") in its May 16, 2008, decision on the re-evaluation of 2,4-D."
"This settlement is positive for our company, our value-chain partners and most importantly, our customers. Quebec has agreed with the federal government’s findings as to the safety of our product when used correctly. This is consistent with regulatory findings in the United States and in the European Union" said Jim Wispinski, President and CEO of Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc.
"We also extend our appreciation to the Government of Canada in reaching this settlement which avoids a lengthy and costly NAFTA case," added Wispinski.
About Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences LLC, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, is a top-tier agricultural company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. Dow AgroSciences provides innovative technologies for crop protection, pest and vegetation management, seeds, traits, and agricultural biotechnology to serve the world's growing population. Dow AgroSciences Canada Inc. is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.
For more information contact: Brenda Harris at 403-735-8829.
