Pesticide Regulatory Systems
(Federal & Provincial)
INTRODUCTION
Pesticides have been developed to control many of the pests that have plagued mankind for years. The term, pesticide, is the catch-all phrase that includes insecticides (to control insects); herbicides (to control weeds); fungicides (to control fungi); rodenticides (to control rodents) and several other classes exist based on the target pest.
Every pesticide imported into, sold or used in Canada must first go through a registration process. All pesticides must be registered under the federally regulated Pest Control Products (PCP) Act. The PCP Act helps to ensure that our health and environment remain safe when pesticides are used.
Any chemical manufacturer who wishes to sell a pesticide in Canada must register that pesticide under the Pest Control Products (PCP) Act. To receive registration, the manufacturer must follow the registration process administered by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada. When the evaluation is complete and approval is given for the use of the pesticide in Canada, the company will receive a PCP Act registration number. Provincial pesticide regulations are specific to the province for which they exist. An examination of both the federal and provincial systems which regulate pesticides follows.
FEDERAL
Registration involves the submission of an application by the manufacturer. Before this is possible, the company must carry out extensive studies on the product. The application must be supported by a very thorough data package documenting the effects of the pesticide on users, bystanders and the environment. A scientific evaluation of the product is performed by Health Canada. The scientific evaluation may take years, as the study includes long and short term health effects of the user, exposure to bystanders, residues in food, ground water contamination, effects on wildlife and environmental fate. A registration will be granted if the pesticide’s safety, merit and value for the proposed use are found to be acceptable. If problems with the product are identified, registration will not be granted. All products are subject to re-evaluation, with provision for suspension or cancellation.
If approval is given for the pesticide, the manufacturer will receive a PCP Act registration number which must be displayed on the product label. The pesticide label is a legal document and it is an offense to use any registered product inconsistently with the label directions. Every pesticide product sold must have a complete label. The label must identify the pesticide as Domestic, Commercial or Restricted. Domestic products are specifically manufactured for use by homeowners and present considerably less risk than those classified as Commercial or Restricted. Also identified on the label are the trade name, active ingredient and concentration, directions for use, rates of application, personal safety, first aid, poisoning response, storage and disposal.
PROVINCIAL
Each province has legislation dealing specifically with pesticide use in that province. Provincial legislation, like Federal, exists to protect human health and the environment. Provincial requirements can impose additional restrictions on the use of a pesticide but will not be any less stringent than the requirements imposed by the federal government. The specific regulations may vary from province to province but the purpose and scope of the regulations are generally quite similar.
Training and licensing/certification of applicators, spill response, monitoring, compliance and enforcement, and research and education are all addressed at the provincial level. For more information on pesticide regulations in your particular province, contact your local Department of Environment in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland or the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in Prince Edward Island.
One aspect of pesticide regulation that the provinces handle is commercial applicator training. The province regulates who can sell or apply Commercial and Restricted class pesticides by requiring individuals or companies to be licensed/certified. These applicators must demonstrate by means of an examination that they are knowledgeable in the safe and proper use of the pesticides they are handling. Some provinces have training officers who administer training and examinations.
Violations of provincial regulations may result in prosecution. Provinces have pesticide inspection officers to enforce the pesticide regulations. Domestic pesticide users are not required to hold a license/ certificate. However, many garden centers offer seminars on safe and proper use of pesticides. These would be useful to homeowners who use pesticides.
CONCLUSION
Pesticides, when used properly to control unwanted pests, pose minimal risks to human health and the environment. Federal and provincial pesticide regulations ensure that registered control products are safe when label directions are followed. Consider alternatives before you purchase a pesticide.
If you do choose to use a pesticide, always use a registered domestic class pest control product labelled for the pest you are trying to control and carefully follow the label directions.
Original Source: Environment Canada http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/epb/factsheets/bkyard_bug/regulations.html
