Pressure-treated wood with preservatives

In Canada, wood that has been pressure-treated with antimicrobial preservatives to prevent decay is subject to the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and regulated as a treated article under the Pest Control Products Regulations (PCPR). Importers, manufacturers, and distributors of this type of wood are required to be familiar with all applicable requirements.

Regulatory framework for treated articles

Health Canada generally does not require registration for an article treated with an antimicrobial preservative as a pest control product, provided certain conditions are met:

• The antimicrobial agent used is registered in Canada for this use.
• The article is treated in accordance with the instructions on the antimicrobial agent's label, including the treatment rate.
• The treatment is limited to preventing microorganisms from degrading or damaging the product.

Regulatory requirements for manufacturers in Canada

Manufacturers who pressure-treat wood with an antimicrobial preservative in Canada must:

• Use pest control products registered under the PCPA for this specific use
• Apply the products within the approved dosage range
• Follow all other label instructions

Attention

Regulatory requirements for importers

With regard to pressure-treated wood imported into Canada, the product used in other countries does not have to be registered in Canada, but it must contain only active ingredients registered under the PCPA for the same use. The treatment rates, prescribed uses, and application methods must be equivalent to those approved in Canada for the same use.

Useful tools

Each year, a number of pesticides are no longer authorized for sale or undergo changes to their approved conditions of use or labels.

Here are some tools you can use to stay informed about these changes:

• Decisions and updates: Find information on re-evaluation and special review decisions, as well as new product registrations.
• Label search tool: Get the latest version of a pesticide label.

Any person or business that imports, manufactures, sells, or uses a pest control product that does not comply with the PCPA may be subject to enforcement actions, including fines of up to $10,000 per violation, in accordance with the Health Canada's Compliance and enforcement policy for pesticides.