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Using Pesticides in Ontario
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Read the latest product label before using a pesticide! Federal Registration of PesticidesBefore a pesticide can be sold or used in Ontario, it must be registered under the federal Pest Control Products Act and be classified under the provincial Pesticides Act. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada registers pesticides for use in Canada following an evaluation of scientific data to ensure that the product has merit and value. It also ensures that the human health and environmental risks associated with its proposed use are acceptable. The PMRA re-evaluates registered pesticides to determine whether today’s health and environmental protection standards are still met when following the label directions. Outcomes of a re-evaluation can be:
The pesticide label is a legal document. It prescribes how the pesticide can be legally used. Off-label use is prohibited. It is against the law to use the pesticide in any other way or on any other crop or pest than as specified on the label. Labels for all registered pesticides are under Label Search, on the PMRA website at www.pmra-arla.gc.ca. Ensure you have the most current label and are aware of any re-evaluation decisions. Regulation of Pesticides in OntarioThe Ministry of the Environment (MOE) is responsible for regulating the sale, use, transportation, storage and disposal of pesticides in Ontario. Ontario regulates pesticides by placing appropriate education, licensing and/or permit requirements on their use, under the Pesticides Act and Regulation 63/09. All pesticides must be used in accordance with requirements under the Pesticides Act and Regulation 63/09, which are available on the e-laws websiteat www.e-laws.gov.on.ca or by calling ServiceOntario at 1-800-668-9938 or 416-326-5300. Classification of PesticidesThe Ontario Pesticides Advisory Committee (OPAC) is responsible for reviewing and recommending to the MOE the classification of pesticide products before they can be sold or used in Ontario. Pesticide products are classified on the basis of their toxicity, environmental or health hazard, persistence of the active ingredient or its metabolites, concentration, usage, federal class and registration status. This classification system provides the basis for regulating the distribution, availability and use of pesticide products in Ontario. Once approved by the MOE, classified products are posted on the MOE website at www.ene.gov.on.ca. The Ontario pesticide classification system changed from 6 Schedules to 11 Classes (Regulation 63/09). Certification and LicensingGrowers and their AssistantsFor information about certification for growers and training for assistants to growers, visit the Ontario Pesticide Education Program website at www.opep.ca or call 1-800-652-8573. Commercial Applicators (Exterminators) and Their Assisting TechniciansFor more information about exterminator licensing and technician training, visit the Ontario Pesticide Training & Certification website at www.ontariopesticide.com/OPTC/default.htm or call 1-888-620-9999 or 519-674-1575. For more information about pesticide regulations, certification and licensing, see:
Pesticide Application InformationWhen you decide to use a pesticide, choose the most appropriate formulation
and application method for your situation. Use only a properly calibrated
For more information on hazards, consult the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) or contact the manufacturer. Re-Entry IntervalsThe re-entry interval, also referred to as restricted entry interval (REI), is the period of time following a pesticide application during which workers must not enter the treatment area without wearing protective clothing and personal protective equipment. This allows any pesticide residue and vapours to dissipate from the treatment location (e.g., field), preventing the possibility of inadvertent pesticide exposure. The PMRA reviews each pesticide to determine whether the label should include a specific re-entry interval. If the re-entry interval is not stated on the label, assume that the spray solution must be dry before re-entry can occur. Some pesticides have labels that carry a warning about working in treated crops. Follow the label recommendations. Days to Harvest for Food Crops:Preharvest Intervals, Pregrazing and Feeding IntervalsThese intervals state the minimum time that must pass between the last pesticide application and the harvesting of the crop, or the grazing or cutting of the crop for livestock feed. If you harvest a crop before the preharvest interval (PHI) has passed, there may be pesticide residues in excess of the maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by PMRA. To avoid exceeding the maximum residue limits, Buffer ZonesBuffer zones are areas left untreated to protect an adjacent sensitive area, such as sensitive terrestrial and aquatic habitats, well heads, non-target crops and areas where children play. Leave a suitable buffer zone between the treatment area and adjacent sensitive areas. Buffer zones may vary depending on the method of application (i.e., aerial, field boom, hand-held sprayer). Some pesticide labels specify buffer zone requirements. Check the pesticide label for the type of buffer zone required. Sensitive terrestrial habitats include hedgerows, grasslands, shelterbelts, windbreaks, forested areas, woodlots, vegetative strips, etc. Sensitive aquatic habitats include lakes, reservoirs, streams, creeks, ditches, marshes, wetlands, ponds, commercial fish ponds, etc. Setback Distances for Water Bodies It is an offence under the federal Fisheries Act to introduce into water any material that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat. To protect these waters, applicators must determine a suitable setback distance between the area to be protected and the area where pesticide treatments are planned (if one is not specified on the pesticide label). The protected area includes the water body as well as adjacent riparian (riverbank) areas that contribute to fish food and habitat. Protect the EnvironmentProtect Water SourcesAccording to the British Crop Protection Council, between 40% and 70% of surface water pesticide contamination comes from mixing and filling areas. Only load or mix pesticides on impermeable surfaces that are safely away from watercourses or environmentally sensitive areas. Drainage and run-off should be collected and disposed of safely. Clean your spray equipment away from wells, ponds, streams and ditches. Apply the diluted rinse water (usually at a ratio of 10 to 1) to the treatment area (crop) but do not exceed the pesticide rate recommended on the label. Do not make a direct connection between any water supply (e.g., public supply, wells, watercourse or pond) and a spray tank. Use an anti-backflow device or intermediate system to prevent back-siphoning that could contaminate the water supply. Immediately contain and clean up any spills to prevent contamination to water sources. Check the pesticide label for specific instructions on water source protection. For more information on protecting water sources, see:
Prevent Bee PoisoningIt is important to protect bees when spraying insecticides. Honeybees,
as well as other bees and insects, are important pollinators of crops.
