Pesticides compliance and enforcement: Information for regulated parties
On this page
- Legislation and policy
- Manufacturing pesticides
- Distributing pesticides
- Importing pesticides
- Using pesticides
- Pesticide labels
Legislation and policy
Learn about laws and regulations that govern pesticides in Canada and about PCP’s compliance and enforcement policies:
- Pest Control Products Act
- Pest Control Products Regulations
- Pest Control Products Sales Information Reporting Regulations
- Pest Control Products Incident Reporting Regulations
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations
- Compliance and enforcement policy for pesticides
- Compliance and enforcement policy framework
Manufacturing pesticides
Registrants and manufacturers are responsible for:
- product registrations with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency
- ensuring that the products available in the Canadian marketplace meet the requirements of the act and the conditions of registration
Learn how to meet the act’s requirements:
- Pest Management Regulatory Agency
- Registrants and applicants
- Pesticide registration process
- Mandatory incident reporting for registrants and applicants
Distributing pesticides
Anyone selling pesticides must ensure the products advertised and made available on the Canadian market are compliant with the requirements under the act. This applies to:
- distributors
- retailers
- anyone selling pesticides:
- in stores
- online, including through third-party online platforms like social media
- other marketplaces
Learn how to meet the act’s requirements:
Importing pesticides
Anyone importing pesticides into Canada for commercial or personal use must ensure that they:
- follow the requirements stated in the act
- comply with any other applicable federal legislation
There are exemptions when importing pesticides for personal use. Exemptions are listed under Section 3 of the Pest Control Products Regulations. Growers should review specific requirements under sections 41, 42 and 44 of the regulations.
Learn how to meet the act’s requirements:
- Step-by-step guide to importing (commercial import)
- Grower Requested Own Use Program (GROU)
- Commercial importing reporting requirements
Using pesticides
Anyone using pesticides must verify that they:
- follow label instructions
- select products which meet the requirements of the act for use in Canada
This applies when using pesticides for agricultural, non-agricultural commercial or industrial purposes, as well as in domestic settings.
Agricultural users include any persons who apply pesticides to food and non-food crops, such as:
- berries
- tree fruit
- greenhouses
- aquaculture
- outdoor nurseries
- animal husbandry
- agriculture aerial application
- specialty and large field crops
Non-agricultural users include:
- arborists
- industrial users
- forestry professionals
- pest management professionals
- landscape and structural workers
- golf course pesticides applicators
- vegetation management professionals
Learn about environmental risk mitigation:
- Drift mitigation
- Pollinator protection
- Runoff mitigation – Vegetative filter strips
- Spray buffer zone calculator for pesticide applicators
Learn about health risk mitigation:
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Understanding preharvest intervals for pesticides
- Understanding restricted-entry intervals for pesticides
- Pesticides: When should agricultural workers enter a treated area? (video)
Pesticide labels
It’s a violation of the act to use a product in a manner that is contrary to the label. You can search for pesticide labels in Health Canada’s database to view a product’s label and directions. This information is also available on our free downloadable mobile application.
Related links
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