Should Sulphur-Based Pesticides Stay on the Market?

Official title: Consultation on Sulphur and its associated end-use products, Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2025-07

Closed Regulations & Permits Agriculture & Food Environment & Climate Health & Safety
Health Canada reviewed sulphur-based pesticides and wants to keep them available with updated safety labels. Sulphur is used to control fungi, insects, and rodents on farms, in greenhouses, and in home gardens. The agency found the products are safe when used as directed, but proposes new restrictions—including limiting use on cannabis plants to the vegetative stage only.

Why This Matters

Grow tomatoes in your backyard? Use pest control products in your garden? Sulphur-based products are common in home gardening. Farmers and greenhouse operators also rely on them. This decision affects what's available at your local garden centre and how it can be used.

What Could Change

Sulphur pesticides would stay on the market, but with new label requirements. Cannabis growers could only use sulphur during the vegetative stage. Commercial products would need drift statements to protect nearby homes. Updated safety gear requirements and re-entry intervals would apply to farm workers.

Key Issues

  • Should sulphur-based pesticides continue to be registered for sale in Canada?
  • Are the proposed label amendments and safety measures adequate?
  • Should sulphur use on cannabis be restricted to the vegetative stage only?

How to Participate

  1. Read the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision to understand the science behind this proposal.
  2. This consultation is now closed. Comments were accepted until September 8, 2025.

What Happened

The consultation has closed. Health Canada will consider all comments received and publish a final Re-evaluation Decision on the Reports and Publications page.

Key Documents