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SSafety of pesticides - the facts

• Before any pesticide can be sold in Canada it must undergo a comprehensive scientific review and safety assessment by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). 
  
  
• Under the Pest Control Products Act, which was updated in 2006, over 200 separate tests addressing a range of health and environment issues are undertaken before a product can be registered. 
  
  
• Through this process special attention is paid to ensuring that all Canadians, including infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly, are protected. 
  
  
• Only those products that meet Health Canada’s strict health and safety standards are registered and approved for sale and use. 
  
  
• The labels on these products contain detailed instructions about the proper and safe use of the product. As with other products such as cleaning supplies or laundry chemicals, it is important to use the products as outlined in the directions.
  
  
• Health Canada is staffed with 350 top-notch health and environmental professionals including toxicologists, weed biologists, environmental scientists, and chemists. 
  
  
• Once registered, pesticides are required by federal law to undergo periodic Canadian re-evaluation to ensure they continue to meet the most recent international scientific standards. 
  
  
• The result of this rigorous regulatory system is that Canadians have access to pesticides that can be safely used and which are proven to be effective at dealing with pests that can create a myriad of problems.
  
  
• All pesticides, whether they are intended for agricultural, lawn and garden, forestry, or structural pest control, must meet the high standards set by Health Canada.
  
  
• All pesticide labels should be carefully followed, whether it’s a personal insect repellent pesticide to protect yourself from mosquitoes, pesticides such as chlorine or algaecide that you put in your pool, or products designed to control weeds in your lawn.