Health Canada is seeking feedback on the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) new proposed approach for registering pesticide uses on cannabis and industrial hemp. 

While pesticide registrations for cannabis in Canada have historically focused on microbial products and non-conventional pesticides (biopesticides) like canola oil, sulphur, or garlic powder, Canada is now looking to also identify other potential risks, including risks from ingestion or from inhalation due to smoking or vaping of products made from crops that have been treated with either a biopesticide or conventional pesticide.

Health Canada anticipates that as the industry grows, producers of cannabis and industrial hemp crops could face serious disease and insect and weed pressures that could create a desire for access to more conventional chemical pesticides for adequate control.

Currently, the PMRA considers seven use-site categories as appropriate: food crops grown in greenhouses or other enclosed structures; non-food crops grown in greenhouses or other enclosed structures; terrestrial non-food and non-feed seed, fibre, and industrial crops; seed and plant propagation materials: food and feed; seed and plant propagation materials: non-food and non-feed; terrestrial feed crops; and terrestrial food crops.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has invited the public, stakeholders, and partners to submit written comments on Regulatory Proposal PRO2024-03, entitled Consultation on the proposed approach for registering pesticide uses on cannabis and industrial hemp: use-site categories, data requirements and label statements. 

That public consultation is open from August 9 to October 7. Following that timeline, Health Canada will make the consultation results available on its website. The final version of the policy will be published on PMRA’s Policies and Guidelines website.