IMPORTANT: Merchants listing products for sale on the Wish marketplace must comply with all applicable laws and Wish policies. Items offered and sold to consumers in Canada must comply with federal, provincial, territorial, municipal, and local laws and regulations.
All pesticides and pesticide products listed on Wish and sold in or shipped to Canada must comply with Canada's Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and applicable provincial and territorial laws.
Specifically, pesticides (or pest control products) that are manufactured, distributed, imported, sold, or used in Canada as a means for controlling, preventing, destroying, mitigating, attracting, or repelling any pest must comply with Canada's Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and its accompanying regulations, as well as applicable laws in the provinces or territories where the products are distributed. Compliance with the PCPA is promoted and verified by the Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).
Click on the question to be taken to the answer:
2. What does the PMRA define as a pest?
3. What does the PMRA define as a pesticide?
4. When will a pesticide be approved by PMRA?
5. What are some examples of pesticides?
7. What products violate the PCPA?
8. What are the labeling and online listing requirements for a pesticide to comply with the PCPA?
9. Which ultraviolet (UV) and ozone devices are subject to the PCPA?
10. Which UV and ozone devices are not subject to the PCPA?
11. What are examples of prohibited pesticide listings on Wish?
12. What are some resources for more information?
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1. What does the PMRA do?
The PMRA is the responsible body that regulates pesticides in Canada. The agency's main goal is to ensure that pesticides are strictly regulated in order to avoid risk to human health and the environment. They also promote and verify compliance with the PCPA and enforce situations of non-compliance.
All pesticide products must be approved by the PMRA before they can be manufactured, possessed, stored, advertised, distributed, imported, sold, or used in Canada.
2. What does the PMRA define as a pest?
A pest is defined by the PMRA as either of the following:
- An animal, plant, or another organism that is (directly or indirectly) injurious, noxious, or troublesome
- An injurious, noxious, or troublesome condition or organic function of an animal, plant, or other organism
3. What does the PMRA define as a pesticide?
A pesticide is defined by the PMRA as a product, organism, or substance (including those derived from biotechnology) that is manufactured, distributed, or used as a means for either:
- Controlling, destroying, attracting, or repelling a pest
- Mitigating or preventing injurious, noxious, or troublesome effects from a pest
Pesticides also include the active ingredient, formulant, or contaminant that is used to manufacture anything described above or prescribed under law as a pesticide.
4. When will a pesticide be approved by PMRA?
A pesticide will only be approved by PMRA when the following requirements are met:
- The pesticide works effectively to control a pest
- There is evidence to prove that the pesticide is safe and won't cause harm to human health or the environment when used according to the label
The PMRA conducts science-based risk assessments to ensure that pesticide products meet current health and environmental standards before they are approved for use or sale in Canada.
5. What are some examples of pesticides?
- Herbicides for weed control
- Fungicides for the control of plant diseases
- Insecticides and repellents to control insects
- Rodenticides to control rodents
- Electronic devices to control insects or rodents
- Sanitation products to control bacteria and viruses
- Preservatives for wood
- Structural materials and other products
- Biochemicals and non-conventional products
6. How is a Wish merchant impacted if their listing violates the PCPA and/or applicable provincial/territorial laws?
Pesticide listings on Wish that violate the PCPA and/or applicable provincial/territorial laws will be in violation of Wish policies and are subject to various repercussions and/or removal without prior notice by Wish. If a merchant is found to violate Wish policies and any applicable laws and regulations, the merchant may be subject to other consequences, including (but not limited to) decreased impressions, account suspension, or account termination.
7. What products violate the PCPA?
- Illegal or unregistered pesticides not approved by the PMRA or that are restricted by provincial, territorial, or federal government agencies in Canada (pesticides registered with another country's regulatory body, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, are not considered registered in Canada)
- Pesticide brands that are not intended for sale in Canada (these may look like recognized brands but are not labeled with a PMRA registration number)
- Products that make pest control claims (e.g., antifungal, antimicrobial, etc.) but have not been registered with the PMRA
- Pesticides not in their original, sealed packaging or that have been repackaged
- Poisonous or toxic substances that cannot be shipped via standard shipping providers
- Commercial, restricted, and manufacturing class pesticides that are not available to the general public
- Bear spray products that require a Notice to Purchaser agreement
- Unregistered Essential Oil-based Personal Insect Repellents (EOPIRs)—see the PMRA’s Regulatory Directive DIR2017-02 for more information
8. What are the labeling and online listing requirements for a pesticide to comply with the PCPA?
The following information must be shown in both English and French on the physical label and the online listing of Canada-bound pesticides:
- Five-digit PMRA registration number from the Pesticide Product Information Database
- Product name
- Product type (e.g., herbicides, rodenticides, fungicides, etc.)
- Physical form of the product (e.g., dust, liquid, wettable powder, etc.)
- Product class designation (e.g., domestic class pesticides)
- Information concerning the nature and degree of hazards inherent in the product, including precautionary signal words (e.g., poison, flammable, corrosive, explosive, etc.)
- The statement “READ THE LABEL BEFORE USING”
- The statement “KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN”
- Information regarding the active ingredient(s) in the product
- Declaration of net quantity of the product in the package
- Registrant’s name
- Name, postal address, and telephone number of a contact in Canada to which public inquiries may be directed
The following information must not be on the label or online listing of a Canada-bound pesticide product:
- Information representing the product as a treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state
- Statements or implications that the Canadian government, or any of its departments or agencies, promote, endorse, or recommend use of the product
Merchants should review the PCPA and its accompanying regulations and guidance for more information.
9. Which ultraviolet (UV) and ozone devices are subject to the PCPA?
Under amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations, certain UV and ozone devices must be registered or meet conditions of authorization to be for sale in Canada. This includes UV radiation-emitting or ozone-generating devices that are manufactured, imported, represented, distributed, or used to control, destroy, inactivate, or reduce levels of viruses, bacteria, or other microorganisms that are human pathogens.
10. Which UV and ozone devices are not subject to the PCPA?
The following UV and ozone devices are not subject to the PCPA (but may be subject to other, separate regulations):
- Devices intended to control, destroy, inactivate or reduce bacteria, viruses, or other microorganisms in:
- Swimming pools or spas
- Wastewater treatment systems
- Municipal/residential water treatment
- Plant pathogens (e.g., in greenhouse settings)
- Food and Drugs Act regulated medical devices that either:
- Meet the definition of a device in section 2 of the FDA
- Are classified as a Class II, III or IV medical device under the Medical Devices Regulation
- Canada Consumer Product Safety Act regulated products that either:
- Improve air quality by deodorizing
- Eliminate odors associated with cigarettes, cooking, or pets
11. What are examples of prohibited pesticide listings on Wish?
- Examples of listings prohibited due to the pesticide being restricted from domestic use in Canada:
- Cockroach killer
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- Liquid ant bait/killer
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- Mosquito repellent bracelets
- Example of a listing prohibited due to claims of killing viruses, bacteria, and germs (including COVID):
- UV lamp
- Examples of listings prohibited due to being purchased in another country and shipped to Canada:
- Flea and tick medications
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12. What are some resources for more information?
- Wish’s Prohibited Product Policy
- Wish’s Regional Restrictions Policy
- Wish’s “Misleading listings FAQ”
- PMRA’s Importing Pesticides into Canada—What do you need to know? (see slide 4)
- PMRA’s Personal Insect repellents
- PMRA’s Safe use of personal insect repellents
- PMRA’s Buying pesticides online
- PMRA’s Pesticide Label Search database
- PMRA’s List of registered UV and ozone devices
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