Changes to the registration of thiophanate-methyl pesticides

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.

Thiophanate-methyl is a fungicide used on many field and greenhouse crops and for turf and seed treatment. Highlights of the re-evaluation decision for the active ingredient thiophanate-methyl, published on December 3, 2020, are summarized below.

Cancelled products, as of December 3, 2023

Stop the use of dust formulations for potato seed pieces treatment:

• SENATOR— PSPT 1 (Registration No. 14599)
• SENATOR— PSPT (Registration No. 26236)

The sale of these products is prohibited since December 3, 2022

Label changes for thiophanate-methyl pesticides, as of December 3, 2023

Cancelled uses

Discontinue the following uses:

• All residential turf applications
• Foliar application on ornamental plants grown in greenhouses for the production of cut flowers
• Use of wettable powder formulations:
  • on golf courses and sod farms
  • on white beans
  • on sugar beets
  • on aspens and other poplars
  • for seed treatment of dry bean and sweet corn
  • for aerial application

Other risk reduction measures

• Additions to required personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Limits to the quantity of product handled per day
• Limits on the quantity of treated potato seed pieces planted per day
• New restricted-entry intervals (REI)
• Soil drench application only for greenhouse ornamentals grown for cut flowers
• For apples and pears in British Columbia: reduced maximum application rate
• Applications must respect the reapplication intervals. Do not apply
• "as needed".
• Additional spray drift warning
• Additional warnings to protect bees and other wildlife organisms
• For stone fruits and white beans: evening application only during bloom
• Additional warnings to reduce the risk of runoff and prevent the contamination of aquatic environments by effluent from greenhouses or mushroom houses

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.