Proposed Registration Decision PRD2026-10, Canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids, and Captiva Prime

Notice to the reader:

The online consultation is now closed.

• Health Canada
• Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
• Pesticides Regulatory Directorate
• 9 June 2026
• ISSN: 1925-0886 (PDF version)
• Catalogue number: H113-9/2026-10E-PDF (PDF version)

Summary

Table of contents

• Proposed registration decision for canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids, and Captiva Prime
• What does Health Canada consider when making a registration decision?
• What is canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids?
• Health considerations
• Environmental considerations
• Value considerations
• Measures to minimize risk
• Next steps
• Other information

Proposed registration decision for canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids, and Captiva Prime

Health Canada, pursuant to subsection 28(1) of the Pest Control Products Act, is proposing registration for the sale and use of Captiva Prime Technical Insecticide and Captiva Prime, containing the active ingredients canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids, for suppression of twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and thrips on terrestrial food crops, greenhouse food crops, greenhouse non-food crops, and outdoor ornamentals.

Capsaicin and related capsaicinoids are essential oil extracts from peppers and are always co-formulated. They are currently registered as animal repellents. See the Re-evaluation Decision RVD2023-10, Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids and Its Associated End-use Products and the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2022-14, Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids and their Associated End-use Products.

Canola oil is currently registered to control a variety of insect and mite pests, as well as to suppress powdery mildew on ornamental, vegetable, fruit, and nut crops both in the field and greenhouse, as well as on indoor cannabis. For details, see Proposed Registration Decision PRD2016-24, Canola oil, and Registration Decision RD2016-35, Canola oil. It is also registered as an attractant for rodent traps, see PRD2022-03, Canola Oil, Goodnature Rat & Mouse Lure, and Goodnature Rat & Mouse Pre-Feed Lure and RD2022-06, Canola Oil, Goodnature Rat & Mouse Lure, and Goodnature Rat & Mouse Pre-Feed Lure.

Garlic oil is registered to repel mosquitoes; for details see PRD2010-07, Garlic oil and RD2010-16, Garlic oil. It is also registered as an animal repellent, see PRD2012-33, Whole Egg Solids, Wintergreen Oil, Castor Oil, Fish Meal Mixture, Fish Oil Mixture, Garlic Oil, Meat Meal Mixture, Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids and RD2013-18 Dried Eggs, Wintergreen Oil, Castor Oil, Fish Meal Mixture, Fish Oil Mixture, Garlic Oil, Meat Meal Mixture, Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids). In addition, the related active ingredient, garlic powder, is registered for use on food crops and ornamentals, see PRD2012-22, Garlic Powder, RD2013-02, Garlic Powder, PRD2013-06, Garlic Powder and RD2013-20, Garlic Powder.

An evaluation of available scientific information found that, under the approved conditions of use, the health and environmental risks and the value of the pest control products are acceptable.

This summary describes the key points of the evaluation, while the Science evaluation in the full version of Proposed Registration Decision PRD2026-10, Canola Oil, Garlic Oil, Capsaicin, Related Capsaicinoids, and Captiva Prime provides detailed technical information on the human health, environmental and value assessments of canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids and Captiva Prime.

What does Health Canada consider when making a registration decision?

The primary objective of the Pest Control Products Act is to prevent unacceptable risks to individuals and the environment from the use of pest control products. Health or environmental risk is considered acceptable^{Footnote 1} if there is reasonable certainty that no harm to human health, future generations or the environment will result from use or exposure to the product under its proposed conditions of registration. The Act also requires that products have value^{Footnote 2} when used according to the label directions. Conditions of registration may include precautionary measures on the product label to further reduce risk.

To reach its decisions, Health Canada applies modern, rigorous risk-assessment methods and policies. These methods consider the unique characteristics of sensitive subpopulations in humans (for example, children). They also consider the unique characteristics of organisms in the environment. These methods and policies also consider the nature of the effects observed and the uncertainties when predicting the impact of pesticides. For more information on how Health Canada regulates pesticides, the assessment process and risk-reduction programs, please visit the Pesticides and Pest Management portion of Canada.ca.

Before making a final registration decision on canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids and Captiva Prime, Health Canada will consider any written comments received from the public directly related to the proposed decision in the full version of PRD2026-10.^{Footnote 3} Health Canada will then publish a Registration Decision^{Footnote 4} on canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids and Captiva Prime, which will include the decision, the reasons for it, a summary of comments received on the proposed registration decision and Health Canada's response to these comments.

For more details on the information presented in this summary, please refer to the Science evaluation of PRD2026-09.

What is canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids?

Canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids are non-conventional insecticides and miticides derived from plants that are the active ingredients in the product, Captiva Prime, which is for use on a wide variety of field and greenhouse crops and ornamental plants. While the mode of action of garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids on insects and mites is not certain, canola oil acts mainly through physical control by suffocation when the target pest is directly coated with canola oil.

Health considerations

Can approved uses of canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin and related capsaicinoids affect human health?

Canola oil, garlic oil, and capsaicin and related capsaicinoids are unlikely to affect human health when they are used according to label directions.

Potential exposure to canola oil, garlic oil, and capsaicin and related capsaicinoids may occur through the diet (food and water), when handling and applying the end-use product or when coming into contact with treated plants.

Toxicology studies in laboratory animals describe potential health effects from varying levels of exposure to a chemical and identify the dose where no effects are observed. When assessing health risks, two key factors are considered:

• the levels where no health effects occur and
• the levels to which people may be exposed.

The levels used to assess risks are established to protect the most sensitive human populations (for example, children and nursing mothers). As such, sex and gender are taken into account in the risk assessment. Only uses for which the exposure is well below levels that cause no effects in animal testing are considered acceptable for registration.

In laboratory animals, the end-use product, Captiva Prime, was of low acute toxicity by the oral and dermal routes, slight acute toxicity by the inhalation route, non-irritating to the eye, moderately irritating to the skin, and a dermal sensitizer. The toxicological profile of the technical grade active ingredient (active blend of canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids) is considered equivalent to that of the end-use product.

Rationales to waive testing for short-term toxicity and prenatal developmental toxicity were accepted based on the results of published animal studies conducted with capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, garlic oil, and canola oil.

Repeat high doses of capsaicin or capsicum extract resulted in reductions in body weight and changes in food consumption, and kidney effects in male rats only. There was no indication that the young were more sensitive than the adult animal.

Repeat high doses of garlic oil or canola oil were not associated with any toxic adverse effects in animal studies. Garlic oil and canola oil are not expected to have any developmental effects given regular consumption in a typical Canadian diet.

Results from testing indicate that the blend of canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids present in the technical grade active ingredient and end-use product is not genotoxic or mutagenic.

Residues in food and drinking water

Dietary risks from food and drinking water are acceptable.

Dietary exposure to canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids may occur through consumption of treated crops. However, the sources of these active ingredients are food grade edible and there is a history of dietary consumption in a typical diet. Captiva Prime was also of low acute oral toxicity, and based on the dilution rates and low application rates, residues of canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids are expected to be low. Overall, canola oil, garlic oil and capsaicin, and related capsaicinoids are not expected to pose a health risk when the end-use product is applied as directed by the label.

Similarly, the likelihood of canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin and related capsaicinoid residues in drinking water will also be low.

Consequently, health risks from dietary exposure are acceptable for all segments of the population, including infants, children, adults and seniors.

Risks in residential and other non-occupational environments

Estimated risk for residential and other non-occupational exposure is acceptable.

The label for Captiva Prime will include measures to prevent bystander and residential exposure, such as statements to reduce spray drift, and to prevent people and pets from entering treated areas until sprays have dried. Additionally, the Captiva Prime is diluted before application and applied at low rates.

Residential and non-occupational exposure to Captiva Prime is expected to be low when label directions are observed. Consequently, the health risk to residents and the general public is acceptable.

Occupational risks from handling Captiva Prime

Occupational risks are acceptable when Captiva Prime is used according to the label directions, which include protective measures.

Workers handling Captiva Prime can come into direct contact with canola oil, garlic oil, and capsaicin and related capsaicinoids through inhalation and contact with skin during mixing, loading, application, clean-up and repair. To protect workers from exposure to Captiva Prime, the label will require workers to wear personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Captiva Prime label requires a restricted-entry interval (REI) of four (4) hours, or until sprays have dried, and includes a spray advisory statement to minimize spray drift. If early entry is necessary during the restricted-entry interval, workers must wear the appropriate PPE as outlined in the key risk-reduction measures section.

The occupational risks are acceptable when the precautionary statements on the label are observed.

Environmental considerations

What happens when canola oil, garlic oil, and capsaicin and related capsaicinoids are introduced into the environment?

Canola oil, garlic oil, and capsaicin and related capsaicinoids are derived from plants and are expected to break down quickly in the environment through natural biological, physical, and chemical processes. When Captiva Prime is used according to label directions, canola oil, garlic oil, and capsaicin and related capsaicinoids pose acceptable risk to the environment.

Value considerations

What is the value of Captiva Prime?

