US biosolid fertilizers temporarily banned in Quebec
The government of Quebec announced on Thursday a moratorium on the agricultural application of organic fertilizers imported from the US
Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Benoit Charette, says that the temporary measure will remain in force until a control mechanism for certain substances is established.
Quebec officials say they are working to create an acceptable threshold to ensure that biosolids made outside of Canada are safe.
Biosolids are the material that is created during the treatment of municipal wastewater. They are largely made up of organic matter and contain nutrients that are beneficial to various crops.
Last week, Charette proposed regulations to prevent the application of municipal biosolids from outside Canada.
The state of Maine banned the practice after contaminated fields were discovered.
A few weeks ago, the Ordre des chimistes du Québec, the Ordre des agronomes du Québec and the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec issued a press release urging the public and the government to be very careful.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 3, 2023.
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