After significant stakeholder and public consultation, a Ministerial Order has been signed amending the integrated pest management regulation (IPMR). 

The amendments to the IPMR include the following:

• Requiring a pesticide user licence (for commercial properties and service providers) or certificate (for residents) to apply most pesticides in private landscaped areas.
• Establishing a list of pesticides (called Schedule 5) that can be used in landscaped areas without a licence or certificate.
• Requiring residents/public to be notified about use on private land in specific situations.
• Requiring most domestic-class pesticides to be displayed “behind the counter” so consumers cannot access them without the assistance of a certified dispenser.

These new rules for pesticide use will not take effect until July 1, 2016, so stakeholders and the public have significant time to review the changes and come into compliance with the new standards. Stakeholders, including pesticide vendors and service providers had previously asked for a significant amount of notification to prepare for the upcoming changes.

Commercial properties will require a pesticide user non-service licence which will cost $250 per year. However, homeowners will be able to take a free online course and exam to earn a certificate to use pesticides on landscaped areas of their property. Alternatively, commercial and residential property owners can choose to hire a licenced service company.

Property owners will not be required to have a certificate if they want to use domestic-class pesticides on food gardens or hobby farms, or to control pests such as rodents or carpenter ants that damage buildings.

The amendments to the IPMR will also require businesses to give notice when pesticides are used on private property which the public may access. This includes private golf courses, cemeteries and commercial facilities.

The amendments took into account comments received from government’s public consultation, input received on the policy intentions paper and the work of the Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides.

Learn More:

For more information, please visit:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/pesticides-pest-management/pesticide-use/regulations-consultations