Cosmetic pesticides should be banned from use on private land everywhere in B.C., according to delegates attending the Union of British Columbia Municipalities convention in Penticton.

The delegates spent a considerable amount of time on Thursday discussing a motion, which eventually passed, calling on the provincial government to ban the use and sale of pesticides for cosmetic use provincewide.

Penticton city councillor Gary Litke was one of the many delegates who were pleased the motion passed.

"The research has shown the application of cosmetic pesticides is harmful to our kids," said Litke.

The motion did not define what cosmetic pesticides are and which ones should be banned.

Delegates said municipal bylaws banning cosmetic pesticides have become popular in B.C., but have had little effect on pesticide use, because municipalities have no legal right to ban pesticide sales.

But some delegates from rural areas raised concerns that the ban could impact agricultural communities.

Joe Post, a regional district representative for Thompson-Nicola, voted against the motion.

"The agriculture community will and does use these pesticides. We use them at home," he said.

He said a provincewide ban is unnecessary because individual municipalities can implement their own bans.

But Litke argued a provincewide ban would create a common standard and make all municipalities equal.

"There is an inconsistent application from municipality to municipality and from school board to school board," Litke said.

It will now be up to the provincial government to decide whether to ban the use and sale of cosmetic pesticides.