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Pesticides Regulatory Directorate

The Health Canada Pesticides Regulatory Directorate (PRD) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. Created in 1995, this branch of Health Canada consolidates the resources and responsibilities pesticide regulation and operated as the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) until its name change in 2026.

Effective April 1, 2026, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) became the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate (PRD) within the Healthy Environments and Consumers Safety Branch of Health Canada.

They may have a different name, but the PRD will continue to deliver its mandate under the Pest Control Products Act, which includes the evaluation of health and environmental risks, as well as value of pest control products.

To find out more about these changes, click on this web site below.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/branches-agencies/pest-management-regulatory-agency.html

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Engagement Opportunity – Draft Permit Application Handbook for Structural Fumigations
Submit Comments by June 27, 2026

The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has updated the Fumigation Permit Application Guide (2009), now retitled the Permit Application Handbook for Structural Fumigations (2026). The primary purpose of the Handbook is to support individuals applying for structural fumigation permits. The ministry is seeking stakeholder input to ensure the Handbook effectively meets the needs of applicants.

The new edition of the Handbook provides additional technical guidance for structural fumigators to reference and clarifies what information must accompany a permit application. The requirements to obtain a permit have not changed, and the ministry will continue to review permit applications in accordance with existing policy and requirements under the Pesticides Act and Ontario Regulation 63/09. Updates to the Handbook, however, are expected to help applicants better meet the submission requirements and reduce ministry review time.

Please consider this engagement opportunity to provide your feedback on the updated 2026 version of the Handbook. To ensure your comments are considered, we kindly request that they be submitted to MECP by June 27, 2026.

Comments can be sent directly by e-mail or by attaching them to the draft document and sending them to sdb-pesticideapproval@ontario.ca.

We appreciate your time and look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Tim Fletcher
Director under the Pesticides Act
Technical Assessment and Standards Development Branch
Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks

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Prevention of a Hantavirus Infection

Current situation

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed on May 17 one case of Andes hantavirus in Canada through laboratory testing. This case was reported by the British Columbia Provincial Health Officer on May 16 and was among the passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The individual, as well as other potential contacts in Canada continue to follow public health protocols and be monitored by local public health authorities.

The overall risk to the general population in Canada remains low at this time.

• Rapid risk assessment: Hantavirus (Andes virus) outbreak on international cruise ship (technical document)

How can a Hantavirus Infection be prevented?

There is no vaccine for hantavirus infection. The key to disease prevention is:

• preventing rodent infestations
• properly cleaning and disinfecting areas contaminated by rodent droppings

Keep your home, workplace, cottage or campsite rodent-free. All rodent droppings are potentially harmful. You should:

• block openings that might let rodents in
• store food, water and garbage in containers with tightly fitted lids
• place mousetraps throughout buildings
• keep your yard clean
• stack woodpiles away from buildings

Properly clean and disinfect areas contaminated by rodent droppings. Follow the steps below.

1. Wear rubber or plastic gloves. If you are cleaning in a confined space, wear a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtered respirator.
2. Do not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings. This will release particles into the air, which you could then breathe in.
3. Spray droppings with a Health Canada approved household disinfectant or a mixture of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water. Let the area soak for 10 minutes to make sure any virus within the droppings will be killed.
4. Wipe up wet droppings with paper towels or a wet mop if dealing with a large area.
5. Wash gloves in disinfectant and hot soapy water before taking them off.  Afterwards, wash your hands thoroughly.
6. If a wet mop was used to clean the area, use disinfectant and hot soapy water to clean the mop.

Know the symptoms of a hantavirus infection. See a health care provider immediately if they develop.

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We invite you to contibute!

Please send your articles to [email protected].

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