Consultation on DEET plus related active toluamides and its associated end-use products, Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2025-09
Current status: Open
Opened on 23 October 2025 and will close for consultation on 21 January 2026.
DEET consultation in Canada
Health Canada is consulting the public for feedback on the proposed re-evaluation decision for DEET plus related active toluamides and associated end-use products (DEET).
Re-evaluations are cyclical reviews that determine if the pesticide meets current health, environment and value requirements. Re-evaluations are conducted using modern assessment techniques and current scientific information.
There have been no changes to DEET products since the previous re-evaluation in 2002. Based on the latest scientific information, Health Canada scientists have completed all necessary evaluations to assess the health and environmental risks and value of DEET.
As a result of these evaluations, Health Canada is proposing labelling updates to bring these up to current labelling standards and ensure the continued protection of people and the environment. These updates include:
- Improving product labels to meet current labelling standards and make the instructions clearer.
- Adding a precautionary statement to inform users that minor skin reactions (like itching or a rash) may occur in rare cases.
About DEET
DEET is a personal insect repellent currently registered in 201 products in Canada. It is widely used as an effective tool to protect people from biting insects like mosquitoes, black flies, ticks, chiggers and deer flies. It has been registered for use in Canada since 1957.
DEET works by making it harder for the insects to detect and bite the person using it. It is applied either directly to the skin or on clothing.
You can find a list of currently registered products containing DEET in the Pesticide Product Information Database.
At this time there are no commercial-class products containing DEET registered in Canada. Health Canada has assessed the risks of DEET for people who use domestic-class products, including those who may be exposed to it through work.
How to get involved
This consultation is open for comment from 23 October 2025 to 21 January 2026 (90 calendar days).
To comment on PRVD2025-09:
- Step 1: Open "View a summary of the proposed decision" to access the document.
- Step 2: Submit comments to the Pest Management Regulatory Agency Publications Section on or before 21 January 2026
Please be sure to include the title of the consultation document on which you are commenting.
Health Canada will consider all comments that are directly related to the proposed decision, received up to 90 days from the date of publication of this document (by 21 January 2026) before making a final decision on the proposed re-evaluation for DEET.
View a summary of the proposed decision
If you would like to request additional information on the supporting scientific documents for this proposed registration decision, contact the Pest Management Information Service. Include the following information in the request:
- Active ingredient: DEET
- Published document number: PRVD2025-09
- Submission number(s): 2018-1212
Related information
- Re-evaluation Decision Document RDD2002-01: Personal insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide and related compounds)
- Insect bite and pest prevention
- Personal insect repellents
- Report a pesticide incident
- Re-evaluation Note REV2025-01, Pest Management Regulatory Agency Re-evaluation and Special Review Work Plan 2025-2030
Reporting to the people of Canada
Through the publication of a Re-evaluation Decision document, Health Canada will communicate the final decision on this website (the Pesticides and Pest Management Reports and Publications portion of Canada.ca). This document will include the decision, the reasons for it, a summary of comments received on the proposed DEET plus related active toluamides and its associated end-use products decision and Health Canada's response to these comments.
If you have any questions, contact the Pest Management Information Service.
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