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06/25/2021

Canadian field trials of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid on salmon farms?

 



 

Scottish Salmon Watch is pressing the Canadian Government for answers on whether secret trials of the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (marketed by the Norwegian-owned company Benchmark as Ectosan in 2017 and re-named BMK08 in 2019 and as D-10 Aquatic Blast by Salmo Pharma and Canadian company Aquaculture Veterinary Services International since 2014) have been carried out on salmon farms in Canada. 

 

 

 

 

A Freedom of Information disclosure by the Norwegian Environment Agency on 24 June 2021 included correspondence with Environment Canada:

 

Norwegian Medicines Agency FOI reply on Imidacloprid 24 June 2021 #4

Norwegian Medicines Agency FOI reply on Imidacloprid 24 June 2021 #2 Norwegian Medicines Agency FOI reply on Imidacloprid 24 June 2021 #3

Canadian Imidacloprid blog June 2021 #1

Canadian Imidacloprid blog June 2021 #2

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch filed a FOI request with Health Canada and Environment Canada on 16 June 2021:

 

From: Don Staniford <[email protected]>
Sent: 2021-06-16 1:21 AM
To: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Imidacloprid use in Canadian salmon farming?

I was just reading Health Canada's recent decision on Imidacloprid: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2021/05/backgrounder-re-evaluation-decision-for-imidacloprid-human-health-and-environment.html

Do you have information on the use of Imidacloprid (marketed as D10-Aquatic Blast, Ectosan and BMK08) in salmon farming in Canada?

As background, Imidacloprid was first pitched by Terry Drost in 2014 as D10-Aquatic Blast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eh-3pMRT0Z4

There was also a US patent filed in 2014: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20170135956A1/en

A patent was filed in Canada (CA3045239A1) in December 2017 (published in June 2018 & described as a 'National Entry' in May 2019).  Read more via Patent lifts lid on neonicotinoid use in salmon farming

Terry Drost was described in 2018 as the COO of New Wave Pharmaceuticals in New Brunswick: https://salmonbusiness.com/land-based-production-isnt-the-solution-to-the-sea-lice-problem/

New Wave Pharmaceuticals appear to be based in Fredericton: https://www.f6s.com/newwavepharmaceuticals

An article in Fish Farmer magazine in February 2020 (BMK08 is Imidacloprid) cited Canada: https://www.pressreader.com/uk/fish-farmer/20200211/282488595733006

There's more details on Imidacloprid use in salmon farming via:

Breaking News: Victory in Europe - Parliament votes against the use of the toxic neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in farmed salmon!

Who are the toxic team lurking behind Benchmark's BMK08 (Imidacloprid) in Scottish salmon pharming?

Horrible History: Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming 

Backgrounder: "Imidacloprid - A Neonicotinoid Insecticide Toxic to Aquatic Life"

Has Imidacloprid already been trialled in Canada as it has in Norway?

Has Health Canada or any other Canadian Government agency conducted any environmental risk assessments into the use of Imidacloprid on salmon farms in Canada?

Please consider this a formal FOI request or deal with informally.

Scottish Salmon Watch filed a FOI with the Norwegian Government yesterday with respect to Imidacloprid use on salmon farms in Norway (read FOI in full online here).

We revealed last month and last year that companies such as Mowi (who operate in Canada) were lobbying the Scottish Government and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for the use of Imidacloprid in Scottish waters:

The Ferret: "Bee-killing pesticide treatment for fish farms backed by Scottish Government"

Cleaning Tox-Sick Scottish Salmon - Benchmark's magic trick making the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid disappear!

Secret Trials: 'Royal' Salmon Doused with Bee-Killing Insecticide Imidacloprid?

Revealed: Toxic Neonicotinoid Insecticide Used to 'CleanTreat' Lousy Salmon

Suffice to say that the use of a banned neonicotinoid in salmon farming raises serious alarm bells:

The Guardian: "‘Novichok for insects’ may be approved for Scottish fish farms" 

New Science Dogs Approval of Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid for Scottish Salmon!

