According to the Winnipeg Free Press, Ottawa has banned citronella from all bug spray products due to a lack of evidence that citronella is safe for applying on human skin. The ingredient is an essential oil that is extracted from lemongrass plants. The products containing the ingredient will be removed from shelves by the end of December.
“I use citronella and many Canadians use citronella because they don’t want to use harsh chemicals,” NDP health critic Libby Davies told the Canadian Press. “Obviously, health and safety are paramount but this seems excessive.”
The decision to ban citronella has been made because there is a lack of studies confirming its safety, however, in the U.S. it has been approved by The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be a non-toxic biochemical.
