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Pesticides Regulations
Pesticides are an undeniable part of modern life, used to protect everything from flower gardens to agricultural crops from specific pests. Although pesticides are now commonplace, concerns still exist about their safety and proper use.
Pesticides can be used safely and effectively. But if proper care is not taken, pesticides can harm the environment by contaminating soil, surface and ground water. They can also kill wildlife.
The Law
The federal government closely regulates pesticide products, which are stringently tested for their impact on human health and the environment. Federal regulations require that pesticides can only be used for the purposes described on the product label.
Once pesticides are on the market, care still must be taken to use them properly, and that is where the Pesticide Regulations under the Yukon Environment Act come into play.
Passed in 1994, the Pesticide Regulations address the proper storage, handling and use of pesticides. They are intended to prevent pesticides from contaminating the soil, water and air, and to protect food sources, humans, and valuable plants and animals from exposure to pesticides.
Pesticide Classifications
The federal Pest Control Products Act divides pesticides into three categories based on their intended use: domestic, commercial or restricted. The territorial pesticide regulations use these same categories.
- Domestic: These pesticides are considered to be relatively safe for use in and around the home. Typical uses include controlling rodents and insects within the house, and controlling weeds and insects in lawns and gardens. Domestic pesticides are usually sold in small volumes.
- Commercial: Businesses typically use these products for a wide-range of commercial uses such as farming, commercial pest control, and institutional use.
- Restricted: Products in this category are classified as extremely hazardous, and their use is restricted to situations where they can be used safely. Restricted pesticides are either toxic or are intended for use in sensitive environments.
Permits
If you are planning to control pests in your own house or garden with a product normally used for that purpose, you probably do not need a permit. In other cases, the regulations are complex, and you should check first whether a permit is needed.
For example, you might need a permit when working near an open body of water, or applying pesticides from an aircraft. You definitely need a permit if you are not an agricultural user, and want to use or apply a commercial or restricted pesticide. Also please note that federal regulations ban using certain dangerous pesticides in the Yukon.
Domestic (Household) Users:
- may apply Domestic pesticides in their own residences without a permit, but a landlord requires a Pesticide Use Permit to apply pesticides in a tenant's home;
- require a Pesticide Use Permit when using pesticides within 30 metres of an open body of water.
Note: Only trained professionals may apply pesticides on daycare, nursing home, school or hospital property. Both a Pesticide Use Permit and a Pesticides Applicators Certificate are required.
Farmers require permits for using pesticides on their own land only when:
- using pesticides within 30 metres of an open body of water;
- using Restricted pesticides;
- applying pesticides from an aircraft; or
- possessing or using particularly toxic pesticides as identified in Schedule 4 of the Pesticide Regulations.
Note: If a farmer hires a person or business to apply pesticides, that person or business must have a Pesticide Applicator Certificate and Pesticide Service Permit.
Commercial Users (Non-Agricultural) must have:
- a Pesticide Use Permit for all non-agricultural use of Commercial or Restricted pesticides;
- a Pesticide Applicator Certificate when applying Domestic, Commercial or Restricted pesticides near daycares, schools, nursing homes or hospitals;
- a Pesticide Applicator Certificate when purchasing, using, or applying any Commercial or Restricted pesticides.
Note: Commercial uses of pesticides in the Yukon include treating highway, power line and railroad right-of-ways for weed control; farming; market gardens; and mosquito control programs.
Vendors must have:
- a Pesticide Vendor Permit when selling commercial and restricted pesticides.
Note: The holder of a Pesticide Vendor Permit may only sell commercial or restricted pesticides to the holder of a Pesticide Use Permit or Pesticide Service Permit or to a person using the pesticide for agricultural purposes on land owned or leased by that person.
Other Topics
Fact Sheets are also available on the following topics:
- Pesticide Use Permits
- Pesticide Vendor Permits
- Pesticide Service Permits
- Pesticide Applicator Certificates
- Rodent Problems
- Adult Mosquito Control