In December I had a hair analysis test done which showed high levels of pesticides in my body that are helping to overload my detox systems. I did the test because I thought I would find high levels of flouride or pharmaceutical drugs from drinking tap water, but instead found high levels of Advent and Tordon 50 among other things (like Cyanazine and Eraicaine). As a result I have gotten interested in the issue of pesticide use in British Columbia. It seems that most other provinces have some sort of guidelines and restrictions but BC doesn’t. At the moment the Integrated Pest Management group is asking for discussion, comments and suggestions, please get involved in the discussion here.

Cosmetic Use of Pesticides in British Columbia Consultation Forum

In the August 25th 2009 Speech from the Throne, the Government of British Columbia committed to consult British Columbians on “new statutory protections to further safeguard the environment from cosmetic chemical pesticides.”

This consultation paper and a response form for providing comments to the ministry, and links to related legislation, are posted on the Cosmetic Use of Pesticides Consultation Forum website. This information can also be accessed by clicking on the “Cosmetic Use of Pesticide Consultation” button on the Ministry of
Environment home page.

Discussion comments and responses received by February 15, 2010 will be reviewed by the ministry and a summary posted on the Consultation Forum website. Following this review, the ministry will inform respondents and post information regarding next steps and any intentions for revision of statutory provisions governing the cosmetic use of pesticides.(taken from IPM website

I personally would love to see all use of pesticides completely stopped once and forever and everyone going back to small scale bio-dynamic, organic or natural farming as suggested by Masanobu Fukuoka in his book The One-Straw Revolution.

The following information is taken from the Cosmetic Use of Pesticides in British Columbia Public Consultation Paper which can be accessed here.

A pesticide is anything that is intended to prevent, destroy, repel, attract or manage a pest. Pesticides used to kill insects are known as insecticides; those that kill weeds are herbicides; and those that kill rodents are called rodenticides.

In 2004 B.C. became the first jurisdiction in North America to require the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on all public land and by all commercial pesticide applicators. IPM is a systematic decision-making process that aims to prevent pests from becoming problems, and to determine what actions to take if pest problems occur.

Cosmetic use of pesticides can be considered as the use of pesticides for non-essential or aesthetic purposes. For example, a pesticide may be used in an outdoor situation to improve the appearance of lawns, gardens,
landscapes or other green spaces and/or to control unwanted or undesirable organisms.

An example of some of the other province’s regulations:
D. Québec
Québec regulates pesticide use under a Pesticides Management Code instituted in 2003. The code, among other provisions:

• Prohibits the sale and use of about 20 “active ingredients” present in some 200 lawn pesticide products registered under federal legislation – listed in a Schedule of the code
• Requires pesticides to be sold “behind-the-counter”
• Prohibits the use of most pesticides inside and outside child care centres and schools
• Lists 14 “low or reduced risk” pesticides (such as borax, silicon dioxide and acetic acid) that are explicitly authorized for sale and use in public places such as schools and child care centres – under a specific Schedule of the code
• Prohibits the sale and use of pesticide-fertilizer mixtures for lawns
• Allows use of prohibited pesticides by golf course operators and requires operators to submit a “pesticide reduction plan” to the ministry every three years
• Prohibits the application of pesticides less than three metres from a body of water

Please submit any comments you might have by February 15th! More info here