With the arrival of the summer season, residents and other users of pesticides are reminded that pesticide use in Newfoundland and Labrador must follow the Environmental Protection Act and Pesticide Control Regulations.

A pesticide is defined as any product, device, organism, substance or thing that is manufactured, represented, sold or used as a means for directly or indirectly controlling, preventing, destroying, mitigating, attracting or repelling any pest. For example, herbicides, insecticides, rodenticides and fungicides are all pesticides.

Prior to the importation or use of an organism for pest control, a review of the product must be conducted by the Wildlife Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture and the Department of Environment and Climate Change, Pesticide Control Section.

All pesticide products registered for use in Canada have a Pest Control Product (PCP) registration number. It is important to read the label for each pesticide carefully, as it contains specific information on using the product safely.

While Health Canada has the authority to register pesticides, municipalities and provinces have the authority to further impose restrictions on the use of these products. In 2012, Newfoundland and Labrador banned the use of the following active ingredients: MECOPROP, 2,4-D, DICAMBA, MCPA and CARBARYL. These active ingredients are no longer allowed to be used on lawns.

Businesses selling pesticides to end users in Newfoundland and Labrador must have the appropriate vendor license. The Provincial Government licences both domestic and commercial pesticide vendors. Domestic class pesticides are for personal use in and around the home. Commercial class pesticides are restricted to commercial activities as indicated on the label. These are not available to the general public for use in and around the home.

Homeowners are only permitted to purchase pesticides from licensed domestic pesticide vendors. Commercial pesticide vendors can only sell pesticides to licensed pesticide applicators in the greenhouse and agriculture category or licensed pesticide operators (industrial vegetation, landscape, forestry, structural, aquaculture and mosquito biting fly).

For more information about pesticide use in Newfoundland and Labrador, visit: Pesticides Control – Environment and Climate Change (gov.nl.ca). For inquires, email: PesticidesControl@gov.nl.ca or call: 709-729-2556

For information on Pesticides and Pest Management, visit:
Pesticides and Pest management: Frequently Asked Questions – Canada.ca

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