Cosmetic Pesticides Bans: Highlights, Best Practices & Lessons Learned

This briefing by the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (CAPE) outlines the regulatory landscape of cosmetic pesticide bans in Canada, comparing provincial and municipal approaches. It evaluates the effectiveness of 'white lists' versus 'black lists', examines the impact of specific bans through various studies, and provides a set of best practices for implementing effective prohibitions to protect human health and the environment.

• Canada employs a three-tiered regulatory system for pesticides involving federal, provincial, and municipal governments. The federal Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) registers pesticides for use and sale, while provinces regulate both use and sale and oversee municipal bylaw content. Municipalities are limited to regulating the use of cosmetic pesticides within their own boundaries.
• As of 2016, seven Canadian provinces have laws prohibiting some cosmetic pesticides, while British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Territories do not. Additionally, 180 municipal cosmetic pesticide bylaws were in effect in 2016.
• Provinces use either 'black lists' (prohibiting specific active ingredients) or 'white lists' (permitting only specific ingredients). White lists are considered to embody the precautionary principle because new ingredients cannot be used unless the manufacturer proves they meet legal criteria, whereas black lists allow new PMRA-approved ingredients until they are proven unacceptable.
• The scope of bans varies by jurisdiction. Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador limit prohibitions to lawns. In contrast, Ontario and Nova Scotia extend bans to lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers, and ornamental plants. Quebec is the only province to extend its law to indoor environments frequented by children.
• Common exceptions to cosmetic pesticide bans include public health and safety, agricultural land, and infestations. However, exemptions for golf courses are identified as problematic; while Ontario requires golf courses to disclose pesticide use annually, there is no requirement to reduce or eliminate such use.
• Evidence suggests that mandatory prohibitions combined with education are more effective than voluntary programs, which only reduced pesticide use by 10-24%. Specific studies show that after Ontario's 2008 ban, water body concentrations of 2,4-D, dicamba, and MCPP decreased by 81-83%. A Toronto study found that resident use of pesticides on lawns decreased by approximately 57% between 2003 and 2007.
• A retail audit in Nova Scotia revealed significant compliance issues, with 14 of 21 audited retailers failing to follow pesticide storage regulations. This highlights a need for enforcement visits to retail outlets to ensure legal compliance.

APA

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment (2016). Cosmetic Pesticides Bans: Highlights, Best Practices & Lessons Learned. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/4.Backgrounder-Cosmetic-Pesticide-Bans-Highlights-Best-Practices-Lessons-Learned.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment. Cosmetic Pesticides Bans: Highlights, Best Practices & Lessons Learned. 2016. https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/4.Backgrounder-Cosmetic-Pesticide-Bans-Highlights-Best-Practices-Lessons-Learned.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment |title=Cosmetic Pesticides Bans: Highlights, Best Practices & Lessons Learned |date=August 2016 |url=https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/4.Backgrounder-Cosmetic-Pesticide-Bans-Highlights-Best-Practices-Lessons-Learned.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianassociationofphysiciansfortheenvironment2016cosmetic, author = {{Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}}, title = {{Cosmetic Pesticides Bans: Highlights, Best Practices \& Lessons Learned}}, institution = {Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment}, year = {2016}, month = aug, url = {https://cape.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/4.Backgrounder-Cosmetic-Pesticide-Bans-Highlights-Best-Practices-Lessons-Learned.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }