What does the PMRA do?
By seeking to minimize the risks associated with pesticides, the PMRA helps protect human health, safety and the environment.
The PMRA:
- reviews applications for the registration of pest control
products;
- conducts science-based health, environmental and value (including efficacy) assessments of each
pesticide before deciding if it should be approved for use in Canada;
- develops and implements policies and guidelines related to pest management;
- promotes sustainable pest management;
- seeks efficiencies in the processing of registration applications through such means as international
harmonization
and electronic submission and review of pesticide registration data;
- enforces compliance with the Pest Control Products Act; and
- disseminates information on pest management issues to the public.
 Distribution of Principal Responsibilities
What are PMRA's other responsibilites?
Alternatives and Regulatory Affairs
The PMRA’s Alternative Strategies and Regulatory Affairs Division develops and implements
federal policy and legislation for pest control products, and works with other government bodies, grower groups,
research facilities and industry to facilitate information exchange and to promote risk reduction. Cooperative
efforts include:
- Integrated Pest Management partnership projects;
- initiatives to facilitate access to new technologies (e.g., microbials, pheromones);
- participation within international bodies such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD) for the development of risk reduction policies, joint reviews and the harmonization of data requirements,
and cooperation with international initiatives such as Persistent Organic Pollutants and Prior Informed Consent agreements;
- working with other governmental departments and the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Pest Management and Pesticides (F/P/T Committee)
on pesticide-related issues; and
- active involvement with agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, urban and other sectors to identify and manage problems using sustainable pest management practices.
Compliance and Regional Operations
Working with other federal and provincial ministries, the PMRA regional offices promote and verify compliance with the PCP Act and Regulations through investigations,
inspections and consultations. They have the mandate to investigate the use, sale and importation of products; perform on-site inspection of usage and storage of products; do soil,
crop and product sampling; and educate individuals, local officials and grower groups as to regulatory requirements. Where contraventions of the Act or regulations occur, appropriate
enforcement measures may be taken.
Consultation and Communications
The PMRA is committed to providing an open, transparent and participatory process for the regulation of pesticides. The Agency seeks the advice of Canadians by frequent consultations with its advisory bodies, including the FPT Committee. It solicits public comment on proposals for new policies and programs as well as on major pesticide registration decisions. Information on the PMRA’s extensive involvement in international pesticide-related efforts, notably the NAFTA Technical Working Group (TWG) on Pesticides and the OECD’s Pesticide Programme is circulated broadly and regularly, and a consultation meeting with stakeholders is held prior to the yearly full meeting of the NAFTA TWG.
The publications section
posts all documentation issued by the PMRA
and a wide range of information and data
useful to the general public and industry.
The PMRA also operates a toll-free information
line to answer pest management-related inquiries.
The number is 1-800-267-6315, (613) 736-3799
outside of Canada. The PMRA Publications Section can
be reached at:
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
2720 Riverside Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
Fax: (613) 736-3798
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