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Home : Legislation : New Pest Control Products Act
New Pest Control Products Act

The new Pest Control Products Act (2002) received Royal Assent on December 12, 2002, and will come into force on a date yet to be determined.

The new Pest Control Products Act will:

Strengthen health and environmental protection by:

  • requiring special protection for infants and children;
  • taking into account pesticide exposure from all sources, including food and water, and considering cumulative effects of pesticides that act in the same way; and,
  • supporting pesticide risk reduction, for example, by ensuring that only pesticides that make a useful contribution to pest management are registered and expediting the registration of lower-risk products.

Make the registration system more transparent by:

  • establishing a public registry to allow access to detailed evaluation reports on registered pesticides;
  • allowing the public to view the test data on which these pesticide evaluations are based; and,
  • allowing the PMRA to share scientific studies with provincial/territorial and international regulators, which will enhance the process for international joint reviews of pesticides, giving Canadian growers equal access to newer, safer pesticides so they can be competitive in the marketplace.

Strengthen post-registration control of pesticides by:

  • requiring pesticide companies to report adverse effects;
  • requiring re-evaluations of older pesticides 15 years after they are registered and
  • providing the Minister with the authority to remove pesticides from the market if required data are not supplied; and,
  • providing increased powers of inspection and higher maximum penalties, up to $1million for the most serious offences

The new PCPA will enhance public confidence, here and abroad, that Canadian agri-food, forestry and other products are safe.

"The new Pest Control Products Act modernizes Canadian regulation of pesticides and will better safeguard Canadians - especially children - from health and environmental risks," said Minister McLellan. December 23, 2002.

The following documents were prepared with the introduction of the proposed new Act:

  • News Release
    The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Health, Introduces a Bill to Modernize Pesticide Legislation and Protect Canadians

  • The Proposed New Pest Control Products Act: Pest Management Regulation in the 21st Century

  • A Comparison of the Proposed and Existing Pest Control Products Acts

  • Questions and Answers about the Proposed New Pest Control Products Act

  • Fact Sheet on the Regulation of Pesticides in Canada
    October 2001 - 66Kb

Last updated: 2026-06-04

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