Changes to the registration of lambda-cyhalothrin pesticides (structural uses)

Organization: Health Canada

Date published: November 2023

ISBN: 978-0-660-67676-0

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.

Lambda-cyhalothrin is an insecticide used on many crops, in the field and greenhouses, shelterbelts, turf, livestock and structures. The key elements regarding structural uses in the re-evaluation decision of the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin published on April 29, 2021, are summarized below.

In this factsheet, structural uses mainly concerns the surface treatments in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, modes of transport, kennels and livestock buildings.

Label changes for pesticides containing lambda-cyhalothrin, as of April 29, 2023

Risk reduction measures

For all products

• Added warnings, including:
  • "Do not apply as a space spray."
  • "Ventilate treated areas during and after application"
  • "Do not allow spray to drip or allow drift onto non-target surfaces"
  • "Do not apply this product in a food or feed processing plant when processing activities are in progress."
  • "Do not apply when people, pets or livestock are present."
  • "Toxic to bees. Avoid application around blooming plants."
• Added personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements
• Updated re-entry intervals (REI) before returning to the treated sites
• Added definitions of application types and treatment sites, including:
  • Cracks and crevices application
  • Perimeter application
  • Void application
  • Spot treatment
  • Furniture treatment
  • Residential structure

For liquid formulations

• Prohibition of broadcast, perimeter or spot treatments in residential structures
• Restriction of the maximum quantities handled per day depending on the application equipment used

For pressurized formulations

• Prohibition of broadcast or perimeter treatments in indoor areas

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.