Registration Decision RD2019-18, Mild Pepino mosaic virus strain LP, isolate VX1, mild Pepino mosaic virus strain CH2, isolate VC1, and V10

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
25 October 2019
ISSN: 1925-0940 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-25/2019-18E-PDF (PDF version)

Table of Contents

• Registration Decision Statement for mild Pepino mosaic virus strain LP, isolate VX1, mild Pepino mosaic virusstrainCH2, isolateVC1, and the End-use Product V10
• Other Information
• Appendix I - Comments and Responses

Registration Decision Statement^{Footnote 1} for mild Pepino mosaic virus strain LP, isolate VX1, mild Pepino mosaic virus strain CH2, isolate VC1, and the End-use Product V10

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, is granting registration for the sale and use of VX1 Technical, containing the active mild Pepino mosaic virus strain LP, isolate VX1, VC1 Technical, containing the active mild Pepino mosaic virus strain CH2, isolate VC1, and the end-use product V10, containing the technical grade active ingredients mild Pepino mosaic virus strain LP, isolate VX1 and mild Pepino mosaic virus strain CH2, isolate VC1, for use on greenhouse tomato to protect against Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV).

This decision is consistent with the Proposed Registration Decision PRD2019-10, Mild Pepino mosaic virus strain LP, isolate VX1, mild Pepino mosaic virus strain CH2, isolate VC1, and V10, which contains a detailed evaluation of the information submitted in support of this registration. The evaluation found that, under the approved conditions of use, the health and environmental risks and the value of the pest control product(s) are acceptable. See Appendix I for a summary of comments received during the consultation process as well as Health Canada’s response to these comments.

Other Information

The relevant test data on which the decision is based (as referenced in PRD2019-10) are available for public inspection, upon application, in the PMRA’s Reading Room (located in Ottawa). For more information, please contact the PMRA’s Pest Management Information Service by phone (1-800-267-6315) or by e-mail (pmra.info-arla@hc-sc.gc.ca).

Any person may file a notice of objection ^{Footnote 2} regarding this registration decision within 60 days from the date of publication of this Registration Decision. For more information regarding the basis for objecting (which must be based on scientific grounds), please refer to the Pesticides section of Canada.ca (Request a Reconsideration of Decision) or contact the PMRA’s Pest Management Information Service.

Appendix I  Comments and Responses

1.0 Comment relating to the labelling of the specific use site

A comment was received in which it was emphasized that the label of V10 should specify use in greenhouses for tomato fruit production only and not for tomato plant propagation (tomato nurseries) due to the risk of spreading the two mild forms of the Pepino mosaic virus (PepMV), VC1 and VX1. It was remarked that any use of V10 in tomato propagation greenhouses would make it difficult for a particular tomato nursery to provide both V10-vaccinated and non-vaccinated plants due to the ease in which mild forms of PepMV can spread, and that tomato production growers should have a choice as to whether they wish to have their crop vaccinated.

PMRA Response

It is indicated on the label that V10 is for use in tomato production greenhouses only and is not for use in tomato nurseries. At the end of the production cycle, treated plants must be disposed of in a manner that prevents contamination of untreated tomato plants.

2.0 Comment pertaining to the risk of introducing a new strain of PepMV in Canada

Concern was expressed that the application timing, between the 3-true leaf to the first flower stage, could permit use in tomato propagation greenhouses and that this could result in the spreading of VX1, a mild form of the PepMV LP strain, which is not known to be present in Canada.

PMRA Response

The use of V10 is limited to tomato production greenhouses and treated plants must be disposed of in a manner that prevents contamination of untreated tomato plants or other susceptible crops. There is a specific statement on the label prohibiting use of V10 in tomato nurseries for plant propagation.

3.0 Comment regarding the risk of developing recombinants (new forms of PepMV) from the presence of both VX1 and VC1 in V10

It was contended that there are serious risks of the development of recombinants between the two mild strains of PepMV in the V10 mixture. It was further indicated that in the scientific literature, the occurrence of PepMV recombinants in mixed infections has been documented, as well as the potential for mixed infections to be more damaging than single infections.

PMRA Response

The PMRA has considered the risk of the development of recombinants between the two mild strains of PepMV in V10, as well as with strains found in Canada. To minimize the potential of the development of recombinants, including those that may be aggressive forms of the virus, tomato plants at the end of the production cycle must not only be kept isolated from untreated plants and other susceptible hosts, but they must also be destroyed in isolation and not composted or used as green manure.