Proposed Registration Decision PRD2026-12, Deltamethrin, Ultratec 5SC MUP and Raid Bug Defense

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Health Canada
Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch
Pesticides Regulatory Directorate
17 July 2026
ISSN: 1925-0886 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-9/2026-12E-PDF (PDF version)

Summary

Table of contents

• Proposed Registration Decision for Deltamethrin
• What does Health Canada consider when making a Registration Decision?
• What is deltamethrin?
• Health considerations
• Environmental considerations
• Value considerations
• Measures to minimize risk
• Next steps
• Other information

Proposed Registration Decision for Deltamethrin

Health Canada, pursuant to subsection 28(1) of the Pest Control Products Act, is proposing registration for the sale and use of Deltamethrin Technical Insecticide, Ultratec 5SC MUP, and Raid Bug Defense, containing the active ingredient deltamethrin, to control ants, cockroaches, house flies, stable flies and spiders on and around the home (outdoors only).

Deltamethrin is currently registered for use on greenhouse ornamentals, greenhouse food crops, industrial oilseed crops, terrestrial feed and food crops, roadsides, shelterbelts, indoor and outdoor surfaces of agricultural buildings and structures, turf for the control of numerous insect pests, outdoor-grown boxwood for the control of box tree moth, and for use in residential and recreational areas for the control of adult mosquitoes. For details, see the Proposed Registration Decision (PRD) document PRD2023-05, DeltaGard SC Insecticide, containing deltamethrin; PRD2019-07, Deltamethrin and Annihilator PolyZone; Registration Decision (RD) document RD2019-15, Deltamethrin and Annihilator PolyZone; PRD2017-05, Deltamethrin; RD2017-08, Deltamethrin; Proposed Re-evaluation Decision (PRVD) document PRVD2015-07, Deltamethrin; and Re-evaluation Decision (RVD) document RVD2018-27, Deltamethrin and its Associated End-use Products.

An evaluation of available scientific information found that, under the approved conditions of use, the health and environmental risks and the value of the pest control products are acceptable.

This summary describes the key points of the evaluation, while the Science evaluation of the full version of PRD2026-12, Deltamethrin, Ultratec 5SC MUP and Raid Bug Defense provides detailed technical information on the human health, environmental and value assessments of deltamethrin, Ultratec 5SC MUP, and Raid Bug Defense.

What does Health Canada consider when making a Registration Decision?

The primary objective of the Pest Control Products Act is to prevent unacceptable risks to individuals and the environment from the use of pest control products. Health or environmental risk is considered acceptable^{Footnote 1} if there is reasonable certainty that no harm to human health, future generations or the environment will result from use or exposure to the product under its proposed conditions of registration. The Act also requires that products have value^{Footnote 2} when used according to the label directions. Conditions of registration may include precautionary measures on the product label to further reduce risk.

To reach its decisions, Health Canada applies modern, rigorous risk-assessment methods and policies. These methods consider the unique characteristics of sensitive subpopulations in humans (for example, children). They also consider the unique characteristics of organisms in the environment. These methods and policies also consider the nature of the effects observed and the uncertainties when predicting the impact of pesticides. For more information on how Health Canada regulates pesticides, the assessment process, and risk-reduction programs, please visit the Pesticides and pest management portion of Canada.ca.

Before making a final registration decision on deltamethrin, Ultratec 5SC MUP, and Raid Bug Defense, Health Canada will consider any written comments received from the public directly related to the proposed decision in the full version of PRD2026-12.^{Footnote 3} Health Canada will then publish a Registration Decision^{Footnote 4} on deltamethrin, Ultratec 5SC MUP, and Raid Bug Defense, which will include the decision, the reasons for it, a summary of comments received on the proposed registration decision and Health Canada’s response to these comments.

For more details on the information presented in this summary, please refer to the Science evaluation of PRD2026-12.

What is deltamethrin?

Deltamethrin is a conventional chemical insecticide that affects the nervous system of insects, leading to death after exposure or ingestion. It is the active ingredient in the domestic class product Raid Bug Defense, which is proposed for use to control certain insect pests on and around the home (outdoors only).

Health considerations

Can approved uses of deltamethrin affect human health?

Raid Bug Defense, containing deltamethrin, is unlikely to affect human health when used according to proposed label directions.

Potential exposure to deltamethrin from the use of Raid Bug Defense may occur when handling and applying the end-use products or when coming into contact with treated surfaces. When assessing health risks, two key factors are considered:

• the levels where no health effects occur and
• the levels to which people may be exposed.

The dose levels used to assess risks are selected to protect the most sensitive human population (for example, children and nursing mothers). As such, sex and gender are taken into account in the risk assessment. Only uses for which the exposure is well below levels that cause no effects in animal testing are considered acceptable for registration.

Toxicology studies in laboratory animals describe potential health effects from varying levels of exposure to a chemical and identify the dose level at which no effects are observed. The health effects noted in animals occur at dose levels more than 100-times higher (and often much higher) than levels to which humans are normally exposed when pesticide products are used according to label directions.

In laboratory animals, deltamethrin was of low to high acute oral toxicity and low to moderate acute inhalation toxicity. It was of low acute dermal toxicity and was neither an eye nor a skin irritant. Exposure to deltamethrin is not expected to cause an allergic skin reaction; however, itching, tingling, or burning sensations of the skin may occur.

The acute toxicity of the end-use product Raid Bug Defense, containing deltamethrin, was low via the oral, dermal, and inhalation routes of exposure. It was minimally irritating to the eyes and skin and did not cause an allergic skin reaction.