Captiva Prime has value in suppressing thrips and twospotted spider mite on a wide variety of crops and ornamental plants, grown both outdoors and in greenhouses. Captiva Prime will provide a new product for organic growers to manage these pests.

Thrips and twospotted spider mite feed on a wide variety of plants and are important pests in many crops grown outdoors and in greenhouses. Captiva Prime is active against all life stages, including adults, nymphs and eggs. As Captiva Prime has a physical mode of action, the development of resistance to this product is not expected. As a result, Captiva Prime has value as a new tool to support resistance management of thrips and twospotted spider mite.

Measures to minimize risk

Labels of registered pesticide products include specific instructions for use. Directions include risk-reduction measures to protect human health and the environment. These directions must be followed by law.

The key risk-reduction measures being proposed on the label of Captiva Prime Technical Insecticide and Captiva Prime to address the potential risks identified in this assessment are as follows.

Key risk-reduction measures - Human health

The hazard signal words "WARNING", "POISON", "SKIN IRRITANT" and "POTENTIAL SKIN SENSITIZER" are required on the principal display panels of the Captiva Prime Technical Insecticide and Captiva Prime labels. Standard precautionary statements are also required on the labels to inform users that the product is harmful if inhaled, causes skin irritation and that it is a potential skin sensitizer.

Workers are required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling the product. The PPE required depends on the activity and method of application.

During handling, mixing, loading, clean-up and repair, workers are required to wear coveralls over a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, socks and chemical-resistant footwear. The same PPE is also required to be worn by applicators when Captiva Prime is applied using open-cab groundboom, or handheld (including high-pressure hand wand but excluding handheld airblast) equipment, and when applied by aerial applications with an open-cockpit. In addition, for above the waist (including overhead spraying) application using any handheld equipment (except by airblast), workers are also required to wear chemical-resistant headgear, protective eyewear (goggles or face shield), and a respirator with a NIOSH-approved organic-vapour-removing cartridge (with a prefilter) approved for pesticides or a NIOSH-approved canister approved for pesticides.

During open-cab airblast and open-cab overhead sprayer applications, workers are required to wear coveralls over a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, socks, chemical-resistant footwear and headgear.

If applications are made using a closed-cockpit/closed-cab (by aerial, or airblast and/or groundboom equipment), workers are required to wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks and shoes.

During handheld airblast/mistblower application workers are required to wear chemical-resistant coveralls with a chemical-resistant hood over long-sleeved shirt, long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, socks, chemical-resistant footwear and a respirator with a NIOSH-approved organic-vapour-removing cartridge (with a prefilter) approved for pesticides or a NIOSH-approved canister approved for pesticides.

For Captiva Prime, there will be a restricted-entry interval of four (4) hours, or until sprays have dried. If early entry is required, workers must wear appropriate PPE as follows:

• For early entry into treated areas when aerial, airblast (except handheld airblast) and open-cab overhead sprayer application was made, workers are required to wear coveralls over a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, socks, chemical-resistant footwear and headgear.
• For early entry into treated areas when groundboom application was made, workers are required to wear coveralls over a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, socks and chemical-resistant footwear.
• For early entry into treated areas for all other methods of applications, workers are required to wear PPE specific for the method of application.

To limit bystander and residential exposure, the end-use product label requires a standard drift statement and a statement to prevent people and pets from entering the treated area until sprays have dried.

Key risk-reduction measures - Environment

• Best management practice label statements are required to reduce runoff entering aquatic habitats.
• A label statement is required prohibiting the discharge of greenhouse releases, effluent or runoff containing the pesticide to water.

Next steps

Before making a final registration decision on canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids and Captiva Prime, Health Canada will consider any written comments received from the public that are directly related to this proposed decision, such as comments directed to the Science evaluation, in response to PRD2026-10 up to 30 days from the date of publication (by 9 July 2026). If more time is required to provide comments, a request for an extension of an additional 15 days can be made. Your request must be submitted in writing to the Pesticides Publications Section within the 30-day consultation period.

Please forward all comments to Pesticides Publications Section, through Public Engagement Portal (Public Engagement Portal forms – Consultation Comment). Health Canada will then publish a Registration Decision, which will include its decision, the reasons for it, a summary of comments received on the proposed decision and Health Canada's response to these comments.

Other information

When Health Canada makes its registration decision, it will publish a Registration Decision on canola oil, garlic oil, capsaicin, related capsaicinoids and Captiva Prime (based on the Science evaluation of PRD2026-10). In addition, the test data referenced in this consultation document will be available for public inspection, upon application, in the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate's Reading Room. For more information or if you have questions, please contact the Pesticides Information Service.