The Canadian Cancer Society and provincial Green Party are expressing disappointment in legislation banning cosmetic pesticides introduced this week.

'People can be out there merrily spraying their gardens and flower beds and lawns: business as usual.'— Green Party Leader Sharon Labchuk

Green Party Leader Sharon Labchuk told CBC News on Wednesday the law doesn't come close to being a ban. Labchuk noted the rules are narrowly specific, banning 2,4-D, lawn pesticides consumers can mix themselves, and products that contain both pesticides and fertilizer.

But Labchuk said that leaves many other products for sale.

"There are plenty of pesticides that you can buy that are already pre-mixed in P.E.I. stores," she said.

"People can be out there merrily spraying their gardens and flower beds and lawns: business as usual."

Labchuk said lawn companies will be able to use all pesticides except for 2,4-D.

Dawn Binns, executive director of the P.E.I. division of the Canadian Cancer Society, said her group was also hoping for more.

"It's certainly not everything we were looking for at the outset," said Binns.

"There's certainly elements where Ontario and Quebec have included bans of more products, more types of chemicals and further restrictions on commercial sprayers. So I think what the provincial government here is trying to do is to take a first step."

Environment Minister Richard Brown confirmed this legislation is a first step only.

"This bill is a start," said Brown.

"We've worked with New Brunswick, we're working with our sister provinces to come in with a co-ordinated effort around Atlantic Canada. We're going with this and we'll add products as we go along, or delete products as we go along."

Labchuk said she plans to start an online petition to get the cosmetic pesticide legislation toughened up before it becomes law.