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
- Mandatory pesticide sales reporting
Learn about pesticide registrant inspections:
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.