Starting April 18, 2018, you can no longer bring unregistered pesticides into Canada if they are not equivalent to those already registered in Canada for personal use in or around your home (i.e., Domestic Class products). An equivalent pesticide is one that has the same active ingredient in the same concentration.
In addition, you will no longer be allowed to purchase unregistered pesticides online and have them shipped to Canada. The purchaser of the product must bring it into Canada in person.
The amended Pest Control Regulations state that the pesticide must:
- not be an organism or a device
- not exceed 500 mL or 500 g in quantity
- be in original packaging with original label that must be in at least one official language
- be authorized for use as a pesticide in another country and bear the assigned authorization number
Canadians can use the Health Canada online pesticide label database to access all registered pesticides in Canada. They can also use the Pesticide Labels mobile app to search for registered pesticides by product name, active ingredient, registrant name, or full label contents.
All pesticide products that are registered for use in Canada have a Pest Control Product (PCP) registration number on the label. It is important to read the label on a pesticide carefully, as it also contains specific information on using the product safely.
The Regulations Amending the Pest Control Products Regulations (Personal Use Import Exemption) is published in Part II of the Canada Gazette on October 18, 2017.
This amendment could result in compliance and enforcement officers recommending the refusal of entry for more non-compliant products at border crossings. The amendment prohibits Internet sales and third-party transportation, foreign companies wishing to sell unregistered pest control products to Canadian consumers may be affected. This may affect courier companies that have been transporting these unregistered pest control products across the border.
Contact:
Policy, Communications and Regulatory Affairs Directorate
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Health Canada
2720 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0K9
Email: pmra.regulatory.affairs-affaires.reglementaires.arla@hc-sc.gc.ca
Or Health Canada
(613) 957-2983