The Alberta Canola Producers Commission (ACPC) is advising Alberta canola producers consult their elevator, crushing plant or grain buyer prior to delivery if they attempted to control cleavers in their canola with a product containing the active ingredient Quinclorac.
Quinclorac, which has met all the requirements for health, safety, and environment in Canada, has approvals in process in several key export markets for canola seed and oil. In this transition period the maximum residue limits (MRL) for Quinclorac are technically zero.
As a result, some Canadian canola buyers have amended their Declaration of Eligibility for Delivery Form requiring producers to declare whether or not their delivered grain and oilseeds has been treated with any crop protection product containing Quinclorac. This action allows them to manage supply and ensure only untreated product is exported to countries where approval is pending. It is important for growers to remember that a declaration is a legally binding document. Any intentional or unintentional mistake in declaration traced back through retained samples will expose individuals and their farms to significant liability.
“The ACPC fully supported the registration of Quinclorac as canola growers need options for controlling cleavers in-crop,” says Ward Toma, General Manager of the ACPC. “Once all our export customers have MRLs for Quinclorac based products established, this precaution should no longer be necessary.”
Source : AlbertaCanola