Changes to the registration of lambda-cyhalothrin pesticides (agricultural uses)

All pesticides used in Canada must be registered under the Pest Control Products Act. Pesticides are re-evaluated to ensure that they continue to meet health and environmental requirements. Re-evaluation may result in the revocation of a product or product uses. Health Canada may also request changes to a product's label, including risk mitigation measures, use sites and application methods.

Lambda-cyhalothrin is an insecticide used on many crops, in the field and greenhouses, shelterbelts, turf, livestock and structures. The key elements regarding agricultural uses in the re-evaluation decision published on April 29, 2021, and the Information note published on February 3, 2025, for the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin are summarized below.

In this factsheet, the agricultural uses include the treatment of ornamental plants, trees, and turf.

Label changes for pesticides containing lambda-cyhalothrin

Cancelled uses

Stop uses on the following crops:

• Lettuce, field and greenhouse
• Apples
• Peaches
• Condiment type mustard seeds
• Certain crops for animal feed uses
• Bulb vegetables from revised Crop group 3-07 *
• Oilseeds from revised Crop group 20 *
• except flax seeds, oilseed-type mustard seeds and rapeseed (canola grade only)

Other risk reduction measures

• Added personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, depending on the type of activity and application equipment used
• Restriction on the maximum quantities handled per day depending on the application equipment used
• Limit of two applications per season at 14-day intervals on turf
• Updated re-entry intervals (REI) before returning to the treated areas
• Updated statements against spray drift
• Additional statements to protect bees and other pollinators, parasitic insects, predatory mites, and small wild mammals, as well as aquatic environments, including:
  • Avoid applying during crop blooming period
  • Mandatory 10-meter vegetative filter strip between the treated area and the edge of a down-gradient water body
  • Requirement to respect the buffer zones
• Additional specific statements for greenhouse uses:
  • Do not apply in the presence of bees or beneficial insects
  • Do not discharge effluent contaminated with lambda-cyhalothrin into the environment

Users must follow the instructions on the updated labels.

Using a pesticide contrary with the label directions is a violation of the Pest Control Products Act.

Read and follow the label

All pesticides registered in Canada have a Health Canada-approved label with a registration number. Read the pesticide label carefully, as it contains specific information on how to use it.

To find the most up-to-date label, use our online label search tool or search for "Health Canada pesticide labels" using your favourite search engine.

For more information

Re-evaluation decision RVD2021-04, Lambda-cyhalothrin and its associated end-use products.

PMRA Information note – Changes to registered uses of lambda-cyhalothrin and some of its associated end-use products.

The Health Canada-approved label is the official document for enforcement purposes. In the event of any discrepancy with the contents of this factsheet, the information on the label shall prevail.

*Crop groups used by the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency.

Runoff mitigation – Vegetative filter strips.

Health Canada's Pesticide Compliance Program (PCP) is responsible for the enforcement of the Pest Control Products Act.