Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2022-14, Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids and their Associated End-use Products

Notice to the reader:

The online consultation is now closed.

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
5 July 2022
ISSN: 1925-0967 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-27/2022-14E-PDF (PDF version)

Table of contents

• Proposed re-evaluation decision
• Risk mitigation
• Next steps
• Other information
• Additional scientific information

Proposed re-evaluation decision

Under the Pest Control Products Act, all registered pesticides must be re-evaluated by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to ensure that they continue to meet health and environmental standards and continue to have value. The re-evaluation considers data and information from various sources such as information from pesticide manufacturers, incident reports, and other regulatory agencies. Health Canada applies internationally accepted risk assessment methods, risk management approaches and policies to all re-evaluations.

This document (Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2022-14, Capsaicin and Related Capsaicinoids and their Associated End-use Products) presents the proposed regulatory decision for the re-evaluation of capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, including any proposed amendments (new risk mitigation measures and updated labels to meet the current labelling standard) to protect human health and the environment, as well as the science evaluation on which the proposed decision is based.

Capsaicin and related capsaicinoids (dihydrocapsaicin and nordihydrocapsaicin) are the essential oil extracts from pepper fruit, and the actives are always co-formulated. In Canada, capsaicin and related capsaicinoids are registered as animal repellents. They act as vertebrate repellents through irritation when they come into contact with skin or mucous membranes.

Capsaicin and its related compounds are the only actives registered to repel bears. These are restricted class products formulated as pressurized spray to be used only by authorized customers. Similar products, at a lower concentration and smaller size, are also registered to deter aggressive dogs or coyotes in domestic settings. The actives, formulated as a suspension, are registered as commercial and domestic class products for use to protect trees and ornamentals from deer, rabbits and hares. Granular, dust and liquid domestic class products are also registered to deter dog, cat, raccoon, skunk, groundhog and squirrels to protect the residential areas or bird seeds.

Capsaicin and its related compounds are shown to have value in providing a pest management solution. Based on the current use pattern of capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, dietary exposure is not anticipated. The potential risk to human health (occupational and non-occupational) and the environment is considered acceptable with the proposed risk mitigation measures and label updates.

Risk mitigation

• domestic class to repel dogs and coyotes – a new precautionary statement;
• commercial class (suspension) product to repel deer, rabbit and hares - update the personal protective equipment and add re-entry interval statement;
• domestic class (suspension) products to repel deer, rabbit and hares – to add personal protective equipment, re-entry interval and update spray drift statement;
• domestic class products to deter dog, cat, raccoon, skunk, groundhog and squirrels – add additional and update personal protective equipment, and re-entry interval statement;
• domestic class product as dust to treat bird seeds to deter squirrels – update the personal protective equipment statement;
• add statements to mitigate potential risk to aquatic organisms on all product labels; and
• update general statements to relevant product labels to improve clarify.

No additional risk mitigation measures are proposed for restricted class products to deter bears, and for domestic class products as pre-treated bird seeds or suet to deter squirrels.

Registered pesticide product labels include specific directions for use. Directions include risk mitigation measures to protect human health and the environment that must be followed by law. Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, and based on the evaluation of currently available scientific information, products containing capsaicin and related capsaicinoids (Appendix I of PRVD2022-14) are being proposed for continued registration in Canada with the proposed new mitigation measures and updates to label directions (Appendix II of PRVD2022-14).

All products containing capsaicin and related capsaicinoids registered in Canada are subject to this proposed re-evaluation decision. PRVD2022-14 is subject to a public consultation,^{Footnote 1} during which written comments and additional information may be submitted to PMRA Publications. The final re-evaluation decision will be published taking into consideration of the comments and information received during the consultation period.

Next steps

The public, including the registrants and stakeholders, are encouraged to submit comments and additional information during the 90-day public consultation period upon publication of this proposed re-evaluation decision.

All comments received during the 90-day public consultation period will be taken into consideration in preparation of re-evaluation decision document,^{Footnote 2} which could result in revised risk mitigation measures. The re-evaluation decision document will include the final re-evaluation decision, the reasons for it and a summary of comments received on the proposed re-evaluation decision with Health Canada’s responses.

Other information

When Health Canada makes its re-evaluation decision, it will publish a Re-evaluation Decision on capsaicin and related capsaicinoids (based on the Science Evaluation of PRVD2022-14). In addition, the test data referenced in this consultation document will be available for public inspection, upon application, in the PMRA's Reading Room.

Additional scientific information

No additional data are required.