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Only pesticides that are registered for use under the Pest Control Products
Act (PCPA) may be imported into or sold or used in Canada.
The provinces and territories may regulate the sale, use, storage,
transportation and disposal of registered pesticides in their
jurisdictions as long as the measures they adopt are consistent
with any conditions, directions and limitations imposed under the PCPA
or other federal legislation. For example, a province or territory may
prohibit the use of a registered pesticide in its jurisdiction, or it may
add more restrictive conditions on the use of a product than those established
under the PCPA. It may not, however, authorize the use of a product that
has not been approved under the PCPA and may not relieve the user of
the obligation to comply with the conditions, directions and limitations
imposed under the PCPA.
Provinces and territories administer a pesticides management program that includes education and training programs, the licencing and certification of applicators, vendors and growers, and the issuing of permits for certain pesticide uses. Other important roles, carried out in cooperation with PMRA regional offices, are those of enforcement and compliance monitoring, and response to spills or accidents.
Following are some of the areas of regulatory responsibility that can be held by provinces and territories.
Please consult provincial/territorial officials
(see list) for specific legislation and requirements.
Classification of pesticides for sale and use:
Pesticide product class designations (domestic,
commercial, restricted) are reviewed and products are assigned
to schedules to limit the sale and use of certain products
to the appropriate individuals/operators who are trained
to use them.
Vendor/dispenser licensing and applicator certification, training and licensing:
Retail pesticide vendors and pesticide applicators must be trained and licensed to ensure that products are used responsibly.
Grower and vendor certification:
Growers and representatives of vendor outlets must be trained and certified to ensure
responsible purchase and use of products.
Permits:
Applicators can be required to obtain use permits for restricted class pesticides (e.g., for application by air, for fumigation or for aquatic use) that set out strict conditions for use in the province or territory (e.g., the requirement for buffer zones).
Posting and notification:
Pesticide applications on public land, and by pest control operators on residential property, require the posting of signs in most provinces.
Transport, storage and disposal:
Provincial/territorial regulatory departments can establish additional requirements for the
safe handling and management of pesticides to meet local needs and conditions.
Compliance and enforcement:
Provincial authorities set fines, revoke and refuse
licences, issue warnings, issue control orders, etc.
Contact your Provincial/Territorial Agency for questions regarding use permits and classifications:
Provincial/Territorial Web Sites
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