International Anti-toxics Groups Urge Canadian Government to Resist Industry’s Challenge of Pesticide Ban

The International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) and its participating organizations are calling on Canada to resist a $100 million claim from Crompton Corporation under NAFTA Chapter 11. The claim follows Crompton's agreement to stop using lindane, a persistent organic pollutant, in canola seed treatments. The groups argue that lindane is a dangerous neurotoxicant and endocrine disruptor that contaminates the Arctic and human breast milk. They contend that NAFTA's investment rules are being used to undermine legitimate public health regulations and urge the renegotiation of Chapter 11 to protect the sovereign right of governments to regulate toxic substances.

• The Crompton Corporation has filed a Notice of Intent to claim $100 million from the Canadian Government under NAFTA Chapter 11 after agreeing to stop using the toxic substance lindane in canola seed treatment products.
• Lindane is identified as a persistent organic pollutant and organochlorine pesticide that acts as a neurotoxicant in humans and an endocrine disruptor in animals, linked to seizures, memory impairment, and reproductive effects.
• Environmental data indicates lindane is highly persistent in soil and is the most frequently found organochlorine in the Arctic's atmosphere, marine, terrestrial, and freshwater environments, as noted in the 1997 Canadian Arctic Contaminants Report.
• The signatory organizations argue that NAFTA Chapter 11 is 'deeply flawed' because its ambiguities allow corporations to challenge legitimate public health and environmental regulations, and they call for the renegotiation of these investment rules.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (2002). International Anti-toxics Groups Urge Canadian Government to Resist Industry’s Challenge of Pesticide Ban. https://www.ciel.org/news/international-anti-toxics-groups-urge-canadian-government-to-resist-industrys-challenge-of-pesticide-ban-a-u-s-press-release-prepared-by-the-pesticide-action-network-is-also-available/

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. International Anti-toxics Groups Urge Canadian Government to Resist Industry’s Challenge of Pesticide Ban. 2002. https://www.ciel.org/news/international-anti-toxics-groups-urge-canadian-government-to-resist-industrys-challenge-of-pesticide-ban-a-u-s-press-release-prepared-by-the-pesticide-action-network-is-also-available/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=International Anti-toxics Groups Urge Canadian Government to Resist Industry’s Challenge of Pesticide Ban |date=1 January 2002 |url=https://www.ciel.org/news/international-anti-toxics-groups-urge-canadian-government-to-resist-industrys-challenge-of-pesticide-ban-a-u-s-press-release-prepared-by-the-pesticide-action-network-is-also-available/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{centerforinternationalenvironmentallaw2002international, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{International Anti-toxics Groups Urge Canadian Government to Resist Industry’s Challenge of Pesticide Ban}}, publisher = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2002}, month = jan, url = {https://www.ciel.org/news/international-anti-toxics-groups-urge-canadian-government-to-resist-industrys-challenge-of-pesticide-ban-a-u-s-press-release-prepared-by-the-pesticide-action-network-is-also-available/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }