Changes to the registration of acephate pesticides

Organization: Health Canada

Date published: January 2024

ISBN: 978-0-660-67984-6

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.

Acephate is an organophosphate insecticide used in agriculture, ornamental production, forestry and on rights-of-way. The key elements of the re-evaluation and special review decisions for the active ingredient acephate, published on April 3, 2020, are summarized below.

Cancelled product, as of April 3, 2023

Stop using ORTHENE 75% (Registration No. 14225)
The sale of this product is prohibited as of April 3, 2022.

Label changes for acephate pesticides, as of April 3, 2022

Cancelled uses

Stop the following uses:

• Application on potatoes
• Foliar application on trees and ornamental plants in residential areas
• Greenhouse application,
  • except on ornamental plants
• Application with handheld mist blower or handheld fogger
• Application by injection and placement of implants in the trunk of trees before flowering or before the release of pollen
• Outdoor application with airblast/fogger on:
  • trees
  • ornamentals
  • Christmas tree plantations
  • farm woodlots
  • tree nurseries
  • shelterbelts
  • rights-of-way
  • municipal parks

Other risk reduction measures

• Restriction to spot foliar application and using handheld equipment only on:
  • farm woodlots
  • shelterbelts
  • rights-of-way
  • municipal parks
• Reduction of the maximum application rates
• Reduction of the maximum number of applications per year
• Increased spray intervals for some crops
• Updated re-entry intervals (REI) and pre-harvest intervals (PHI)
• Obligation to seal the holes of the implants placed in the trees
• Application by injection in trees after flowering only
  • except for conifers
• Additions to the required personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Application prohibited during flowering and during the nine days preceding flowering on:
  • cranberries
  • any plant highly attractive to pollinators, except conifers
• For all other crops, avoid applying during the flowering period or apply in the evening when the bees are not foraging
• Added statements to reduce runoff and protect aquatic habitats and groundwater

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.