PMRA Guidance Document, Structural Pest Control Products: Label Updates

Pest Management Regulatory Agency

28 February 2020

[PDF Version, 187 KB]

Table of Contents

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this Pest Management Regulatory Agency Guidance Document is to inform all stakeholders of standard definitions of application types and human health precautionary label statements for structural pest control products (SPCPs). The revised definitions will provide a uniform language through which all stakeholders in the structural pest control industry can communicate. Also, the human health precautionary statements will help facilitate consistency in the language used for various risk mitigation measures to minimize exposure to those applying the SPCPs and those entering and/or residing in treated areas.

The definitions and precautionary statements apply to both restricted/commercial and domestic marketing class end-use products.

2.0 Background

In December 2018, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) published Regulatory Proposal PRO2018-04, Structural Pest Control Products: Label Updates, to update and standardize definitions and human health precautionary statements for structural pest control product labels. This document (PRO2018-04) provided a background of the proposal and information on the focused label improvement initiative. The proposal sought comments from the general public and key stakeholders on the proposed changes to the application type definitions and human health precautionary statements. As a result of the consultation, comments were received from five stakeholders and are summarized in Appendix I of this guidance document. In response to these comments, minor modifications (primarily providing more clarity) were made to the document, which now serves as the basis for this PMRA Guidance Document.

While this document primarily pertains to conventional chemical pest control products, the information provided will be considered when establishing directions for human health precautionary label statements for biopesticides (in other words, microbials, semiochemicals and pheromones, and non-conventional chemical pesticides), when applicable.

Structural Pest Control Products

For the purposes of this document, structural pest control products (SPCPs) are defined as products used to kill/control/repel invertebrate pests that affect a structure or its inhabitants and are applied within, outdoors on the exterior surfaces of, and, within a 1 m exterior perimeter of a structure. Indoor applications may include the contents of the structure, but only when specified on the label. This definition of SPCPs excludes mothballs, termiticides, fumigants, outdoor fogging and outdoor misting systems.

SPCPs can be applied onto surfaces or into the air of structures as either a surface or space application.

  1. Surface application - A directed application to a surface (floor, wall, foundation, ceiling, mattress, furniture, etc.). This includes but is not limited to broadcast, perimeter, spot, crack and crevice and void applications.
  2. Space application - An application of a pesticide as a suspension of fine droplets in air within an indoor space. This definition does not include fumigants, outdoor fogging and outdoor misting systems.

Structures to which SPCPs are applied include non-food storage/processing areas of residential, farm and office buildings, air, land and sea transport vehicles, and commercial, farm (greenhouses, mushroom houses, etc.) and residential buildings (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.) where food commodities are stored, grown or processed. Excluded are underwater structures.

A structure can be a building or non-building to which a pesticide may be applied. Buildings are considered as any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy (NRC, 2015). Types of buildings include but are not limited to homes, schools, offices, animal housing, greenhouses and mushroom houses, factories, food and non-food storage facilities and food processing facilities. Non-buildings are those that are not designed for continuous human or domestic animal occupancy. Types of non-buildings include but are not limited to parking structures, roads/driveways, perimeter barriers such as fences or retaining walls, utilities (such as sewers, drains, telephone poles), patios and decks.

A residential structure is one where the general public, including children, could be exposed during or after application. Residential structures include, but are not limited to, homes, garages, schools, restaurants, hotels/motels, public buildings or any other structures where the general public including children may potentially be exposed. Non-residential structures include, but are not limited to, industrial/commercial indoor sites (for example, laboratories, warehouses, food granaries); modes of transport in areas where passengers are not present (for example, cargo areas, railcars); animal housing (for example, livestock housing, pet kennels); and areas within specific residential structures where the general public, including children, will have no access such as furnace rooms, storage areas in multi-unit dwellings, etc.

Consistency in Label Statements for Structural Pest Control Products

During the scientific review of SPCPs, the PMRA may make changes to the Registrant-provided label statements in order to better reflect the underlying risk assessment, in addition to providing more clarity on statements that communicate risk mitigation measures, the supported use pattern, best practice statements, etc.

