Use
the label text search engine to find registered products for
specific pests. You may also call or the Pest Management Information Service at 1-800-267-6315.
Q3. If a product is registered in the United States, does that mean it's okay to use it in Canada?
A. It is an offence under the Pest Control Products Act to use a product that is not registered
in Canada. Look for the PCP registration number on the product label to ensure
that the product is registered for use in Canada.
Q4. How does a product become registered for use in Canada?
A. Companies that wish to have the right to sell a pest control product in Canada must submit very
detailed tests and studies that examine the potential risks posed to health and
the environment and the product's value. PMRA scientists rigorously review this
information in order to determine if the product is acceptable for use in
Canada.
Q5. Does PMRA regulate pool products as well?
A. Yes. The PMRA is responsible for regulating products used to control bacteria, viruses and algae
in swimming pools and spas. Chemical sanitizers and devices that generate
sanitizers to control microorganisms, as well as ionizers and ozone generators
used to control algae must be registered under the Pest Control Products
Act.
Q6. Is it safe to use pesticides?
A. Pesticides can be used
safely if you follow the directions on the product label. But before you
purchase a pest control product, ensure that you have identified the pest
correctly and explored other options for controlling the pest, such as physical
barriers, removing the pest's access to food and water or using alternative
products.
If a pest control product must be used,
carefully read and follow all label instructions. The text on the label
reflects the results of the scientific evaluation that the product has
undergone, and shows you the way to minimize any potential risks to human
health or the environment. The rate of application indicated on the label is
essentially the lowest effective amount of the product that should be used.
Q7. How can I identify what kind of pest is in my home or garden?
A. The PMRA's Pest Notes provide information on how to identify
commonly-occurring pests. The Healthy Lawns Web site also has some helpful information
and suggested books on the identification and control of common lawn and garden
pests.
Q8. Is it true that some of the pesticides I use around my home are not going to be available in the future?
A. The PMRA is re-evaluating pesticides to ensure that the products on the Canadian market
continue to be acceptable under the latest internationally-recognized human
health and environmental safety standards. The re-evaluation program is aiming
to review all pest control products registered for use in Canada prior to
December 31, 1994. When the re-evaluation of a product is complete, only the
uses that meet current health and environmental standards will remain
registered. By removing unsafe products and uses, re-evaluations help safeguard
Canadians' health, safety, their food supply and their environment.
The Re-evaluation Documents announce the commencement of a re-evaluation and provide updates of ongoing re-evaluations. Once a final decision has been reached, a Re-evaluation Decision Document is published.
Q9. How can I dispose of pesticides?
A. The best solution for pesticide disposal is good planning. Try to buy only as much as you need to
use. If you do need to store unused pesticides, ensure that they are placed in
a secure location, out of the reach of children and pets.
To dispose of Domestic class products:
- Contact municipal officials about information
on household hazardous waste disposal facilities.
- As well, small quantities of unused products
and empty containers may be wrapped in several layers of newspaper and disposed
of in the household garbage. Never burn or pour pesticides down the drain or
re-use empty containers.
To dispose of Commercial/Agricultural/Restricted class products:
- Return unopened products and empty containers to the supplier. Never re-use empty pesticide containers. Contact provincial authorities or a provincially registered hazardous waste disposal firm for the disposal of these products.
Q10. What should I do if I see pesticides being misused?
A. If you believe a pesticide is being misused, please contact the Pest Management Information Service at:
1-800-267-6315 or by
e-mail.
If possible, please
provide the type of pesticide involved, ie., the Pest
Control Products Act registration number, the trade
name or the name of the active ingredient. The time
and location of the possible offense is also important.
The PMRA's Compliance Division will be notified and
will take the appropriate action.
Q11. What about the other ingredients in pesticides - does the PMRA evaluate these as well as the active ingredient in the pesticide?
A. Ingredients such as solvents, emulsifiers, colorants and fragrances that are found in pesticides
are known as formulants. The formulants in pesticide products are reviewed to
assess risks to human health and the environment. Whenever a pesticide contains
a formulant which is recognized as being of toxicological concern, i.e.,
appears on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's List 1, the manufacturer
of the pesticide must remove it from the product or support its safe use with
detailed tests and studies that examine the potential risks posed to human
health and the environment. List 1 formulants must also be identified on the
label.
Q12. How can people reduce the need to use pesticides around the home?
A. Homeowners and gardeners can systematically manage pests in their lawns and gardens using the
techniques of integrated pest management(IPM). IPM is a coordinated program of
preventing pest problems by monitoring the number and types of pests in an area
and using techniques that have the least impact on people, property and the
environment to bring the pests to acceptable levels.
The PMRA has published a number of Pest Notes
which provide information on approaches to control common home and
garden pests that are consistent with IPM. The Healthy Lawns Web site also contains
information on lawn and garden IPM techniques.
Q13. Can exposure to pesticides cause cancer?
A. Only pesticides which do not pose an unacceptable risk of cancer in humans are registered for use in
Canada. Detailed risk assessements and very large margins of safety are built
into the human health evaluations that the PMRA carries out on proposed
pesticides so that Canadians will be protected from risks such as cancer.
The first step in a human health evaluation
is an examination of scientific studies to determine if the pesticide causes
adverse effects in laboratory animals. One of the effects that is looked for is
whether the pesticide causes cancer in animals. The majority of pesticides
registered for use in Canada do not cause cancer in laboratory animals. If
there is evidence that a proposed pesticide causes cancer in laboratory
animals, a special type of assessment called a quantitative risk assessment is
conducted to determine if the use of the pesticide would cause an unacceptable
risk of cancer in humans. PMRA's risk assessments consider how the cancer is
caused in laboratory animals and all potential exposures, e.g, food, water,
workplace, that may occur over a lifetime. Only pesticides that are proven not
to pose unacceptable risk of cancer in humans are registered.
A Decision Framework for Risk Assessment and Risk Management in
the Pest Management Regulatory Agency - 282Kb
Q14. Can exposure to pesticides cause asthma?
A. Pesticides are not a known risk factor for the development of asthma. Currently accepted risk
factors for asthma in children are indoor environmental tobacco smoke,
household dust mites, cockroaches, cat's fungal spores and outdoor
smog.
Q15. Are children's special characteristics taken into account when pesticides are evaluated for their risk to health?
A. The PMRA conducts a thorough assessment of pesticides before their use is permitted in Canada.
These assessments are carried out in order to ensure that pesticides do not
pose a health risk to Canadians. They incorporate a special focus on sensitive
sub-populations, including children.
The PMRA knows that children's diets are
different and that their activities vary from those of adults. The Agency takes
children's potential to be exposed to pesticides through food and non-food
routes into account in its health assessments. Scientists at the PMRA also
factor in the differences in children's development and metabolism when
toxicology tests are assessed.
The Agency will consider registration of a
pesticide for food uses ONLY when child-specific assessments are found to be
acceptable.
The PMRA has adopted the same, increased new
health standards and rigorous approach for assessing dietary and non-dietary
risk to children that the United States has implemented under the Food
Quality Protection Act.
Childrens' Health Priortities Within the PMRA - 125Kb
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