Québec Pesticide Strategy 2015-2018

Pesticides exert pressure on the environment and have proven risks for public health and for farmers, pollinators and the environment, hence the need for the government to control their sales and use.

After 25 years of responsible pesticide management action, Québec has made a lot of progress, banning some 20 pesticides for lawn maintenance and requiring that all users obtain certification.

However, there is a noticeable increase in sales of some herbicides in urban environments and the regular presence of pesticides in watercourses sampled in Québec agricultural environments. In order to reduce even more the risks associated with the use of pesticides in Québec, the Ministère will implement a framework for encouraging best practices when using pesticides.

This is why the Québec Pesticide Strategy 2015-2018 (French, PDF, 5 MB) envisages tightening the conditions applicable to the use of pesticides and implementing action aimed at strengthening user accountability.

The Strategy seeks to protect:

• Public health, by increasing restrictions on the use of pesticides on lawns, trees and shrubs in urban environments such as public parks;
• Farmer's health, by tightening the supervision of highest-risk pesticides used in agriculture;
• Pollinators, by reducing their exposure to neonicotinoids
• The environment, by limiting the risk of contamination

Salient points of the Strategy:

• Objectives aimed at protecting public health, pollinators and the environment
• An approach centred on highest-risk pesticides
• Client-based action that includes support for farmers
• Implementation of concrete measures inspired by best practices

Concrete action for optimizing pesticide management:

• Amendments to the Pesticides Management Code and the Regulation respecting permits and certificates for the sale and use of pesticides
• Publication of a document dealing with the economic instruments fostering the rational use of pesticides