To facilitate consistency in this process, the PMRA undertook a focused initiative to standardize the definitions of application types and human health precautionary statements for SPCPs that are used within, outdoors on the exterior surfaces of, and, within a 1 m exterior perimeter of a structure.

The Standard for Pesticide Education, Training and Certification in Canada, specifically the 2005 Structural Module of the Basic Knowledge Requirements for Pesticide Education, and United States Environmental Protection Agency's 2012 Residential Standard Operating Procedures were relied upon as key documents for standardizing application type definitions. The human health precautionary statements were based on statements already present on existing labels or as identified by key stakeholders.

Consultation/Engagement

Key stakeholders within the SPCP industry were engaged with a specific consultation request to provide input on the proposed label statements prior to the publication of the regulatory proposal document, PRO2018-04. Specifically, the Canadian Pest Management Association, CropLife Canada, Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association and the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Pesticides and Pest Management were consulted to provide feedback and recommendations on the proposed application type definitions and human health precautionary statements. Through this targeted consultation process, the number of definitions was expanded, definitions were simplified and streamlined, and implementation of the label amendment process was clarified.

Additional stakeholder comments were received during the public consultation period for PRO2018-04 and are summarized in Appendix I. These comments were taken into consideration and minor modifications were made, where appropriate, to the definitions and precautionary statements. The finalized tables are presented in Appendices II to IV.

3.0 Structural Pest Control Product Application Types

The definitions of the most common application types are listed in Appendix II.

These definitions are to be applied on the labels of all formulation types but may have to be tailored/adjusted for non-liquid formulations (dusts, aerosols, etc.), as necessary.

4.0 Human Health Precautionary Statements

The standard human health precautionary statements presented in Appendix III are for the most common uses of SPCPs and for those uses that represent the greatest risk to the applicator and populations exposed to residues after application.

These statements are intended for inclusion by registrants on SPCP labels of the end-use products, when appropriate, based on the use pattern. Over time, these precautionary statements may be updated as new information or data are received and reviewed by the Agency.

5.0 Implementation

To communicate these changes to both commercial and domestic product end-users, the labels of commercial and domestic marketing class end-use products for SPCPs will be systematically amended by using the approaches noted below (1 to 4). The appropriateness of the statements will be determined by both the applicant/registrant and the PMRA, based on the use pattern of the end-use product, any data submitted by the applicant, and level of risk to human health. For example, it is not required that a space spray product label states, "DO NOT apply when a food/feed processing facility is in operation." if PMRA has approved the use in those areas during facility operation.

The training module for commercial pest control operators (PCOs) or pest management professionals (PMPs) will also be updated. The definitions in this PMRA Guidance Document will be used to replace and augment those currently within the Structural Module for Basic Knowledge Requirements under Application Techniques. Changes will be made to the module when it is updated by the Working Group on Pesticide Education, Training and Certification (WGPETC).

6.0 Conclusion

Implementation of the definitions of application types and human health precautionary statements by the PMRA, stakeholders such as PCOs/PMPs, provincial and territorial pesticide licensing/certification and education bodies, and applicants/registrants will take effect at the time of publication of this PMRA Guidance Document.

The collaborative efforts put forth in the development of these statements will result in greater consistency in the use of these statements and allows a better understanding of how SPCP products are to be used.

List of Abbreviations

PCO
Pest Control Operator
PMP
Pest Management Professional
PMRA
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
PRO
Regulatory Proposal
SPCP
Structural Pest Control Product
VMD
Volume Median Diameter
WGPETC
Working Group on Pesticide Education, Training and Certification.

