Mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients: List and limits
On this page
- 1.0 Pesticide active ingredients list and limits
- 2.0 Limits of quantification of the mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients
Health Canada is the federal department responsible for helping the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. Health Canada is committed to improving the lives of all of Canada's people and to making this country's population among the healthiest in the world as measured by longevity, lifestyle and effective use of the public health care system.
Disclaimer: This document must be used in conjunction with the Mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients - Requirements, which describes testing and reporting requirements for the pesticide active ingredients listed in this document.
1.0 Pesticide active ingredients list and limits
The Pesticides Regulatory Directorate maintains a list of historical and current pest control products used in Canada. Only certain pest control products have been approved in Canada for use on cannabis.
Pest control products that are of the most concern or are most likely to be used on cannabis have been added to this pesticide active ingredients list if they:
- were detected on cannabis in Canada or in American states that have regulated its production
- are used against pests that can be found on cannabis
- were observed by inspectors of Health Canada or the Canadian Border Services Agency
- were identified because of their risk to health or because of other factors
Health Canada has set limits of quantification (LoQ) for pesticide active ingredients in cannabis. These limits are based on the identification and quantification of the molecule using current chemical analytical methods and equipment. For example, Health Canada sets an LoQ for abamectin of 0.1 ppm. This means the analytical method used by the laboratory must be able to reliably quantify residues of abamectin as low as 0.1 ppm or better. The limits developed by Health Canada are not reporting limits but minimum standards of performance for testing laboratories.
The pesticide active ingredients list and LoQs are reviewed periodically and revised as needed, based on Health Canada's monitoring of the industry for pesticide active ingredients and advances in chemical analysis technology.
Health Canada has the authority to take compliance and enforcement actions under the Cannabis Act and its Regulations and under the Pest Control Products Act and its regulations if either:
- an unauthorized pest control product is used by licence holders, whether or not the pest control product is listed in this document
- an authorized pest control product is used on cannabis in a manner that is not in accordance with label directions
Health Canada encourages anyone who suspects that an unauthorized pest control products is being used on cannabis to communicate with the Compliance Directorate in the Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch by emailing compliance-cannabis-conformite@hc-sc.gc.ca.
2.0 Limits of quantification of the mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients
| Active ingredient | Limits of Quantification in parts per million |
|---|---|
| Abamectin | 0.1 |
| Acephate | 0.02 |
| Acequinocyl | 0.03 |
| Acetamiprid | 0.1 |
| Aldicarb | 1 |
| Allethrin | 0.2 |
| Azadirachtin | 1 |
| Azoxystrobin | 0.02 |
| Benzovindiflupyr | 0.02 |
| Bifenazate | 0.02 |
| Bifenthrin | 1 |
| Boscalid | 0.02 |
| Buprofezin | 0.02 |
| Carbaryl | 0.05 |
| Carbofuran | 0.02 |
| Chlorantraniliprole | 0.02 |
| Chlorphenapyr | 0.05 |
| Chlorpyrifos | 0.04 |
| Clofentezine | 0.02 |
| Clothianidin | 0.05 |
| Coumaphos | 0.02 |
| Cyantraniliprole | 0.02 |
| Cyfluthrin | 0.2 |
| Cypermethrin | 0.3 |
| Cyprodinil | 0.25 |
| Daminozide | 0.1 |
| Deltamethrin | 0.5 |
| Diazinon | 0.02 |
| Dichlorvos | 0.1 |
| Dimethoate | 0.02 |
| Dimethomorph | 0.05 |
| Dinotefuran | 0.1 |
| Dodemorph | 0.05 |
| Endosulfan sulfate | 0.05 |
| Endosulfan-alpha | 0.2 |
| Endosulfan-beta | 0.05 |
| Ethoprophos | 0.02 |
| Etofenprox | 0.05 |
| Etoxazole | 0.02 |
| Etridiazole | 0.03 |
| Fenoxycarb | 0.02 |
| Fenpyroximate | 0.02 |
| Fensulfothion | 0.02 |
| Fenthion | 0.02 |
| Fenvalerate | 0.1 |
| Fipronil | 0.06 |
| Flonicamid | 0.05 |
| Fludioxonil | 0.02 |
| Fluopyram | 0.02 |
| Hexythiazox | 0.01 |
| Imazalil | 0.05 |
| Imidacloprid | 0.02 |
| Iprodione | 1 |
| Kinoprene | 0.5 |
| Kresoxim-methyl | 0.02 |
| Malathion | 0.02 |
| Metalaxyl | 0.02 |
| Methiocarb | 0.02 |
| Methomyl | 0.05 |
| Methoprene | 2 |
| Mevinphos | 0.05 |
| MGK-264 | 0.05 |
| Myclobutanil | 0.02 |
| Naled | 0.1 |
| Novaluron | 0.05 |
| Oxamyl | 3 |
| Paclobutrazol | 0.02 |
| Parathion-methyl | 0.05 |
| Permethrin | 0.5 |
| Phenothrin | 0.05 |
| Phosmet | 0.02 |
| Piperonyl butoxide | 0.2 |
| Pirimicarb | 0.02 |
| Prallethrin | 0.05 |
| Propiconazole | 0.1 |
| Propoxur | 0.02 |
| Pyraclostrobin | 0.02 |
| Pyrethrins | 0.05 |
| Pyridaben | 0.05 |
| Quintozene | 0.02 |
| Resmethrin | 0.1 |
| Spinetoram | 0.02 |
| Spinosad | 0.1 |
| Spirodiclofen | 0.25 |
| Spiromesifen | 3 |
| Spirotetramat | 0.02 |
| Spiroxamine | 0.1 |
| Tebuconazole | 0.05 |
| Tebufenozide | 0.02 |
| Teflubenzuron | 0.05 |
| Tetrachlorvinphos | 0.02 |
| Tetramethrin | 0.1 |
| Thiacloprid | 0.02 |
| Thiamethoxam | 0.02 |
| Thiophanate-methyl | 0.05 |
| Trifloxystrobin | 0.02 |