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Pesticide legislation and consultation

Last updated on July 21, 2021

Review the laws that regulate the storage, sale, transportation and use of pesticides. Changes are occasionally made to the IPM legislation to improve the protection of human health and the environment from pesticides. Participate in related public consultations and find out how these changes may affect you.

Legislation

Pesticides are regulated at federal, provincial and municipal levels.

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Federal

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada is responsible for evaluating and registering pesticides used in Canada. The PMRA’s mandate is to prevent unacceptable risk to people and the environment from the use of pesticides.

Under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, the PMRA conducts extensive science-based reviews to make sure that a pesticide product meets the latest health and safety standards and that it works as claimed. These reviews are conducted before any pesticide is registered for use in Canada, and on a 15-year cycle after registration.

 

Provincial

The B.C. Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy administers the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Act and Regulation, the primary regulatory tools governing the storage, sale, transportation and use of pesticides in the province.

The ministry relies on the federal Pest Control Products Act, and the expertise of the PMRA of Health Canada, to evaluate and determine acceptable uses for pesticides registered for sale in B.C.

For more detailed summaries of the legislation please visit Reports and publications.

 

Municipal 

Municipalities may establish bylaws for pesticide use on residential and municipal lands. These bylaws only apply to pesticides used to maintain outdoor trees, shrubs, flowers, other ornamental plants and turf.

Municipalities do not have the authority to develop bylaws restricting pesticide application in the following situations:

  • For the management of pests that transmit human diseases
  • On the residential areas of farms
  • To buildings or inside buildings
  • On land used for agriculture, forestry, transportation, public utilities or pipelines unless the public utility or pipeline is vested in the municipality

Municipal bylaws do not apply to pesticides listed in Schedule 2 of the Integrated Pest Management Regulation.

The 2016 amendments to the Integrated Pest Management Regulation do not override municipal bylaws. If a municipality has restrictions (bylaws) on the use of pesticides on landscapes, they must be followed.

For more information on municipal bylaws:

 

Consultation

Changes (amendments) are occasionally proposed for the IPM Act and/or the IPM Regulation. 

The regulatory amendment process allows the public and stakeholders to view and comment on proposed changes that may affect them. Comments are reviewed and considered by ministry staff, who may then adjust the proposed amendments based on the feedback received.

Amendments

After the consultation period has ended and policy direction has been finalized, the proposed amendments are packaged and submitted for government approval. For significant changes, typically there is a period of time before the new requirements come into effect, and guidance materials are developed to help implement the changes.

If you have any questions about the amendments or other requirements under the IPM Act and Regulation, please send an email to:

Please subscribe to the consultation and amendments pages to be informed of open consultation and enacted amendments.