Many crops also Read each pesticide label for specific precautions regarding bees. Choose
less toxic alternatives when possible. Most organophosphate and carbamate Advise local beekeepers before you apply a pesticide, so that they may
take additional precautions to protect their bees. Contact the Provincial
Apiarist Manage Drift
For more information about spray drift, see:
Pesticide DisposalEmpty Pesticide ContainersNever reuse empty containers. Puncture the cleaned empty containers to make them unusable. The Ontario Empty Pesticide Container Recycling Program is available to growers and commercial applicators. Through this program, you can return cleaned and triple rinsed plastic/metal pesticide containers (up to 23 L for plastic and 20 L for metal) to pesticide container depots located throughout the province. Remove the paper booklet from the pesticide container before recycling. To locate the closest pesticide container recycling depot, call the Ontario Pesticide Education Program at 1-800-652-8573, your local dealer or municipality, or visit the CropLife Canada website at www.croplife.ca. Surplus Spray MixThe best way to dispose of any excess spray mix is to find other fields that require an application of this pesticide. Before spraying, check the label to make sure the pesticide is registered for use on that crop. If you cannot find another field to spray, dilute the remaining spray mix by adding 10 parts of water for each 1 part of spray mix. The diluted solution can be safely applied to the original treated area as long as you do not exceed the pesticide rate recommended on the label. Be sure to check the label for any restrictions about crop rotation, days to harvest or surplus spray mix disposal. Never re-spray the treated field with undiluted spray mix. Spraying an area twice will double the recommended pesticide rate. This may cause illegal pesticide residues in the harvested crop or harmful residues in the soil that can cause crop damage. Surplus Pesticides in StorageBe sure to safely dispose of pesticides that you do not need or cannot use. Options for proper disposal include:
Storing PesticidesOntario’s Pesticides Act and Regulation 63/09 provide details on storage requirements for storage facilities. The storage requirements that must be followed are dependent on which classes of pesticides you store. For more information about storing pesticides, see:
Pesticide SpillsIf a pesticide spill causes, or is likely to cause, an adverse effect that is greater than that which would result from the proper use of the pesticide, you must notify the Ministry of the Environment Spills Action Centre at 1-800-268-6060 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week) and your municipality. A spill is defined as a discharge of pollutant, which is abnormal in quality or quantity, from or out of a structure, vehicle or other container into the environment. An incident such as an overturned pesticide sprayer, which results in the loss of the spray solution to the environment, is an example of a spill. A pesticide container that ruptures and leaks its contents is another example of a spill. The discharge or spraying of a pesticide in an unapproved area, commonly referred to as an overspray, is also considered a spill. Before you begin to clean up a spill of any nature, remember to protect yourself against pesticide exposure. Wear the proper protective clothing and personal protective equipment. If the spill occurs inside an enclosed area (e.g., a pesticide storage area or a vehicle during transport), ventilate the area first. Once you have protected and/or removed yourself and other persons or animals from the spill site, take additional measures to stop the spill at the source and prevent it from spreading and/or contaminating watercourses. Specific precautions, emergency contact information and first aid procedures may be found on the label. For minor spills, it may be possible to remediate the problem:
For major spills, it is essential to stop the spill from spreading. The clean-up guidelines above may not be appropriate for all spill situations. Once you have contained the spill, follow directions from the manufacturer and regulatory authorities on cleaning the contaminated area. For information on preventing spills, see:
For pesticide poisonings and pesticide injuries call: Poison Information Centre: 1-800-268-9017
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