Insect Control Regulations
Canadians should feel reassured to know that the evaluation process for insect control products in Canada is considered to be one of the most rigorous worldwide. To meet the strict requirements for product registration in Canada, companies like SC Johnson are required to submit extensive scientific and technical data for screening and review by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency under the Pest Control Products Act.
Before a product is considered for registration it must undergo extensive testing to determine the product’s “effectiveness and potential for adverse impact on human health and the natural environment.”
Public health and the environment are foremost considerations when evaluating a new insect control product or examining a product or ingredient under re-evaluation or special review. Only products that pose NO unacceptable risks to health and the environment are registered by Health Canada’s PMRA.
What the Pest Management Regulatory Agency does
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is the federal agency responsible for the regulation of all pest control products in Canada.
The PMRA reviews all scientific data and prepares a full risk assessment, which includes the following components:
- Any possible health effects on humans, including susceptible populations such as infants, children and pregnant women
- Any possible effects on wildlife species, including fish, birds, earthworms or beneficial insects
- The rate and type of degradation in air, soil and water
- The cumulative risk and aggregate exposure of products
For more information, refer to http://www.pmra-arla.gc.ca/english/aboutpmra/regprocess-e.html.
Field Studies
Laboratory studies are only part of the evaluation process. Field studies are also scrutinized to determine how insect control products behave in the Canadian environment and the human exposure potential under Canadian-use potential.
These studies include:
- How fast the active breaks down in the soil
- Whether or not the active leaches through the soil to water sources
- Exposure of bystanders and spray applicators during mixing and use
- Research to identify whether the insect control product works
- How the product is best used in terms of how much product to use and when to use it.
A continuous process of re-evaluation
Even after insect control products are registered, additional studies continue to ensure environmental and human safety. Product registrations must be renewed at least every five years and may be cancelled at any time if risks to human health and the environment are no longer acceptable. Regulations and policies governing product registrations are continuously updated based on the latest scientific information or research processes.
Improvements to the Pest Control Products Act
The Pest Control Products Act received Royal Assent on December 12, 2002. The new Act will help ensure Canadians are better protected from the health and environmental risks posed byinsect control products. Highlights of the new Act:
- Strengthen health and environmental protection by taking special consideration of infants and children
- 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 products;
- Allowing the PMRA to share scientific studies with provincial/territorial and international regulators
We encourage you to read more about revisions to the Pest Control Products Act on the Health Canada government Web site.
Following the Product Label
The product label on any insect control product is a fundamentally important document. It tells how the product should be used, what pests the product is effective against, first aid instructions, how to dispose of the product, active ingredient information and much more. Remember to always read the product label!
Insect control products that are registered for use in Canada contain a Pest Control Products Act (PCP) registration number on the label. This number shows that the federal government has reviewed and registered the product. Guarantee: The guarantee tells you the name of the ingredients that are considered active ingredients. The active ingredient is the part of the product formula that controls the targeted pest. The guarantee also shows the concentration, or how much of the active ingredient is in the product.
