PMRA consultation on proposal to update fees for Pest Control Products Annual Charges | Health Canada

PMRA has concluded that current fees do not reflect the administrative costs for post-market regulatory activities, resulting in an escalating economic burden on taxpayers. Moreover, the current fees do not align with those charged by other regulatory bodies.

The proposed changes aim to more precisely reflect the costs associated with Health Canada’s regulatory activities on pesticides. Simultaneously, the changes will incorporate effective mitigation measures to minimize the economic impact on small businesses and maintain continued access to certain pesticides.

The consultation does not apply to fees for new applications, amendments, notifications or renewals. A separate consultation for those fees is planned for 2028.

The annual charges are intended to fund re-evaluations and post registration compliance and enforcement.

Small business are defined as: Fewer than 100 employees, and less than $5 million CAD in annual gross revenues globally and from all product lines.

Biopesticides: These include microbials, semiochemicals and non-conventional pest control products. Examples of non-conventional products include but are not limited to food items (vinegar, corn gluten), plant extracts (essential oils, vegetable oils), inert materials (Diatomaceous earth), commodity chemicals (borax, sodium chloride).

Niche products: Pest control products where there is limited economic incentive to maintain registration but have high value uses, specifically:

• Low-acreage crops
• Products that support public health programs
• Products that support environmental protection, for example, to control invasive non-native species and protect species at risk
• The consultation will be open until March 31, 2024
• The target amendment date for the Pest Control Products Fees and Charges Regulations is April 2025. The new fees would appear on the 2026 PMRA invoices
• Access the consultation by following this link: Consultation on a proposal to update fees for pest control products
• Submit comments through this link: Consultation Document

Alongside the consultation on the proposed fee changes, the PMRA is also seeking input on a Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) questionnaire. The questionnaire aims to assess the potential cost/benefit implications of the proposed changes to Health Canada’s fees for pest control products. The survey requests information on various aspects such as company size, the number of products, potential discontinuation of products if the new fees are implemented, and the impact to end users among other factors. All submitted feedback will be treated with utmost confidentiality. Responses will be aggregated and reported in a manner that safeguards individual contributors’ anonymity, as outlined in the Privacy Statement.

Click here to complete the questionnaire.

For assistance in estimating your new fees and determining eligibility for reduced fees as a biopesticide, niche product or small business, please reach out to [email protected].

In addition to providing support with Canadian pesticide registration, we also provide clients with regulatory, scientific and compliance assistance on antimicrobial efficacy, disinfectants and sanitizers, fertilizers, chemical substances and cosmetics.