Advisory

2001-21
28 February 2001

Health Canada advises the public of the product recall of Bearier bear repellent

OTTAWA - Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is advising the public about a voluntary recall of all Bearier Bear Repellent (Pest Control Product Registration No. 26521). The recall has been undertaken by the product manufacturer, Axtrom Industries of Florida, U.S.A. The decision to recall the product was made after the PMRA found problems with the spray mechanism. It was found that test-spraying the product (a common practice with this type of product) causes the trigger to degrade, making it likely to malfunction when used. This poses an unacceptable risk to users.

Defective products were marketed in British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario, and have the text "Registration No. 26521 Pest Control Products Act" printed on the label. All defective product is being recalled and removed from the market. Consumers with defective products should contact Axtrom directly by telephone (561-697-8832), fax (561-471-7051) or e-mail mvillaveces@cs.com

All pest control products are regulated by Health Canada's PMRA, under the Pest Control Products Act. The agency reviews applications for registration on the basis of scientific information to assess risks to human health and safety and the environment, as well as to judge product efficacy. Pest control products must conform to approved standards before import into or sale in Canada.

For further information on bear repellent sprays, please contact the Pest Management Information Service at 1-800-267-6315.

Media inquiries:
Chris Krepski
Health Canada
(613) 736-3693

Public inquiries:
(613) 957-2991