Until these questions are resolved, growers should use other options to control cleavers on their farms. More information about herbicide and agronomic solutions can be found by contacting a Canola Council agronomist. If growers have used quinclorac on their canola in 2015, they should contact their local elevator or processor to discuss options.
Keeping the door open to export markets
Because over 90% of Canadian canola is exported, meeting the requirements of major export markets is extremely important to the profitability of Canada’s canola industry.
One of the most important markets for canola is China, which imports one-third of the canola we produce. China has no Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for quinclorac on canola and no history of accepting imports of canola where the presence of quinclorac residues has been detected. There is also no MRL for quinclorac in the CODEX Alimentarius, the international standard-setting body of the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which is considered by Chinese authorities in assessing whether imported products meet Chinese requirements. Data from the 2015 growing season confirmed that quinclorac leaves residues that can be detected by today’s testing equipment – not just in canola seed, but also in the processed oil and meal. When samples were tested from canola fields that had been treated with quinclorac according to label directions, residues were found most of the time. Therefore, the value chain believes there is a significant risk to Chinese exports if quinclorac is used on canola.
In the past year, there has been some progress in clarifying international residue limits for quinclorac in canola. Japan established an MRL in late 2015. However, the canola industry remains concerned about meeting requirements in China.