Commercial import of pesticides into Canada
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Organization: Health Canada
Date published: March 2024
ISBN: 978-0-660-69954-7
Anyone who imports pesticides into Canada must comply with Canadian regulations.
Health Canada regulates the import, manufacture, distribution and use of all pest control products (pesticides) in Canada under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA).
Pesticides include:
- Herbicides
- Fungicides
- Insecticides
- Rodenticides
- Bactericides
- Preserving agents for wood and other materials
- Certain sanitizers, including those for pools and spas
- Devices, including those that emit ultraviolet rays or ozone
- Animal or insect repellents, including repellents for fleas, ticks and mosquitoes
- Any active ingredients used in the manufacturing of the above-mentioned products
The PCPA requires that all pesticides imported into Canada be registered by Health Canada, except under certain specific cases set out in the regulations.
Pesticides eligible for import
Before importing a pesticide into Canada, make sure it falls in at least one of the following categories:
Registered product
A pesticide registered by Health Canada has a bilingual label, in English and French, on which there is a unique four- or five-digit registration number (e.g. Registration No. 12345 PCPA).
Authorized product
An authorized pesticide is:
- Identified on a valid research authorization or notification certificate issued by Health Canada, carrying an alphanumeric code (e.g. 1234-RN-12); or
- Identified by a valid import certificate under the Grower Requested Own Use (GROU) program, issued by Health Canada and carrying a numeric code (e.g. 123456-123).
Scheduled product
The scheduled pesticide is listed in Schedule 2 of the Pest Control Products Regulations (PCPR) and meets all the indicated conditions.
Exempted product
A pesticide can be exempted from registration if:
- It is intended exclusively for laboratory research
- It is already registered under the Food and Drugs Act and carries a drug identification number (DIN)
- It is an ultraviolet radiation-emitting device that meets all the requirements listed in subsections 4 (c) to (e) of the PCPR
As a commercial importer of pesticides
You must provide detailed information to the CBSA, including:
- The name and complete contact information of the shipper and importer
- The name and description of the pesticide
- The name of the active ingredient and its concentration
- The registration number or the certificate number and the type of the pesticide certificate
- The words "exempted" or "scheduled", if applicable
- The intended use, such as manufacturing, resale or research
Health Canada participates in the CBSA Single Window Initiative which aims to simplify the exchange of commercial import data between the Government of Canada and importers.
Import monitoring verifies that imported products comply with the requirements of the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) refuses entry to ineligible pesticides. In the event of non-compliance with the PCPA, Health Canada can also take enforcement measures, including the seizure of products or monetary penalties, as part of its Compliance and enforcement policy for pesticides.
Use the online Health Canada label search tool to confirm the registration status of the pest control product or search for "Health Canada pesticide labels" using your favourite search engine.
For more information
Pest Control Products Act
Pest Control Products Regulations
The PCPA and PCPR are the official Health Canada documents. In the event of any discrepancy with the contents of this factsheet, the contents of the PCPA and PCPR shall prevail.
CBSA Memorandum D19-9-1: The Administration of Health Canada Acts and Regulations Relating to Certain Controlled, Prohibited or Regulated Goods.
Health Canada's Pesticide Compliance Program (PCP) is responsible for the enforcement of the Pest Control Products Act.
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