Rules governing application in agricultural environment

The use of pesticides in agricultural settings can result in water, air and soil contamination, as well as risks to the health of the person applying them and the public. Always comply with requirements governing the storage, preparation, application and possession of pesticides

The Applying commercial pesticides page sets out the general rules for pesticide preparation and application.

If you are a farmer or farm employee, you must hold a Farmer’s Certificate for the Application of Pesticides (Subclass E1 or E2) or work under the supervision of a certificate holder. A Subclass E1, E2 or E4 certificate is required to plant seeds of certain crops that are coated with a pesticide. 

If your company is applying pesticides for an agricultural producer, make sure you are licensed for cultivated land application (Subclass C8). If you are applying pesticides as an employee, you must hold a Subclass CD8 certificate or work under the supervision of a certificate holder. The same applies if you plant seeds of certain crops that are coated with a pesticide.

The following is mandatory:

• Comply with distancing requirements (PDF 385 Kb) that apply to sensitive environments, including those related to the grounds of daycares and schools.
• Comply with the agronomic prescription obtained prior to applying pesticides containing atrazine or one of the three neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam), and prior to planting seeds of certain crops that are insecticide-coated. For more information, see thee list of brand names of covered pesticides (in French only).
• Comply with distancing requirements that apply to protected buildings if you are using an air-blast sprayer or pneumatic sprayer that generates significant drift. These requirements may be eased in some circumstances.
• Comply with the conditions for pesticide application when cultivating in littoral zones.
• Maintain and keep a pesticide use register. You can use this sample use register template (XLSX 29 Kb) or, if you hold a Subclass C8 permit, this one (XLSX 78 Kb) (in French only).
• Follow the rules for forested areas if you plan to apply pesticides in a farm woodlot.

As part of a structured intervention program, certain plant species that threaten health or biodiversity can be controlled by applying pesticides along the boundary of a lake, watercourse or wetland. Be sure to inform the appropriate regional office of the Ministère de l’Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs and the municipality or regional county municipality (RCM) concerned at least 21 days before starting the work by using the form Application of pesticides to control a plant species along the boundary of a lake, watercourse or wetland (PDF 1.19 Mb) (in French only).

If your company (agricultural or other) applies pesticides using an aircraft (for example, an airplane or helicopter), make sure your company is licensed for aerial application (Subclass C1 or D1).

If you are applying pesticides from an aircraft as an agricultural producer or company employee, make sure you hold a Subclass CD1 certificate or work under the supervision of a certificate holder.

Currently, no pesticide is registered for application by drone for agricultural purposes. 

The following is mandatory:

• Identify the limits of the areas to be treated with markers or a flight line guidance system prior to applying any pesticides.
• Comply with the distance from sensitive elements (PDF 385 Kb) requirements, including those related to the grounds of daycares and schools.
• Comply with the agronomic prescription obtained prior to applying pesticides containing atrazine or one of the three targeted neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid or thiamethoxam).

The pilot or person supervising spraying must have a map or aerial photograph at hand that clearly identifies permitted and prohibited application areas and covers 300 metres around the application zone.

As a permit holder, be sure to maintain and keep a current register of your pesticide purchases and use. Depending on your permit, you can use this template (XLSX 78 Kb) (in French only) (Class C permit) or this one (XLSX 53 Kb) (in French only) (Class D permit).

If you are a farmer or farm employee and are applying pesticides to protect your greenhouse crops, you must hold a Farmer’s Certificate for Application in Buildings for Horticultural Purposes (Subclass E3) or work under the supervision of a certificate holder.

If your company applies pesticides for horticultural purposes inside buildings, namely for vegetable and herb production, you must ensure that it holds a Permit for Application in Buildings for Horticultural Purposes (Subclass C10 or D10).

If you are applying pesticides in buildings for horticultural purposes as an employee of this type of company, make sure you hold a Subclass CD10  certificate or work under the supervision of a certificate holder.

As a permit holder, be sure to maintain and keep a current register of your pesticide purchases and uses. Depending on your permit, you can use this template (XLSX 78 Kb) (in French only) (Class C permit) or this one (XLSX 53 Kb) (in French only) (Class D permit).

The Commercial pesticide application page sets out the general rules for preparing and applying pesticides.

If you are a farmer or a farm employee, you must hold a Farmer’s Certificate for Application by Fumigation (Subclass E5) in order to apply methyl bromide, carbon dioxide, sulfuryl fluoride, ethylene oxide or phosphine, or work under the supervision of a certificate holder.

If your company applies these same pesticides, for example in a grain elevator, it must be licensed for fumigation purposes (Subclass C6 or D6).

If you are applying these pesticides by fumigation as a company employee, you must hold a Subclass CD6 certificate or work under the supervision of a certificate holder.

Before fumigating in a confined area, make sure that:

• Nobody, other than the person applying the pesticides, is present at the application site or exposed to the pesticides;
• All livestock and pets have been evacuated and are not exposed to the pesticides;
• All openings are sealed;
• All entrances are sealed, and a sign prohibiting access (PDF 195 Kb) (French) is posted.

As a permit holder, be sure to maintain and keep a current register of your pesticide purchases and uses. Depending on your permit, you can use this template (XLSX 78 Kb) (French) (Class C permit) or this one (XLSX 53 Kb) (French) (Class D permit).

If you apply pesticides to prevent and treat health problems affecting bees, you must hold a farmer’s certificate for pesticide application (subcategory E1 or E2). Otherwise, you must work under the supervision of the holder of such a certificate.

For more information, see the notice Pesticides for bee health: your obligations and responsibilities (PDF 391 Kb) (in French only).