May 7, 2012thetelegram.comCheers & JeersJeers: to buyer beware. Here’s a little something to keep in mind if you go looking for lawn pesticides. While you might find some of the newly banned pesticides on shelves in local stores, you could be fined if you buy them and use them — at least, that’s what the environment minister seemed to be saying in the House of Assembly last week. NDP MHA George Murphy asked Environment Minister Terry French about the fact that Murphy had seen several banned pesticides on store shelves: “Mr. Speaker, in July of 2011, this government instituted a ban on five pesticides used for cosmetic purposes. Such chemicals as 2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba were supposed to be removed off store shelves before the next growing season. In spite of the weather, we are there. Mr. Speaker, any product that contained any of these five chemicals was also supposed to fall under this ban. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I went chemical shopping and found these pesticides still on the store shelves.” The minister’s response? “They are banned. They are not allowed to be used as of May 1 this year. I just want to remind the honourable Member, he seems to have bought them recently. I hope they were not on the black market, Mr. Speaker. I also hope he does not use them, because if he uses them, he will be facing a significant fine.” So, all you gardeners out there, mind your Ps and Qs and 2,4-Ds.http://www.thetelegram.com/Opinion/Editorial/2012-05-07/article-2972314/Cheers-%26amp-Jeers/1

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