J.D. Irving, Limited says the forestry industry is being “targeted” in the current political debate around glyphosate.
The company issued a news release late Monday calling for a review of all chemicals used on all land in New Brunswick.
“It’s time to take the politics out of spraying and rely on science,” said the company in its release.
It came just hours after the Liberal and Green parties announced plans Monday to stop spraying glyphosate on Crown land.
Green party leader David Coon said he would ban the use of the chemical on Crown lands immediately. Liberal leader Kevin Vickers said he would gradually eliminate its use over a four-year period to allow for industry to adjust.
JDI said 96 per cent of glyphosate used in Canada is in agriculture and the chemical is approved for use by Health Canada.
“How can glyphosate be OK on over 100 food crops but not on trees? It doesn’t make sense. So why are some political parties just targeting one sector?” said the company.
“We would hope that public policy in New Brunswick would be guided by Health Canada recommendations.”
Despite its approval by Health Canada, glyphosate has been deemed “probably carcinogenic to humans” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
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