Appendix I Comments Received on PRO2018-04 and PMRA Responses

Organization Summary of Comments PMRA Response
CropLife Canada (CLC) Continue to maintain an open dialogue with the PMRA when implementing these label updates, ensure appropriate statements are put on labels for the specific use pattern of an end-use product. Requested that labels be updated in a timely fashion. As noted in Section 5.0, the onus is on both the applicant and PMRA to determine the appropriate label statements. Labels will be updated using one of the four approaches indicated in this Guidance Document, within the timeframes associated with each approach.
Canadian Pest Management Association Ensure appropriate statements are put on labels for the specific use pattern of an end-use product.
Alberta Environment and Parks Proposal to amend the ventilation statement to enable it to be more enforceable and requested a change to the crack and crevice definition to be less restrictive by removing, "It does not include the treatment of exposed surfaces."

The ventilation statement was revised to add clarity. The crack and crevice statement could not be changed for the following reason:

  • I. Limiting the location of application is necessary to allow for risk mitigation when there are human health concerns from other treatment types;

  • II. The definition is consistent with that in the Structural Module; and

  • III. The proposed revision would result in an indoor perimeter (pin stream) application and thus negate the difference between crack and crevice and pin stream application.

Canadian Environmental Law Association Recommend making labels more visibly and linguistically accessible and establishing a consistent definition of residential areas. These recommendations are outside of the scope of this project but will be considered under other label improvement initiatives.
Premier Tech Recommended changes to the French translations. Changes were accepted.

Appendix II Application Type Definitions for Inclusion on Proposed / Registered Labels

Application Type Footnote 1 Definition
Outdoor Structural Broadcast Outdoor broadcast application is to large outdoor structural surfaces (roofs, walls, doors, windows and foundations).Footnote 2
Outdoor PerimeterFootnote 3, Footnote 4 Outdoor perimeter application is 1 m or less out from the building's foundation and to a maximum height of 1 m starting where the foundation meets the ground.
Indoor Broadcast Indoor broadcast application is to broad expanses of indoor structural surfaces such as walls, floors, ceilings and indoor foundation walls/crawlspaces.
Indoor Perimeter (coarse droplet or particle size) Indoor perimeter application is less than 0.3 m wide along the edges of a room to baseboards, wall-floor and ceiling-wall joints, and around doorways or windows.
Indoor Perimeter (pin stream, coarse droplet or particle size). For commercial marketing class end-use products only. Indoor perimeter application is less than 0.1 m wide along the edges of a room using a pin stream nozzle to baseboards, wall-floor and ceiling-wall joints, and around doorways or windows.
Spot

Spot application is localized to a surface area not more than 0.2 m2. Spots are not to be adjoining. The combined area of spots is not to exceed 10% of the total surface area of a room.

Exception for gel or paste baits not applied in bait stations: A spot application is an open, localized placement of bait in areas inaccessible to children and pets [and livestock].Footnote 5 Locations of treatment may include under sinks and under heavy appliances (for example, fridge or stove).

Crack and Crevice Crack and crevice is an application directly into narrow openings on the surface of the structure. It does not include the treatment of exposed surfaces. Narrow openings typically occur at expansion joints, utility entry points and along baseboards and mouldings.
Void Void application applies to inaccessible, enclosed empty spaces of a structure. For example, hollow walls and suspended ceilings.

Furniture Treatment,Footnote 6 including but not limited to upholstered furniture, hard surface furniture, mattresses, box spring, pet bedding, bed frames, dressers, curtains, picture frames, wall coverings, hollow furniture legs, etc.

Equipment Treatment, including those used in food and feed establishments, garbage can(s)/dumpsters, etc.

Broadcast - Broadcast application covers large areas or the entire surface of listed items.

Spot - Spot application is up to 10% of the surface of the treated item.

Crack and crevice - Crack and crevice treatments are applications to junction points on items.

Tufts and/or seams (mattresses and upholstered furniture only) - Tufts and/or seam treatment is to the junction of two or more pieces of fabric and any decorative trim (for example, buttons).

Void - Void treatment targets inaccessible empty spaces of items. For example, inside the dust cover on the underside of furniture or hollow table legs.

