Health Canada is proposing to cancel the registration of Maxim 2% Liquid Strychnine Concentrate for ground squirrel (gopher) control. A public consultation is open for comment from June 29 to September 27, 2018.

Under the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has to regularly re-evaluate pesticides to ensure they continue to meet health and environmental safety standards.

Strychnine is a registered pesticide used for ground squirrel control. Products containing strychnine for ground squirrel control include Maxim 2% Liquid Strychnine Concentrate and S.A.R.M Gopher Poison R.T.U.

A pesticide re-evaluation under the Re-evaluation Program has PMRA consulting Canadians on the proposal to cancel the use of strychnine for ground squirrel control. The re-evaluation identified concerns in the effects on cohabiting animals, including species-at-risk such as the swift fox and burrowing owl.

More information on the consultation is available here.