Amendments to pesticide legislation

The Integrated Pest Management Regulation has been amended. This is in response to concerns expressed over the effects of SGARs on owls and other wildlife.

The BC Laws version of the regulation does not yet reflect the changes. It will be updated soon. For details, please review a summary of the new IPM Rodenticide Amendments (PDF, 654KB).

As a result, the requirements for sale and use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides have changed. 

These new rules come into effect as of January 21, 2023.

The new rules:

• Reduce the overall use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides
• Make sure essential services who are allowed to use rodenticides are trained and educated
• Increase oversight of rodenticide use
• Require essential services to manage rodents within an Integrated Pest Management approach

Tools and guides

Find information about what this means to you:

• Non-Essential Services and Residents Guide: Rodenticide Rules Have Changed (PDF, 244KB)
• Pesticide Vendors Guide: Rodenticide Rules Have Changed (PDF, 297KB)
• Agricultural Operators Guide: Rodenticide Rules Have Changed (PDF, 300KB)
• Service Licensees Guide: Rodenticide Rules Have Changed (PDF, 308KB)
• Essential Services Guide: Rodenticide Rules Have Changed (PDF, 316KB)

Check the guidance documents below to better understand the new rules:

• Explanatory Note: Prevention Measures When Using SGARs (PDF, 287KB)
• Explanatory Note: Conducting IPM In-Between Baiting Cycles of SGAR Use (PDF, 288KB)

Before using SGARs, create a site-specific rodent management plan. You can either use the template below or develop your own using the checklist below:

• Rodent Management Plan Template (PDF, 144KB)
• Rodent Management Plan Checklist (PDF, 258KB)

Related resources

Learn more about how the Integrated Pest Management Regulation amendments were developed:

• Consultation on changes to pesticide regulations

Guidance on managing rodents within an integrated pest management approach:

• Second-generation anticoagulent rodenticide use in B.C.
• Rats and mice

In 2016, the province amended the Integrated Pest Management Regulation. The changes follow extensive consultation on the sale and cosmetic use of pesticides, as described below. Changes came into effect on July 1, 2016.

The objective of the amendments was to ensure that:

• Pesticides will be used by people with knowledge and training
• Pesticides will be used as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) process, and
• Public interaction with pesticide vendors at the point of sale will increase

Guidance and factsheets for changes in cosmetic use

The ministry has developed a series of fact sheets and guidance documents that describe the changes:

• The Rules Have Changed – A Guide for Residents (PDF, 491 KB)
• The Rules Have Changed – A Guide for Pesticide Vendors and Dispensers (PDF, 535 KB)
• The Rules Have Changed – A Guide for Landscapers (PDF, 505 KB)
• The Rules Have Changed – A Guide for Golf Courses, Gardens & Cemeteries (PDF, 512KB)
• The Rules Have Changed – A Guide for Industrial Land Managers Using Pesticides (PDF, 205 KB)
• The Rules Have Changed - Schedule 2 (Excluded Pesticides) (PDF, 469 KB)
• The Rules Have Changed - Schedule 5 (PDF, 414 KB)
• Amendments to the Integrated Pest Management Regulation - presentation slides (PDF, 652 KB)
• Sample Customer Interaction Documents for Pesticide Vendors and Dispensers:
  • Sample Script for Pesticide Dispensers (PDF, 512 KB)
  • Sample Poster with Web Link for In-store Use (8 x 11) (PDF, 3 MB)
  • Sample Handout / Tearaway Sheet with Web Link for In-store Use (4x6) (PDF, 1.5 MB)

Consultation background

Review the consultation the ministry conducted prior to amending the Integrated Pest Management Regulation. 

The ministry is not soliciting further comment at this time. Thank you to all those who contributed input throughout the consultation steps. The comments provided were very valuable.

• 2015 Policy update regarding proposed amendments to the Integrated Pest Management Regulation (PDF, 440 KB)
• 2014 Summary of Comments to the Intentions Paper (PDF, 378 KB)
• 2013 Intentions Paper Proposed Revisions to the Integrated Pest Management Regulation (PDF, 780 KB)
• 2012 Report of the Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides
• 2011 B.C. Ministry of Environment Presentation to the Special Committee (PDF, 605 KB)
• 2010 Summary of comments received (PDF, 360 KB)
• 2009 Public Consultation Paper on the Cosmetic Use of Pesticides (PDF, 90 KB)