Offering Certification and Training in Pesticide Safety Since 1987
The Ontario Pesticide Education Program certifies and trains Ontario’s farmers and pesticide vendors in pesticide safety. Certification and training through the Ontario Pesticide Education Program is recognized by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Visit the Ontario Pesticide Education Program’s website for information about our courses. Call 1-800-652-8573 or e-mail us at rcopep@uoguelph.ca.
The Ontario Pesticide Education Program certifies and trains Ontario’s farmers and pesticide vendors in pesticide safety. Certification and training through the Ontario Pesticide Education Program is recognized by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Visit the Ontario Pesticide Education Program’s website for information about our courses. Call 1-800-652-8573 or e-mail us at rcopep@uoguelph.ca.
Farmers
Under Regulation 63/09 of
the Pesticides Act,
Ontario farmers must be certified to buy and use Class B or C pesticides on
their farms or woodlots. Certified
Farmers must ensure that pesticides are purchased, used, stored, transported
and disposed of according to Regulation 63/09.
To become certified, a farmer must successfully complete the Grower
Pesticide Safety Course.
Farmer Assistants
Farmer Assistants who use Class B or C pesticides on farms must be
trained and, while using pesticides, must be supervised by Certified
Farmers. Farmer Assistants could be family members, farm
employees or seasonal workers.
Pesticide Vendors
A pesticide vendor
business that holds a General Vendor licence may sell pesticides in Classes A, B, C or D. A business that holds a
General Vendor Licence must employ a person at each sales outlet who is
certified through the Pesticide Vendor
Certification Course.
Classes of Pesticides
The federal and provincial governments classify pesticides, that is, they put them into groups to specify rules for use.
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada puts a pesticide into one of four classification depending on the intended use and hazard of the product: Manufacturing, Restricted, Commercial, or Domestic. Pesticides for use in agriculture are in the Restricted or Commercial classification.
The Ontario government classification matches the federal classification as shown in the following table. Ontario's classification occurs automatically with the federal registration of a pesticide product.
|
Canada Classification |
Ontario Classification |
|
Manufacturing |
Class A |
|
Restricted |
Class B |
|
Commercial |
Class C |
|
Domestic |
Class D |
|
Not Applicable |
Class E |
Farmers must be certified before they can buy
and use Class B and Class C pesticides. For information about
Ontario’s pesticide legislation, visit the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks' website.
Pesticide Safety Certification and Training in Ontario
|
|
Certified Farmers
|
21,982
|
Farmer
Assistants to Certified Farmers
|
1,026
|
On-Farm Pesticide Safety Instructors
|
284
|
Certified Vendors
|
1,229
|
Training and
certification is valid for five years.
|
|