Changes to folpet pesticides registration (agricultural users)

Organization: Health Canada

Date published: January 2024

ISBN: 978-0-660-67988-4

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.

Folpet is a fungicide used on many ornamentals and food crops. Highlights of the re-evaluation decision for the agricultural uses of the active ingredient folpet, published on January 23, 2020, are summarized below.

Label changes for folpet pesticides, as of January 23, 2022

Cancelled uses due to health risk

• Stop stem soaking for azalea (all products)
• Stop using on apples, crab apples and cranberries (wettable powder products)

Other measures to reduce health risk

• Updated restricted-entry intervals (REI) and pre-harvest intervals (PHI)
• Reduction to the maximum number of applications for:
  • Greenhouses
  • Outdoor ornamentals grown for cut flower production
  • Tomatoes not grown for processing
• Updated maximum application rates
• Updated minimum re-treatment intervals
• Rotational plant-back interval of 12 months required for crops not listed for use on the label
• Added personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, by type of application
• Added statement to use only on those ornamentals (greenhouse or outdoors) specified on the label
• Added statements to protect bystanders from spray drift
• For wettable powder products:
  • A closed cabin equipped with an adequate air filter preventing any contact between the occupant and the pesticides is required for airblast application
  • Limit of 40 kg product handled per person per day when using groundboom application equipment

Measures to reduce environmental risk

• Aerial application prohibited
• Added statements to prevent contamination of aquatic habitats or irrigation and drinking water supplies, including the recommendation to add a vegetative filter strip
• Added risk mitigation statements for field sprayer and airblast application to prevent spray drift
• Updated buffer zones

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 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.