British Wildlife: "Neonics in Salmon Farming - Alarm Bells Are Ringing"

Further Scientific Opposition to Imidacloprid Use in Salmon Farming 

Scientific Opposition to Neonicotinoid Use in Salmon Farming

Best fishes,

Don Staniford

Director, Scottish Salmon Watch

 

 

Here's a non-reply from Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency:

 

From: PMRA Info / ARLA (HC/SC) <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, Jun 23, 2021 at 8:21 PM
Subject: From PMRA-Currently Registered Pesticides for Control of Sea Lice in Salmon-NOT Imidacloprid
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Cc: Info SC, HC Info (HC/SC) <[email protected]>

Hello Don,

Your email was forwarded to me. I am writing to you from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), the branch of Health Canada responsible for the registration and regulation of pesticides in Canada.

All products designed to manage, destroy, attract or repel pests that are used, sold or imported into Canada are regulated by the PMRA. These include chemicals, devices, and even organisms, and are referred to collectively as pest control products, or simply 'pesticides.' The term ‘pesticides’ refers to a multitude of pest control methods that include herbicides for weed control, fungicides for the control of plant diseases, insecticides and repellents to control insects, rodenticides to control rodents, electronic devices to control insects or rodents, sanitation products to control bacteria and viruses in pools and spas, special preservatives for wood, structural materials and other products, biochemicals and non-conventional products.

Before a pesticide is registered for use or sale in Canada, it must undergo a rigorous scientific assessment process which provides reasonable certainty that no harm, including chronic effects such as cancer, will occur when pesticides are used according to label directions. The registration of a new pesticide is a multi-year process that involves an applicant (usually a pesticide manufacturer) submitting an application to register and scientific data (DACO tables) to support the registration of its pesticide to the PMRA. During the application process, results from more than 200 types of scientific studies must be submitted to the PMRA who will determine if the pesticide would cause any negative effects to people, animals, birds, insects, plants, as well as on the soil and in the water. Special consideration is given to sensitive sub-groups, such as pregnant and nursing women, infants, children and seniors. PMRA scientists then assess this data to ensure that health, environmental and other standards are met. They examine the entire data package, identify any risks to human health or the environment, and evaluate the effectiveness of the pesticide. This process typically takes 12 to 18 months and represents the majority of time spent on a submission. The process may take longer if the PMRA requires additional studies to be conducted in order to better understand the potential health or environmental impact of a pesticide.


Staff at the PMRA are responsible for administering the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) on behalf of the Minister of Health. Registration under the PCPA requires a thorough scientific evaluation to determine that new pesticides are acceptable for a specific use and that registered pesticides remain acceptable for use once on the market. If Canadians choose to use pesticides, they can only use a pesticide registered by the federal government for the pests and treatment areas listed on the label, and use them according to the label directions.

There are currently three registered pesticides for the control of sea lice in salmon:

INTEROX PARAMOVE 50 (Reg. No. 31393) which contains hydrogen peroxide;

AQUAPAROX 50 (Reg. No. 32401) which contains hydrogen peroxide; and

SALMOSAN VET (Reg. No. 32506) which contains azamethiphos as its active ingredient.

Their product labels can be viewed by accessing the PMRA’s Pesticide Label Database:

https://pr-rp.hc-sc.gc.ca/ls-re/index-eng.php

Imidacloprid is not registered for the control of sea lice in salmon in Canada.

I trust this information is helpful.

Robert Martin

Regulatory Information Officer

Pest Management Regulatory Agency

Health Canada / Government of Canada

[email protected]

1-800-267-6315

613-736-3799

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch replied:

 

From: Don Staniford <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, Jun 24, 2021 at 6:32 AM
Subject: Re: From PMRA-Currently Registered Pesticides for Control of Sea Lice in Salmon-NOT Imidacloprid
To: PMRA Info / ARLA (HC/SC) <[email protected]>
Cc: Info SC, HC Info (HC/SC) <[email protected]>

Thanks - but has an application for Imidacloprid been submitted for use in Canada?

In the UK, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate told Scottish Salmon Watch that they received an approach to use Imidacloprid in 2017.

In Norway, clinical trials of D-10 Aquatic Blast (imidacloprid) have taken place since 2017 with field trials of Ectosan/BMK08 (Imidacloprid) also taking place since 2017.  Details via: Anyone for Norwegian Salmon Marinaded in the Banned Neonicotinoid Imidacloprid (don't worry it's ASC-approved)?!

Could you please therefore answer the questions; namely:

Has Imidacloprid already been trialled in Canada as it has in Norway?

Has Health Canada or any other Canadian Government agency conducted any environmental risk assessments into the use of Imidacloprid on salmon farms in Canada?

