Importing pesticides for personal use in Canada

Anyone who imports pesticides into Canada must comply with the requirements of Canadian regulations.

Any pesticide imported into Canada must be registered by Health Canada: herbicide, insecticide, flea treatment for animals, insect repellent, rodent poison, etc. However, there is an exemption for personal use if the pesticide meets all the following conditions:

• the product is imported by a person for personal use^{Footnote 1}
• the product is in its original packaging
• the original label of the product is in English or French and clearly indicates:
  • the active ingredient and its concentration
  • the quantity of the product
  • a registration or authorization number from the country of origin (e.g. U.S. EPA registration number)
• the total quantity does not exceed 500 g or 500 mL
• the imported product would be for domestic use if it were registered in Canada
• the product is not an organism or a device of a type described in Schedule 1 of the PCPR

Important

The health and environmental safety of pesticides not registered in Canada has not been assessed by Health Canada. They may also not be properly labelled or packaged to ensure safe use, even if the imported pesticide has the same name as a pesticide registered in Canada.

Recognizing a product registered in Canada

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

To find a pesticide label, use our online label search tool, or search for “Health Canada pesticide labels” using your favourite search engine.

For more information

• Pest Control Products Regulations (PCPR). The PCPR is the official Health Canada document. In the event of any discrepancy with the contents of this factsheet, the contents of the PCPR shall prevail.
• Health Canada’s Pesticides Compliance Program (PCP) is responsible for enforcing compliance with the Pest Control Products Act.