Director under the Pesticides Act - Addition or removal of an active ingredient to the List of Active Ingredients Authorized for Cosmetic Uses (Allowable List)

The ministry is proposing to add one active ingredient to the Allowable List to the Director under the Pesticides Act.

Pelargonic acid is found in registered commercial pesticides used for non-selective vegetation control of areas in and around specified non-crop areas and labelled food crops. Also, it is used as a desiccant in wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes, and for sucker control in grapes, pome fruit and stone fruit.

Section 17 of Ontario Regulation 63/09 sets out the rules the Director must follow to determine if the active ingredient is appropriate for use for a cosmetic purpose.

After following the rules in Section 17 of Ontario Regulation 63/09 to determine if the active ingredient is appropriate for use for a cosmetic purpose, the Director under the Pesticides Act is proposing to add Pelargonic acid to the “List of Active Ingredients Authorized for Cosmetic Uses (Allowable List)”.

Background

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act, registers pesticides after completing a rigorous review of scientific studies on potential impacts on human health and the environment.

Pesticide classification in Ontario occurs automatically with the federal registration of a pesticide product. Section 2 of the Ontario Regulation 63/09 operates to classify a pesticide according to the federal class designation.

Ontario’s cosmetic pesticide ban prohibits the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes unless the ministry-appointed Director under the Pesticides Act has determined that the pesticide (the active ingredient) is appropriate for use for a cosmetic purpose and has added the active ingredient to the “List of Active Ingredients Authorized for Cosmetic Uses (Allowable List)”.

Additional information

For more information on products that contain this active ingredient please access Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Search Product Label.

More information on the Allowable List in the Guide to Pesticide Classes