Proposed re-evaluation decision PRVD2025-07, Sulphur and its associated end-use products

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Pest Management Regulatory Agency
10 June 2025
ISSN: 1925-0967 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-27/2025-7E-PDF (PDF version)

Summary

Table of contents

• Proposed re-evaluation decision for sulphur and associated end-use products
• Proposed risk-reduction measures
• Proposed re-evaluation decision
• Next steps
• Other information
• Additional scientific information

Proposed re-evaluation decision for sulphur and associated end-use products

Under the Pest Control Products Act, all registered pesticides must be regularly re-evaluated by Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to ensure that they continue to meet health and environmental safety standards and continue to have value. The re-evaluation considers data and information from pesticide manufacturers, incident reports, and other regulatory agencies. Health Canada applies internationally accepted risk assessment methods, risk management approaches and policies to all re-evaluations.

This document presents the proposed re-evaluation decision for sulphur, including any proposed amendments (risk mitigation measures) to protect human health and the environment, as well as the Science evaluation on which the proposed decision is based.

Sulphur is an inorganic, multi-site fungicide which belongs to the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee Mode of Action (MoA) Group M2. It is a non-systemic, protective fungicide with contact and vapour action. As a multi-site fungicide, sulphur is generally considered as having a low risk for favouring resistance development in susceptible fungal pathogens. Sulphur also has secondary acaricide activity. It works by disrupting respiration and other cellular activity in susceptible mites or ticks. Sulphur vapour (sulphur oxides) is registered as a fumigant for vertebrate control and works by asphyxiation.

Sulphur is registered as a fungicide, insecticide, and acaricide for commercial and domestic uses, and as a rodenticide in domestic settings. Commercial class end-use products containing sulphur are used for the control or suppression of various fungal pathogens and insects on a wide variety of field and greenhouse agricultural crops. Domestic class products are used to control various fungal pathogens and insects on outdoor ornamentals, fruits and vegetables, and indoor plants. One domestic class end-use product is registered to control ground squirrels, moles, pocket gophers, woodchucks (marmots), Norway rats, and skunks.

Currently registered products containing sulphur can be found in the Pesticide Product Information Database and in Appendix I of PRVD2025-07.

Sulphur is a naturally occurring element and has value in providing a pest management solution. The potential human health (dietary, occupational, residential, and bystander) and environmental risks are considered to be acceptable when products containing sulphur are used according to the updated label directions. As a result of re-evaluation, application of sulphur is permitted for use on cannabis grown in greenhouses or other enclosed growing structures only during the vegetative stage. A drift statement is proposed for all commercial class end-use product labels with outdoor uses to minimize potential for spray drift to residential areas, and updates to precautionary label statements as per current labelling standards are proposed, such as PPE, restricted-entry interval, storage, and disposal.

Proposed risk-reduction measures

Registered pesticide product labels include specific directions for use. Directions include risk mitigation measures to protect human health and the environment, and to ensure the product has acceptable value, which must be followed by law. The proposed label amendments including any revised/updated label statements and/or mitigation measures, as a result of the re-evaluation of sulphur, are summarized below. Refer to Appendix II of PRVD2025-07 for details.

Human health

• Application of sulphur is permitted for use on cannabis grown in greenhouses or other enclosed growing structures only during the vegetative stage.
• A standard spray drift statement is proposed for all commercial class end-use product labels with outdoor uses to minimize potential for spray drift to residential areas.
• Updates to labels to reflect current standards, including use directions and precautions such as PPE, restricted-entry interval, and storage.

Environment

• Updates to labels to reflect current standards for environmental precautions, use directions, and disposal.

Value

• Update general statements on all product labels to improve clarity and meet current standards (for example, replace guarantee with active ingredient).

Proposed re-evaluation decision

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, and based on available scientific information, in accordance with subsection 16(6) of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada is proposing for public consultation, pursuant to section 28 of the Pest Control Products Act, the continued registration of sulphur and associated end-use products registered for sale and use in Canada under section 21 of the Pest Control Products Act.

This document is subject to a 90-day public consultation period.^{Footnote 1} Comments on the proposed decision can be submitted to the PMRA through PMRA Publications, or the Public Engagement Portal (Public Engagement Forms - Consultation Comment). All products containing sulphur that are registered in Canada are subject to this proposed re-evaluation decision.

Refer to Appendix I of PRVD2025-07 for details on specific products impacted by this proposed decision.

Next steps

Upon publication of this proposed re-evaluation decision, the public, including the registrants and stakeholders are encouraged to submit comments during the 90-day public consultation period.

Health Canada will accept written comments on this proposal up to 90 days from the date of publication of this document. Before making a re-evaluation decision on sulphur under section 21 of the Pest Control Products Act, written comments received during the consultation period will be taken into consideration, and a science-based approach will be applied in making a final decision on sulphur. In accordance with subsection 28(5) of the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada will then publish a final re-evaluation decision document, which will include the decision,^{Footnote 2} the reasons for it, a summary of comments received on the proposed re-evaluation decision, and Health Canada's response to these comments.

Other information

The relevant confidential test data on which the proposed decision is based are available for public inspection, upon application, in PMRA's Reading Room. For more information or if you have questions, please contact the PMRA's Pest Management Information Service.

Additional scientific information

Additional scientific data are not required at this time.