By Équiterre

On April 3, 2006, the third phase of the Code de gestion des pesticides came into force in Quebec. The use of 20 active ingredients is now prohibited on public, private and commercial lawns across Quebec. You will no longer find them in stores because their sale is prohibited throughout the province. These pesticides are used in approximately 210 commercial products, such as Killex, Weedex (herbicides), Sevin, Malathion (insecticides), Captan and Tersan (fungicides).

Eliminating these pesticides is everyone's responsibility because pesticides do not stop at property lines, spreading beyond fences and throughout the environment. If someone in your neighbourhood uses any, you will breathe it in even when you think that you are breathing clean air. Your children and pets may end up walking on a lawn that has been treated with it and bring some home. So, if you notice any infractions to the Code de gestion des pesticides, contact the ministère du Développement durable, Environnement et Parcs (DDEP) at 819-772-3434 (Outaouais).

The full list of prohibited active ingredients is posted on the DDEP Web site at http://www.mddep.gouv.qc.ca/

Why not start changing our habits right now, and discover some of the alternatives to pesticides that are available to us?

Check http://www.equiterre.org/ for answers to the most frequently asked questions.