SpaceFootnote 7 Space application is a suspension of fine droplets (0.1 to 100µm)Footnote 8 in the air within an indoor space.
Footnote 1

Unless otherwise specified, the application types and definitions are for indoor application only.

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Footnote 2

Other locations can be considered on a case-by-case basis (for example, porches, patios) if the relevant USC is requested.

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Footnote 3

The limitation of 1 m is based on the USEPA Residential SOP, Section 3 Lawns/Turf as the maximum distance from a house for which a post-application human health risk assessment for lawns/turf does not have to be conducted.

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Footnote 4

An outdoor perimeter application of a structural pest control product could result in exposure to pollinators; thus, additional environmental toxicity data under DACO 9.2.4 (Bees/Insect Pollinators) may be required.

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Footnote 5

Livestock may need to be included if applicable to the use pattern.

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Footnote 6

Unless a restrictive statement is added limiting the treatment of furniture to only the outside, it is assumed the generic use of 'furniture' on labels includes both the inside and outside (for example dressers, storage chests).

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Footnote 7

This definition does not include fumigants, outdoor fogging and outdoor misting systems. A fumigant is a chemical, which at a specific temperature and pressure, can exist in a gaseous state in sufficient quantities to be lethal to a pest organism (WGPETC, 2005). Outdoor fogging and outdoor misting systems are outside the scope of this guidance document. The droplet size is defined by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE, 2009; Appendix III).

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Footnote 8

When adding this definition to labels, do not include the droplet size for ready-to-use end-use products.

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Appendix III Human Health Precautionary Statements for Inclusion on Proposed/Registered Labels

Surface Application - Precautionary Statement

Commercial Marketing Class Products

  1. Wear a long-sleeved shirt,Footnote 1 long pants, chemical-resistant gloves, socks and shoes during [mixing, loading] Footnote 2 application, clean-up and repair.
  2. DO NOT apply to overhead areas or in confined spaces Footnote 3 without appropriate respiratory and eye protection.Footnote 4
  3. Ventilate treated areas after application either by opening windows and doors or using fans, where required, to aid in the circulation of air. Air exchange/ventilation systems confirmed to be operational may also be used. Footnote 4
  4. For broadcast, perimeter and spot spray (liquid formulation) applications, add "Use a coarse Footnote 5 droplet size and low pressure spray not exceeding 345 kPa (50 psi) to avoid splashing onto non-target surfaces."
  5. DO NOT apply when a food/feed processing facility is in operation.Footnote 4

Domestic Marketing Class Products

  1. DO NOT apply to overhead areas or in confined spaces (for example, attics, crawlspaces).Footnote 4
  2. Ventilate treated areas after application by opening windows and doors or using fans, where required, to aid in the circulation of air.Footnote 4

Commercial and Domestic Marketing Class Products

  1. DO NOT apply when people or pets [or livestock] Footnote 6 are present.
  2. Liquid/Aerosol end-use products - DO NOT allow people or pets [or livestock]Footnote 6 to enter treated areas until sprays have dried.
  3. Dust end-use products - DO NOT allow people or pets [or livestock]Footnote 6 to enter treated areas until dusts have settled.
  4. Liquid/Aerosol end-use products - DO NOT allow spray to drip or allow drift onto non-target surfaces.Footnote 4
  5. Dust end-use products - DO NOT allow dust to deposit onto non-target surfaces.
  6. DO NOT apply to surfaces that may come into contact with food/feed. Footnote 7
  7. Cover or remove all food/feed. Cover all food/feed processing surfaces, equipment and utensils or thoroughly wash them following treatment.
  8. DO NOT apply as a [space spray] Footnote 8 or [broadcast or indoor perimeter or spot]Footnote 9 treatment.

Generic statements for end-use products approved for use on mattresses and furniture:

  • 9. DO NOT use on items which can be laundered (for example, pillows, bedding, toys, clothing etc.).
  • 10. Remove bedding before treating mattresses. Treated mattress must be dry before replacing laundered bedding.
  • 11. Remove all objects before treatment of furniture, luggage, closets or other areas where clothing, toys, towels, and other items are stored. Treated furniture must be dry before replacing stored items.
  • 12. When approved for tuft and/or seam application only, add, “DO NOT apply to the entire mattress or piece of furniture. Apply to tufts [and/or] seams only.”

