Changes to the registration of lambda-cyhalothrin pesticides (agricultural uses)

All pesticides used in Canada must be registered under the Pest Control Products Act. Pesticides are re-evaluated to ensure that they continue to meet health and environmental requirements. Re-evaluation may result in the revocation of a product or product uses. Health Canada may also request changes to a product's label, including risk mitigation measures, use sites and application methods.

Lambda-cyhalothrin is an insecticide used on many crops, in the field and greenhouses, shelterbelts, turf, livestock and structures. The key elements regarding structural uses in the re-evaluation decision of the active ingredient lambda-cyhalothrin published on April 29, 2021, are summarized below.

In this factsheet, the agricultural uses include the treatment of ornamental plants, trees, and turf.

Label changes for pesticides containing lambda-cyhalothrin, as of April 29, 2023

Cancelled uses

Stop uses on the following crops:

• Lettuce, field and greenhouse
• Condiment type mustard seeds
• Crops for animal feed uses
• Bulb vegetables from revised Crop group 3-07^{Footnote *}
• Oilseeds from revised Crop group 20^{Footnote *}
  • except flax seeds, oilseed-type mustard seeds and rapeseed (canola grade only)

Other risk reduction measures

• Added personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements, depending on the type of activity and application equipment used
• Restriction on the maximum quantities handled per day depending on the application equipment used
• Extension of treatment interval to 14 days on turf
• Updated re-entry intervals (REI) before returning to the treated areas
• Updated statements against spray drift
• Additional statements requiring not to spray any crop that remain on the label and have the potential to be used for animal feed
• Additional statements to protect bees and other pollinators, parasitic insects, predatory mites, and small wild mammals, as well as aquatic environments, including:
  • Avoid applying during crop blooming period
  • Mandatory 10-meter vegetative filter strip between the treated area and the edge of a down-gradient water body
  • Requirement to respect the buffer zones
• Additional specific statements for greenhouse uses:
  • Do not apply in the presence of bees or beneficial insects
  • Do not discharge effluent contaminated with lambda-cyhalothrin into the environment

Users must follow the instructions on the updated labels.

Using a pesticide contrary with the label directions is a violation of the Pest Control Products Act.

Read the label

All pesticides registered in Canada have a Health Canada-approved label with a registration number. Read the pesticide label carefully, as it contains specific information on how to use it.

To find the most up-to-date label, use our online label search tool or search for "Health Canada pesticide labels" using your favourite search engine.

For more information

Re-evaluation decision RVD2021-04, Lambda-cyhalothrin and its associated end-use products.

The Health Canada-approved label is the official document for enforcement purposes. In the event of any discrepancy with the contents of this factsheet, the information on the label shall prevail.

Health Canada's Pesticide Compliance Program (PCP) is responsible for the enforcement of the Pest Control Products Act.