Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) regulates the importation, distribution and sale of all pest control products (pesticides) in Canada under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and Regulations. This includes pest control products used by consumers. In general, pest control products must be registered with Health Canada to be eligible for import into Canada.
In an effort to increase awareness about the PCPA and in response to concerns expressed by consumers and other stakeholders about the potential risks of unregistered pest control products imported and distributed in Canada, Health Canada is providing information on importation requirements under the PCPA.
Here below outlines the definition of a ‘pest control product’ and a descriptive list of the types of consumer pest control products that are regulated under the PCPA.
Definition of a pest control product under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) “pest control product” means;
(a) a product, an organism or a substance, including a product, an organism or a substance derived through biotechnology, that consists of its active ingredient, formulants and contaminants, and that is manufactured, represented, distributed or used as a means for directly or indirectly controlling, destroying, attracting or repelling a pest or for mitigating or preventing its injurious, noxious or troublesome effects;
(b) an active ingredient that is used to manufacture anything described in paragraph (a); or
(c) any other thing that is prescribed to be a pest control product.
Descriptive list of consumer pest control products
Domestic consumer pest control products are defined according to use sites (i.e. used in and around homes and gardens or public places and used by, or in service to consumers). Domestic products can include:
- Swimming pool and hot-tub chemicals and devices;
- Wood preservatives—self-applied, such as copper-based solutions (e.g. Cuprinol®);
- Hard-surface sanitizers;
- Laundry additives;
- Biopesticides (microbials and biochemicals);
- Antimicrobials such as silver-nitrate based products (typically used as material preservatives in a broad range of materials, including textiles, plastics and building materials), and products treated with antimicrobials;
- Non-conventional products such as garlic-based products or natural-oil based products such as Neem, Citronella and Cedar;
- Rodenticides;
- Insecticides;
- Insect repellents;
- Fungicides (including a broad range of fumigants used on mold and mildew);
- Herbicides; and
- Devices designed to repel, control or kill pests such as baited “traps” or ultrasonic devices.
There are currently 1,700+ domestic consumer pest control products currently registered with Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency for use in Canada (approximately 80% of these products are imported into Canada).
All control products imported into Canada for sale or manufacture must be registered under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Those control products imported for research purposes should be so marked on the signed statement, as these are not subject to registration under the Act.
The Declaration by Importer of Control Products form is available here.
More Information:
Here is a Fact Sheet on the Requirements for the Commercial Importation of Pest Control Products
More on Importing Pest Control Products
Health Canada’s Pesticide Label Search website allows you to verify whether pest control products are registered with Health Canada. The link to the Label Search website is available here.
Contact Health Canada:
Pesticides Compliance Division
Regulatory Operations & Regions Branch / Health Canada
Tel: (519) 826-2895 / Fax: (519) 826-2129