Statement for end-use products which are approved to control a pest (in other words, bed bugs, fleas) that can be found on mattresses and furniture but the latter are not specifically stated on the label:

  • 13. DO NOT apply to furniture, mattresses, linens, pet bedding, toys or clothing.

Generic statements for void application:

  • 14. Care should be taken to avoid the pesticide exiting the void. Any residue deposits on non-target surfaces must be removed by the applicator.

Space Application - Precautionary Statement

Commercial Marketing Class Products

  1. Wear a long-sleeved shirt,Footnote 1 long pants,Footnote 1 chemical resistant gloves socks and shoes during [mixing, loading,]Footnote 2 application, clean-up and repair.
  2. When applying to overhead areas or in confined spaces,Footnote 3 wear appropriate respiratory and eye protection.
  3. Ventilate treated areas after application either by opening windows and doors or using fans, where required, to aid in the circulation of air. Air exchange/ventilation systems confirmed to be operational may also be used.
  4. DO NOT apply when a food/feed processing facility is in operation.

Domestic Marketing Class Products

  1. Ventilate treated areas after application by opening windows and doors or using fans, where required, to aid in the circulation of air.

Commercial and Domestic Marketing Class Products

  1. DO NOT apply when people or pets [or livestock]Footnote 6 are present.
  2. DO NOT remain in treated areas after application.
  3. DO NOT allow people or pets [or livestock]Footnote 6 to enter treated areas until [sprays have settled] or [XX Footnote 10 minutes after application].Footnote 11
  4. Cover or remove all food/feed. Cover all food/feed processing surfaces, equipment and utensils or thoroughly wash following treatment.

Appendix IV Droplet Size Categories

The droplet classifications used within this document are defined by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE, 2009). The volume median diameter (VMD) is the value where 50% of the total volume or mass of liquid spray is made up of droplets larger than and 50% smaller than this value.

Droplet Size Categories
ASABE1 Classification VMD Range (micrometre, µm) Sub Category 2 VMD Range (micrometre, µm)
Extremely Fine <60 Vapour <0.001
Fume/Smokes 0.001 to 0.1
Aerosols/Fogs 0.1 to 50
Very Fine 61-105 Mist 50 to 100
Fine 106-235 Fine Fan Spray 100 to 400
Medium 236-340
Coarse 341-403
Very Coarse 404-502 Coarse Fan Spray >400
Footnote 1

American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) developed the ASABE S572.1 Droplet Size Classification. This is the standard currently used by the PMRA's Environmental Assessment Directorate.

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Footnote 2

Referenced from Mallis A. 2004. Handbook of pest control: the behavior, life history, and control of household pests. 9th ed. New York : Mac Nair-Dorland

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References

Footnote 1

The requirement for a long-sleeve shirt and long pants is considered to be met when a single layer of clothing is covering the skin.

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Footnote 2

Mixing and loading is not applicable for ready-to-use end-use products and so should be removed from the label statement.

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Footnote 3

Confined space as described by the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS, 2018)

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Footnote 4

Not necessary to include for gel or paste bait end-use products. The relevance of these statements to liquid bait end-use products will depend on the overall use pattern of the product.

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Footnote 5

Coarse droplet size as defined by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE, 2009).

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Footnote 6

Livestock may need to be included if applicable to the use pattern.

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Footnote 7

For end-use products which are not allowed for use in food/feed processing facilities.

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Footnote 8

This restriction must be added when only surface application types are supported on the label.

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Footnote 9

The surface application types not requested or supported by the PMRA must be listed here.

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Footnote 10

The duration prior to entry is based on the settling time of an end-use product as per the most recent USEPA Residential Standard Operating Procedure.

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Footnote 11

Not applicable to metered mists which are permanently installed.

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