Mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients - List and limits
This version of the document comes into force on December 2, 2019. If you wish to receive a copy of a previous version of the document published on November 8, 2018, please contact cannabis@canada.ca.
Health Canada is the federal department responsible for helping the people of Canada maintain and improve their health. Health Canada is committed to improving the lives of all of Canada's people and to making this country's population among the healthiest in the world as measured by longevity, lifestyle and effective use of the public health care system.
Disclaimer: This document must be used in conjunction with the Mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients - Requirements, which describes testing and reporting requirements for the pesticide active ingredients listed in this document.
This document and the Requirements have been updated to align with the amended Cannabis Regulations.
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Organization: Health Canada
Date published: 2019-08-30
Effective date: 2019-12-02
1.0 Pesticide active ingredients list and limits
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency maintains a list of historical and current pest control products (PCPs) used in Canada. Only certain PCPs have been approved in Canada for use on cannabis.
PCPs that are of the most concern or are most likely to be used on cannabis have been added to this pesticide active ingredients list if they:
- were detected on cannabis in Canada or in American states that have regulated its production
- are used against pests that can be found on cannabis
- were observed by inspectors of Health Canada or the Canadian Border Services Agency
- were identified because of their risk to health or because of other factors
Health Canada has set limits of quantification (LoQ) for pesticide active ingredients in fresh cannabis, cannabis plants and dried cannabis. These limits are based on the identification and quantification of the molecule using current chemical analytical methods and equipment. The values may differ between each product type because of specific constraints associated with analyzing each one of them.
The pesticide active ingredients list and LoQs are reviewed periodically and revised as needed, based on Health Canada's monitoring of the industry for pesticide active ingredients and advances in chemical analysis technology.
Health Canada has the authority to take compliance and enforcement actions under the Cannabis Act and its Regulations and under the Pest Control Products Act and its Regulations if:
- a) an unauthorized PCP is used by licence holders, whether or not the PCP is listed in this document, or
- b) an authorized PCP is used on cannabis in a manner that is not in accordance with label directions.
Health Canada encourages anyone who suspects that an unauthorized PCP is being used on cannabis to communicate with the Compliance Directorate in the Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch by emailing hc.compliance-cannabis-conformite.sc@canada.ca.
2.0 Limits of quantification of the mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients
| Active ingredient | Limits of Quantification in parts per million | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Product type | |||
| Fresh cannabis and plants |
Dried cannabis | Cannabis oil | |
| Abamectin | 0.25 | 0.1 | 0.25 |
| Acephate | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.05 |
| Acequinocyl | 0.05 | 0.03 | Footnote * |
| Acetamiprid | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Aldicarb | 0.5 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Allethrin | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Azadirachtin | 0.5 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Azoxystrobin | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Benzovindiflupyr | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Bifenazate | 0.05 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Bifenthrin | 0.1 | 1 | Footnote * |
| Boscalid | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Buprofezin | 0.01 | 0.02 | Footnote * |
| Carbaryl | 0.025 | 0.05 | 0.025 |
| Carbofuran | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Chlorantraniliprole | 0.01 | 0.02 | Footnote * |
| Chlorphenapyr | 0.1 | 0.05 | 1.5 |
| Chlorpyrifos | 0.01 | 0.04 | 0.5 |
| Clofentezine | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Clothianidin | 0.025 | 0.05 | 0.025 |
| Coumaphos | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Cyantraniliprole | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Cyfluthrin | 1 | 0.2 | Footnote * |
| Cypermethrin | 1 | 0.3 | Footnote * |
| Cyprodinil | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0.01 |
| Daminozide | 0.05 | 0.1 | Footnote * |
| Deltamethrin | 1 | 0.5 | Footnote * |
| Diazinon | 0.01 | 0.02 | Footnote * |
| Dichlorvos | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Dimethoate | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Dimethomorph | 0.05 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Dinotefuran | 0.05 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Dodemorph | 0.05 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Endosulfan sulfate | 0.5 | 0.05 | 2.5 |
| Endosulfan-alpha | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
| Endosulfan-beta | 0.5 | 0.05 | 2.5 |
| Ethoprophos | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Etofenprox | 0.01 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Etoxazole | 0.01 | 0.02 | Footnote * |
| Etridiazole | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.15 |
| Fenoxycarb | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Fenpyroximate | 0.02 | 0.02 | Footnote * |
| Fensulfothion | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Fenthion | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Fenvalerate | 0.1 | 0.1 | Footnote * |
| Fipronil | 0.01 | 0.06 | 0.01 |
| Flonicamid | 0.025 | 0.05 | 0.025 |
| Fludioxonil | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Fluopyram | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Hexythiazox | 0.01 | 0.01 | Footnote * |
| Imazalil | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Imidacloprid | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Iprodione | 0.50 | 1 | 0.50 |
| Kinoprene | 0.05 | 0.50 | 1.25 |
| Kresoxim-methyl | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.15 |
| Malathion | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Metalaxyl | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Methiocarb | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Methomyl | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.025 |
| Methoprene | 1 | 2 | Footnote * |
| Mevinphos | 0.025 | 0.05 | 0.025 |
| MGK-264 | 0.05 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Myclobutanil | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Naled | 0.2 | 0.1 | Footnote * |
| Novaluron | 0.025 | 0.05 | 0.025 |
| Oxamyl | 1.5 | 3.0 | 1.5 |
| Paclobutrazol | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Parathion-methyl | 0.03 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Permethrin | 0.5 | 0.5 | Footnote * |
| Phenothrin | 0.025 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Phosmet | 0.01 | 0.02 | Footnote * |
| Piperonyl butoxide | 0.25 | 0.2 | 1.25 |
| Pirimicarb | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Prallethrin | 0.05 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Propiconazole | 0.01 | 0.1 | Footnote * |
| Propoxur | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Pyraclostrobin | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Pyrethrins | 0.025 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Pyridaben | 0.025 | 0.05 | 0.02 |
| Quintozene | 0.01 | 0.02 | Footnote * |
| Resmethrin | 0.02 | 0.1 | 0.05 |
| Spinetoram | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Spinosad | 0.01 | 0.1 | 0.01 |
| Spirodiclofen | 0.25 | 0.25 | Footnote * |
| Spiromesifen | 0.05 | 3 | Footnote * |
| Spirotetramat | 0.1 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Spiroxamine | 0.01 | 0.1 | Footnote * |
| Tebuconazole | 0.01 | 0.05 | 0.01 |
| Tebufenozide | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Teflubenzuron | 0.025 | 0.05 | 0.025 |
| Tetrachlorvinphos | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Tetramethrin | 0.05 | 0.1 | Footnote * |
| Thiacloprid | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Thiamethoxam | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
| Thiophanate-methyl | 0.03 | 0.05 | Footnote * |
| Trifloxystrobin | 0.01 | 0.02 | 0.01 |
3.0 Cannabis oil transition
Prior to October 17, 2020, holders of a licence for processing may continue to test cannabis oil for pesticide active ingredients as outlined in the previous version of the Mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients - Requirements document, using the LoQs in the table above for cannabis oil. These LoQs have not changed.
The updated Mandatory cannabis testing for pesticide active ingredients - Requirements document published on August 30, 2019 provides details about the transition period.
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