MRLs, human health, and food safety:  Shared responsibility

Food safety and our food supply is a priority for people in Canada and the Government of Canada. The government makes sure growers and food producers properly use and apply pesticides and respect established residue limits.

When it comes to pesticides, the responsibility for food safety is shared between:

• growers and food producers
• provinces and territories
• federal departments and organizations.

Growers and food producers help keep our food supply safe by following good agricultural, food safety and sustainable pest management practices, and by following label directions when using pesticides. This relationship helps ensure pesticides are applied properly to help keep pesticide residues within the maximum residue limits (MRLs).

The provinces and territories help promote and strengthen pesticide regulation across Canada through education, training and certification. Find more information on these standards:

Pesticide Education, Training and Certification

There are 3 main federal departments or organizations that work together to ensure our food is safe when it comes to pesticides:

Health Canada is responsible for:

• regulating pesticides under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act
• using an internationally recognized risk assessment and risk management framework  
• inspecting for compliance and enforcement for the proper use and application of pesticides
• using the latest evidence-based scientific approaches to protect the health and the environment of the people in Canada in an open and transparent manner

Learn more about:

• Pest Control Products Act
• Risk assessment and risk management framework
• Compliance and enforcement
• Pest Management Information Service 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is responsible for:

• working with Health Canada on programs that help provide safe food for people in Canada
• engaging food producers in sustainable pest management practices

Learn more about:

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Pesticide risk reduction

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for:

• monitoring domestic and imported food for contaminants and pesticide residues
• enforcing federal food safety regulations for both domestic and imported food

Learn more about:

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency 
• National Chemical Residue Monitoring Program