Pest control products (pesticides) acts and regulations

Acts and regulations applicable to the regulation of pesticides and other pest control products in Canada.

Pest Management Regulatory Agency

Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for administering the Pest Control Products Act on behalf of the Minister of Health. The Pest Control Products Act regulates the products used for the control of pests.

Pest Control Products Act

The current Pest Control Products Act received Royal Assent on 12 December 2002, and came into force on 28 June 2006.

Recent Amendments

  • Pest Control Products Act amendment under Canada Gazette part II: Vol. 152, No. 26 (Published 26 December 2018). Pursuant to subsection 73(3) of An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act, the Hazardous Products Act, the Radiation Emitting Devices Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Pest Control Products Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act and to make related amendments to another Act, chapter 9 of the Statutes of Canada, 2016, fixes the 210th day after the day this Order is made as the day on which section 39 of that Act comes into force. (Dec 24, 2018).
  • Pest Control Products Act amendment under Canada Gazette, Part III: Vol. 39, No. 2 (published 16 March 2017). This enactment enables Canada to implement the Agreement on Trade Facilitation, which was done at Geneva by members of the World Trade Organization, including Canada, on the 27th November, 2014, as an amendment to Annex 1A of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization. It amends the Food and Drugs Act, the Hazardous Products Act, the Radiation Emitting Devices Act, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, the Pest Control Products Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.
  • Pest Control Products Act amendment via the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement Implementation Act and to provide for certain other measures, Bill C-30 (received Royal Assent on 16 May 2017).

Regulations under the Pest Control Products Act

Visit the Pesticides and Pest Management Policies and Guidelines webpage to find links to consultations on the regulation of pesticides and other pest control products in Canada.

Recent Amendments

Agreements under Section 66 of the Pest Control Products Act

Visit the Pesticides and Pest Management consultations page to find links to consultations on Pest Control Products Regulations amendments.

Recent Amendments

Recent Amendments

Pesticide Residue Compensation Act

The PMRA also administers the Pesticide Residue Compensation Act.

Regulations under the Pesticide Residue Compensation Act

Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act

In addition, the PMRA uses the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act as an enforcement tool for the Pest Control Products Act.

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act establishes a system of administrative monetary penalties for the enforcement of the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the Farm Debt Mediation Act, the Feeds Act, the Fertilizers Act, the Health of Animals Act, the Meat Inspection Act, the Pest Control Products Act, the Plant Protection Act and the Seeds Act.

Regulations under the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act

Recent Amendments

Food and Drugs Act and Regulations

The PMRA specifies the maximum residue limits (MRL) on foods as per the Pest Control Products Act, and regulates the default MRL of 0.1 part per million as per DIVISION 15 Adulteration of Food B.15.002 of the Food and Drug Regulations

The full text of the Food and Drugs Act and the full text of the Food and Drug Regulations are available on the Department of Justice Web site.

Memoranda of Understanding

Below you will find Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) between PMRA and other federal government departments. The objectives of these MOUs are to establish mechanisms for the exchange of information and advice about pesticides, and pest management issues. They also outline how the departments work together to promote stronger working relationships.

Memoranda of Understanding between:

Other agreements:

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