The acute toxicity of the manufacturing concentrate product Ultratec 5SC MUP, containing deltamethrin, was low via the oral, dermal and inhalation routes of exposure. It was mildly irritating to the eyes; consequently, the signal word “CAUTION” and hazard statement “EYE IRRITANT” are required on the label. It was slightly irritating to the skin and did not cause an allergic skin reaction.

Registrant-supplied short- and long-term (lifetime) animal toxicity tests as well as information from the published scientific literature were assessed previously for the potential of deltamethrin to cause neurotoxicity, immunotoxicity, chronic toxicity, cancer, reproductive and developmental toxicity, and various other effects. An updated review of the published scientific literature was undertaken for the current assessment. The most sensitive endpoint used for risk assessment was neurotoxicity in young animals. There was evidence that the young were more susceptible than adult animals to these effects. The risk assessment protects against the effects noted above and other potential effects by helping to ensure that the level of exposure to humans is well below the lowest dose level at which these effects occurred in animal tests.

Occupational risks from handling Raid Bug Defense

Raid Bug Defense is a domestic class end-use product and so will not be used by pest control professionals.

Health risks in residential and other non-occupational environments

Risks in residential and other non-occupational environments are not of health concern when Raid Bug Defense is used according to the proposed label directions.

Raid Bug Defense is a domestic class end-use product and is applied by adults (16+ years) to exterior structural surfaces and ant hills. As such, adults may be exposed to deltamethrin through the dermal and inhalation routes during application. No risks of concern were identified through either route of exposure for adults.

Raid Bug Defense can be applied to outdoor structural surfaces and ant mounds in residential areas; however, based on these locations of use, adult and child postapplication exposure to treated surfaces is expected to be minimal. As such, dermal and incidental oral exposures were assessed qualitatively.

Aggregate health risks from dietary and residential exposures

Deltamethrin is used on food/feed crops, so an aggregate assessment was conducted.

There is the potential for individuals to be exposed to deltamethrin via different routes and sources of exposure concurrently. Based on common affects identified in the toxicological reference values, aggregate exposure for adults may occur through inhalation exposure during application and from consuming food and drinking water (dietary exposure) resulting from the currently registered food uses of deltamethrin (PRVD2015-07). No aggregate risks of concern to deltamethrin were identified when the product is used according to label directions.

For children, aggregate exposure may occur through dermal and incidental oral exposure from treated surfaces and from the dietary route. However, aggregate exposure was not quantified as dermal and incidental oral exposure to treated outdoor surfaces is not expected.

Health risks to bystanders

Bystander risks are not of health concern when Raid Bug Defense is used according to the proposed label directions.

Label directions prohibit people (other than the applicator) and pets from being present during application. As such, bystander exposure is expected to be minimal, so health risks are not of concern.

Environmental considerations

What happens when deltamethrin is introduced into the environment?

When deltamethrin is used according to label directions, the risks to the environment have been determined to be acceptable.

Deltamethrin, when used for control of crawling and flying insect pests, will be sprayed as a spot or crack and crevice treatment onto outdoor surfaces of buildings and structures. As a result, the amount of pesticide deposited on soil and water is expected to be minimal and will be localized to the exterior surfaces of buildings and structures.

In laboratory studies, deltamethrin was found to be toxic to bees, beneficial insects, mammals, and aquatic organisms when exposed to high enough concentrations. Due to the application method, exposure to the environment is expected to be minimal, and the environmental risks to non-target terrestrial and aquatic organisms associated with the use of Raid Bug Defense are acceptable when used in accordance with the label directions.

Value considerations

What is the value of Raid Bug Defense?

Raid Bug Defense controls certain insect pests on and around the home (outdoors).

Raid Bug Defense provides control of ants, cockroaches, house flies, stable flies, and spiders. Raid Bug Defense is a new product with a new active ingredient for these uses.

Measures to minimize risk

Labels of registered pesticide products include specific instructions for use. Directions include risk-reduction measures to protect human health and the environment. These directions must be followed by law.

The key risk-reduction measures being proposed on the labels of Deltamethrin Technical Insecticide, Ultratec 5SC MUP, and Raid Bug Defense to address the potential risks identified in this assessment are as follows.

Key risk-reduction measures - Human health

The proposed label for Raid Bug Defense was amended to align with the required label statements outlined in the PMRA Guidance Document, Structural Pest Control Products: Label Updates, which specifies the proper use and handling of domestic class end-use products in residential areas.

Key risk-reduction measures - Environment

Label statements are required to inform users that deltamethrin is toxic to bees, beneficial insects, and aquatic organisms, and to prevent contamination of irrigation, drinking water supplies and aquatic habitats.

Next steps

Before making a final registration decision on deltamethrin, Ultratec 5SC MUP, and Raid Bug Defense, Health Canada will consider any written comments received from the public that are directly related to this proposed decision, such as comments directed to the science evaluation, in response to PRD2026-12 up to 30 days from the date of publication (by 16 August 2026). Please forward all comments to Pesticides Publications Section, through the Public Engagement Portal (Public Engagement Portal forms – Consultation Comment). Health Canada will then publish a Registration Decision, which will include its decision, the reasons for it, a summary of comments received on the proposed decision and Health Canada’s response to these comments.

Other information

When Health Canada makes its registration decision, it will publish a Registration Decision on deltamethrin, Ultratec 5SC MUP, and Raid Bug Defense (based on the Science evaluation section of PRD2026-12). In addition, the test data referenced in this consultation document will be available for public inspection, upon application, in the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate’s Reading Room. For more information or if you have questions, please contact Pesticides Information Service.

Footnotes