Should Potassium Bicarbonate Pesticides Stay Approved for Canadian Farms?

Official title: Consultation on potassium bicarbonate and its associated end-use products, Proposed Re-evaluation Decision PRVD2025-06

Closed Regulations & Permits Agriculture & Food Health & Safety
Health Canada reviewed potassium bicarbonate, a pesticide used to fight powdery mildew and other fungal diseases on crops like vegetables, fruits, cannabis, and hemp. The verdict? It's safe to keep using when label directions are followed. One change: for cannabis and hemp meant for smoking or vaping, it can now only be applied during the vegetative growth stage.

Why This Matters

Eat fruits or vegetables? This affects what's sprayed on them. The pesticide is used on everything from greenhouse tomatoes to field-grown cannabis. If you grow cannabis or hemp commercially, the new restrictions on when you can spray matter for your operation.

What Could Change

Potassium bicarbonate products will stay on the market with updated labels. For cannabis and hemp growers, application is now restricted to the vegetative stage only—no spraying during flowering for products meant for smoking or vaping. Label statements will be updated to meet current standards.

Key Issues

  • Should potassium bicarbonate pesticides continue to be registered for use in Canada?
  • Are the proposed label updates appropriate for current safety standards?
  • Is restricting application to the vegetative stage for cannabis and hemp sufficient protection?

How to Participate

  1. Read the Proposed Re-evaluation Decision to understand the science behind this regulatory decision.

What Happened

The consultation closed on September 8, 2025. Health Canada will consider all comments received and publish a final Re-evaluation Decision on the Pesticides and Pest Management Reports and Publications page.

Key Documents