Pesticides are substances used to either kill or repel pests – insects, weeds and diseases. They are important tools for protecting agricultural land, natural habitats and even your backyard from invaders that will take over if given the right conditions. Farmers use pesticides to control pests that may affect the health or quality of a crop. If they didn’t have these tools, pests would severely reduce the amount of food farmers are able to produce.
72% more fruit, 83% more vegetables and 42% more grains can be grown every year thanks to pesticides. Fresh fruit and vegetables would cost 24% more in Canada if pesticides weren’t available to help save crops from harmful diseases, damaging bugs or nutrient-stealing weeds.
Canada has one of the most rigorous regulatory systems in the world. Every pesticide sold in Canada must be approved by Health Canada and registered by the Pesticide Management Regulatory Agency. Each pesticide is also required to be packaged with detailed instructions on the label (a legal document) for handling, applying, storage and disposal.
Like other chemicals, when used improperly, pesticides have the potential to negatively impact human health and the environment. Farmers understand the benefit of using pesticides, but they also recognize the risks, so following the label is very important.
The labels instructions reflect the extensive research that has gone into approving a pesticide for use. It generally takes more than 10 years and hundreds of millions of dollars for a new pesticide to be approved for sale in Canada. The label also details potential hazards associated with using the pesticide, special handling instructions and first aid instruction in the event of mishandling. When all instructions are followed, pesticides are safe for farmers and the environment – and for use in producing the food you buy in the grocery store.
Some provinces require farmers to hold a Pesticide Applicator Licence to ensure that they understand how to properly read pesticide labels, and handle and apply pesticides. This license is also required for pesticide applicators who sells their services to apply pesticides and businesses that carry pesticide products used in agriculture, forestry and other commercial operations.
The Pesticide Applicator Licence is a joint initiative between federal and provincial and territorial governments. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency has developed the Standard for Pesticide Education, Training and Certification in Canada (referred to as the National Standard). This is a series of rules outlining the structure and criteria for provincial/ territorial certification programs. The provinces and territories use this standard when developing their own courses, training manuals and exams for licensing purposes.
Pesticide Applicator programs are offered at post-secondary institutions and focus on 10 areas of basic knowledge requirements, including:
- the application of pesticides by aircraft
- in forest/nursery management operations
- ground application for growing crops
- aquatic weeds application
- application in greenhouses
Licences must be renewed every five years.
Every holder of a Pesticide Applicator Licence is responsible for keeping detailed records on each operation they perform that involves pesticide use. This includes such information as:
- who the pesticide was applied for
- location
- year, month, day and time
- purpose
- common product name of the pesticide and registration number
- method of application
- quantity of pesticide applied
- method of disposal of pesticide containers
- details of measures taken to clean up any spills
The Pesticide Applicator Licence requirement is one more way consumers can be assured that farmers take their jobs as stewards of the environment seriously. It also demonstrates their level of commitment to growing safe food for Canadians. Find out more about how farmers are responsibly using pesticides.
Farmers work hard to provide for their families, care for the animals they raise and grow food safely and efficiently. The decisions they make daily influence their ability to produce nutritious and high-quality food in a sustainable, responsible way that ensures future generations can continue to farm. Canadian agriculture has created sustainability and farm stewardship initiatives to guide production and management practices in almost every sector.
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