Changes to the registration of pyrethrins pesticides (non-agricultural uses)

Organization: Health Canada

ISBN: 978-0-660-71988-7

Date published: 2024-07-26

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 mitigation measures, use sites and application methods.

Pyrethrins are insecticides used on a wide range of sites. The highlights of the re-evaluation decision concerning the non-agricultural uses of the active ingredient pyrethrins, published on March 2, 2023, are summarized below.

In this factsheet, non-agricultural uses include use in agricultural buildings and equipment, in livestock buildings and pet rooms, outdoor locations, in residential settings, on pet animals and for mosquitoes control.

Cancelled Products

Cancelled product	Last date of sale	Last date of use
Domestic products listed in Appendix 1,Table 2 of the re-evaluation decision	March 2, 2024	September 2, 2024
Products listed in Appendix 1, Table 4 of the re-evaluation decision	March 2, 2025	March 2, 2026

Label changes for pyrethrins pesticides

To find out the deadline for label changes by product, see Appendix 1 of the re-evaluation decision:

• Table 1 products - changes required as of September 2, 2024
• Table 3 products - changes required as of March 2, 2025

Cancelled uses

Stop the following applications:

• Use of handheld or stationary foggers/misting equipment in residential areas
• Space spraying with liquid domestic products
• Application on mattresses, bedding, furniture and clothing to control lice

Other risk reduction measures

• Updated personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements
• Limit to the amount of product handled per day
• Limit to the application rate of domestic products for indoor space using pressurized products
• Limit to maximum application rates of commercial-use products :
  • for outdoor fogging against mosquitoes
  • for indoor broadcast surface sprays
  • for metered release devices
• Updated re-entry intervals, especially after commercial application in residential areas:
  • applicators must notify any person having access to the treated site of the re-entry interval to be observed
• Additional statements for structural treatment products, in accordance with the PMRA guidance document, Structural Pest Control Products: Label Updates *
• Environmental hazard statements to protect bees, beneficial arthropods and aquatic organisms
• Updated spray buffer zones to protect aquatic habitats
• Prohibited use of domestic-class products to bodies of water
• Cautions for sites with characteristics that may be conducive to runoff and when heavy rains are expected
• For the protection of pets treated with sprays or shampoos:
  • warnings on possible side effects
  • prohibited use of other pet products with the same active ingredient as the product used

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.