Thanks,

Don

 

 

 

Earlier this month (18 June 2021), the Chilean newspaper Interferencia revealed that Benchmark (owned by billionaire Johan Andresen via Ferd - a Norway company which made their money via tobacco) wanted to use the banned neonicotinoid Imidacloprid in Chile. 

 

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch also reported last week (17 June 2021) on how the Norwegian Government's Directorate of Fisheries had supported clinical field trials of D-10 Aquatic Blast (Imidacloprid) at two salmon farms in Norway.  FOI requests filed with various Norwegian Government agencies and salmon farming companies (who are subject to the Environmental Information Act in Norway) cited an email from a Member of the Scottish Parliament (the sender's name was redacted but it is understood to be sent by Fergus Ewing who is seen bullying/lobbying for the use of Imidacloprid in Scottish waters):

 

image.png

 

 

The Ferret reported last month (21 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

The Guardian reported (27 May 2021):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scottish Salmon Watch revealed in May 2020 that Mowi (the world's largest salmon farming company who operate in Scotland, Chile, the Faroes, Norway as well as Canada) had lobbied the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to support a field trial of Ectosan (Imidacloprid) in Loch Ailort.

 

 

 

 

A 'Interpretation Request' filed by Mowi Norway to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council in February 2019 for the use of Ectosan (Imidacloprid) triggered the public revelation  - and subsequent public admission by Benchmark - in March 2020 that BMK08/Ectosan was Imidacloprid. 

 

 

 

 

 

Back in 2014, Canadian-based New Wave Agriculture Solutions issued a You Tube pitch to advance the use of D-10 Aquatic Blast (Imidacloprid) for use on salmon farms.

 

 

 

 

Terrence Drost and John O'Halloran filed a US Patent for the use of a neonicotinoid (named as Imidacloprid) in salmon farming in June 2014:

 

Patent Drost

 

 

 

The patent lists the agents as located in Toronto:

 

Patent Drost #2

 

 

A patent filed in Canada (CA3045239A1) in December 2017 (published in June 2018 & described as a 'National Entry' in May 2019) lifts the lid on how Norwegian-owned Benchmark plans to use the toxic neonicotinoid insecticide Imidacloprid in salmon farming. 

 

Imidacloprid Canadian Patent CA3045239A1 #1

Imidacloprid Canadian Patent CA3045239A1 #1

Imidacloprid Canadian Patent CA3045239A1 #2

Imidacloprid Canadian Patent CA3045239A1 #3

Imidacloprid Canadian Patent CA3045239A1 #4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more via:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addendum:

 

From: Don Staniford <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Jun 25, 2021 at 10:53 AM
Subject: Re: From PMRA-Currently Registered Pesticides for Control of Sea Lice in Salmon-NOT Imidacloprid
To: PMRA Info / ARLA (HC/SC) <[email protected]>
Cc: Info SC, HC Info (HC/SC) <[email protected]>
 
Please note emails obtained via FOI from the Norwegian Environment Agency yesterday (24 June 2021):
 
 
 
 
 
Health Canada may find emails and other correspondence on Imidacloprid (Ectosan/D-10 Aquatic Blast/BMK08) via a search of your records. 
 
Thanks,
 
Don
 
 
 
 
From: Don Staniford <[email protected]>
Date: Fri, Jun 25, 2021 at 11:04 AM
Subject: FOI re: Imidacloprid use in Canadian salmon farming?
To: <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>, <[email protected]>

Further to Scottish Salmon Watch's FOI request dated 16 June 2021 (re-enclosed below), please note emails obtained via FOI from the Norwegian Environment Agency yesterday (24 June 2021):
 
 
 
 
 
Environment Canada may find further emails, other correspondence and other information on Imidacloprid (Ectosan/D-10 Aquatic Blast/BMK08) via a search of your records.
 
Please provide the information requested on Imidacloprid use on salmon farms in Canada; namely:
 
Has Imidacloprid already been trialled in Canada as it has in Norway?
 
Has Health Canada or any other Canadian Government agency conducted any environmental risk assessments into the use of Imidacloprid on salmon farms in Canada?
 
As part of Environment Canada's FOI reply, please provide details of any trials and any environmental information including any correspondence with Benchmark, Aquaculture Veterinary Services International, Mowi, Cermaq, Cooke, Grieg, Salmo Pharma, Creative Salmon and any other companies relating to the use of Imidacloprid on salmon farms in Canada.  
 
Thanks,
 
Don Staniford
 
Director, Scottish Salmon Watch

Posted at 10:52 AM |

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