441-01779 (Animals)

In Canada, the regulation of pesticides is shared among all levels of government. Federally, pesticides are regulated under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), which is administered by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). The Agency’s number one priority is to protect the health and safety of Canadians and the environment.

Before a pesticide is allowed to be used or sold in Canada, it must undergo a rigorous scientific assessment process that provides reasonable certainty that no harm to human health and the environment will occur when pesticides are used according to label directions. Depending on the type of pesticide being evaluated, results from numerous scientific studies (in some cases hundreds of studies) are reviewed to determine whether the pesticide would have any negative effect on people, animals (including birds, beneficial insects such as pollinators, mammals, and other wildlife), or plants, including organisms in the soil and water. This assessment also takes into consideration sensitive populations, such as pregnant and nursing women, infants, children and seniors.

Health Canada also periodically re-evaluates pesticides that are on the market to determine whether they continue to meet the Department’s health and environmental standards and hence whether they should continue to be registered and permitted for use in Canada.

As outlined in Re-evaluation Decision RVD2020-06, Strychnine and Its Associated End-use Products (Richardson’s Ground Squirrels) published on March 4, 2020, Health Canada concluded that the environmental risks associated with the use of strychnine for the control of Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (RGS) (also known as gophers) were not shown to be acceptable when used according to label directions and that no further feasible mitigation measures could be implemented by users of the product. Consequently, the registration of products containing strychnine used to control RGS was cancelled with a 3-year phase-out period, which ended on March 4, 2023.

In its decision, Health Canada recognized the value of strychnine because it is easy to use, cost effective and manages RGS in a single feeding. However, there are alternatives to strychnine registered to control RGS available to users: chlorophacinone, diphacinone, zinc phosphide, and aluminum phosphide. While these alternatives may have some limitations compared to strychnine, they were found to be efficacious against the target pest during the scientific review that led to their registration.

Efforts to identify new products and to conduct additional research into RGS control should involve grower groups, registrants and manufacturers of potential alternative products, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and/or provincial representatives. Health Canada will continue to be available to provide information and guidance regarding the registration process, and information on currently registered alternative products.