Should Pesticide Companies Pay Higher Annual Fees?

Official title: Regulations Amending the Pest Control Products Fees and Charges Regulations (Annual Charge)

Closed Regulations & Permits Agriculture & Food Finance & Consumer Health & Safety
Health Canada wants to change how pesticide companies pay to keep their products registered. Right now, fees are based on sales—but audits found 30% of companies weren't reporting accurately. The new system would charge based on how many products a company has registered, with breaks for small businesses and eco-friendly products.

Why This Matters

This mostly affects pesticide manufacturers, not everyday Canadians. But here's the connection: if fees go up too much, some companies might stop selling certain products in Canada. That could mean fewer pest control options for farmers—and potentially higher food prices down the line.

What Could Change

Annual fees would jump from the current $120-$4,300 range to a tiered system starting at $6,130 per product. Small businesses would pay $2,000 per product. Eco-friendly pesticides and niche products get a $1,000 rate. New active ingredients get three years fee-free. Government-held registrations would be exempt entirely.

Key Issues

  • Should the fee structure change from sales-based to registration-based?
  • Are the proposed fee reductions for small businesses and eco-friendly products adequate?
  • Will higher fees cause companies to withdraw products from the Canadian market?
  • Should new active ingredients receive a three-year fee exemption to encourage innovation?

How to Participate

  1. Review the proposed regulations in the Canada Gazette to understand the fee changes being proposed.
  2. Submit your comments by email to pmra.regulatory.affairs-affaires.reglementaires.arla@hc-sc.gc.ca. Reference "Canada Gazette, Part I, December 21, 2024" in your submission.

Key Documents