Robert's Rants
Robert's Rants
A personal blog on the Canadian pesticide industry and other pet peeves and interests

The continuing tale of Boric Acid….

The continuing tale of Boric Acid….

I was talking to a good customer on the west coast this past week, our shared concern centering on the future use of boric acid based products in pest control.

Still no word from the PMRA, but we found it interesting the decision makers in BC are looking at the exemptions they have had in place and continuing on with this with boric acid.

Someone needs to email me and correct me if I’m wrong, but true pyrethrins (with no PBO), boric acid, and a few other compounds have been exempted in BC in the past from the reporting and use requirements as these are considered non-toxic and safe to use. This is for the BC regs only.

And does this include the ability to purchase and use, without a license?

The PMRA sets the class of each product (Commercial, Domestic etc.) but they don’t really go further than that. As far as licensing to purchase that is handled provincially. More confusion.

SO if the uses of boric acid, say for dusting indoors, are removed by the PMRA federally, and BC exempts the compound from their laws because it’s safe….what message are we getting here?

Isn’t determining whether or not a product can or can’t be used, due to safety factors for the applicator, based on a precise science? It certainly shouldn’t allow for 2 totally divergent beliefs on how safe a product is. But this determination should also include who can use it, and how, and not broad based statements.

But, the ability to use, in my mind, still goes back to what the product has been approved for federally.

“The label is the Law”

I am still hoping the PMRA uses some common sense here in the future of boric acid. I think the industry needs the product with full uses. So let’s look at a commercial registration only…and if we need to beef up the PPE section great. But let’s take some baby steps here.

I still disagree with the ability of provinces to further restrict products and use over the opinions of the federal regulators, but that’s a whole different can of worms.

But in the case of boric acid and use restrictions, who is right on this one?

Linda Dufour (Bergeron) 1951 – 2013 A member of our Gardex family and a part of our heart.

This is difficult to write, finding the right thoughts to put to paper.

Linda Dufour (Bergeron), passed away last Thursday afternoon, cancer claiming another good person and kind soul too early in their life.

Linda helped run our Montreal office with Pierre for years now, a husband and wife “team” working side by side day in and day out, servicing the needs of all the clients in Quebec. A true partnership. You always referred to the branch as “Linda and Pierre”, never just the “Montreal branch”.

Linda was a special person, with a warm welcome for customers, a smile, and a twinkle in her eyes that always betrayed her love of life.

I knew Linda for the past 12 or 13 years, mainly through hundreds of phone calls or emails, seeking more product or a discount for somebody. Or putting in a request for Pierre, whose own computer skills are widely known.

But I also had the pleasure to work side by side in the age old job of manning a booth at one association meeting or another. Q&A, customer interface, making a sale.

It didn’t take long to see the respect and caring, true friendships, Linda shared with her customer. Sure there was business, but it was the friendships that came through. People enjoyed working with Linda, as she enjoyed working with her customers. She was fun, full of life, but also went to whatever lengths to make certain the customer was taken care of.

Our company is based on it’s people. Certainly we have brick and mortar and goods to sell, but it is only our people that make us what we are. And having only 12 members of the “family” each of us becomes that much more important.

Linda was an important part of our family, and will be greatly missed.

Linda is survived by her husband Pierre, who will continue on with Gardex, and two great sons, Martin and Benoit. Our hearts go out to all of them.