Mandatory PMRA Incident Reporting: What Every PMRA Registrant Needs to Know

Posted December 10, 2025

When a pesticide product is registered in Canada, the responsibility doesn’t end with approval. Under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), registrants are required to continuously monitor and report incidents related to their products. In this context, incident means any event that may relate to health risks, environmental risks, or the value of the product, as defined under the Pest Control Products Act. This process called Mandatory Incident Reporting, helps the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) identify emerging risks, strengthen product safety, and protect human health and the environment.

Whether you are a manufacturer, distributor, regulatory affairs professional, or private label registrant, understanding these requirements is essential for compliance and risk management. Regulatory requirements may change with amended regulations, which can impact reporting obligations and the compliance landscape. This blog breaks down what PMRA considers an “incident,” when to report it, and how to remain compliant.

What Is an “Incident” Under the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA)?

PMRA defines an incident as any unintended or unexpected exposure or effect related to a pest control product. The scope is broad and covers effects on:

Humans
Domestic animals
Wildlife
Pollinators
Environmental media (e.g., water, soil)
Structural or packaging failures

A ‘human incident’ refers to cases where individuals experience adverse health effects due to product failures or exposures, and an ‘animal incident’ involves similar effects in animals.

Incidents are grouped into ‘incident categories’ based on the type of organism and effect, and ‘severity classification’ is used to prioritize reporting.

Incident reporting ensures that real-world experiences help improve product safety over time.

Incidents resulting from acts that would constitute an offence under the ‘Criminal Code’ are excluded from reporting requirements.

Classifying Incidents

Accurate classification of incidents is a cornerstone of the Pest Control Products Incident Reporting Regulations, as enforced by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). When a pest control products incident occurs, registrants and applicants are responsible for evaluating and categorizing the event according to its impact and severity. This process is essential for effective control products incident reporting and ensures that the most critical risks to human health, animals, and the environment are prioritized.

Types of Incidents That Must Be Reported

PMRA categorizes pesticide-related incidents into several classes:

Human Health Incidents
- These include:
  - Skin or eye irritation
  - Respiratory symptoms
  - Accidental ingestion or dermal exposure
  - Occupational exposure in workplace settings

Human exposure can result in a range of effects, from minor symptoms like skin rash to life threatening conditions. Incidents resulting in adverse reproductive effects, chronic disability, or major effect must be reported with the appropriate degree of severity.

These incidents must be reported—even if the effects are mild.

Domestic Animal Incidents
- Examples include:
  - Pets showing symptoms after accidental ingestion
  - Livestock illnesses linked to pesticide exposure

Incidents involving domestic animal death or animal death are subject to stricter reporting requirements.

Like human incidents, these must be reported promptly.

Environmental Incidents
- Environmental effects include:
  - Fish kills
  - Contamination of water bodies
  - Bird or wildlife mortality
  - Vegetation damage

Incidents affecting terrestrial or aquatic plants, including aquatic plants, or causing an environmental hazard must be reported.

These are particularly high-priority for PMRA due to their ecosystem impact.

Packaging or Device Failure
- This includes:
  - Leaking containers
  - Malfunctioning pesticide devices
  - Poor-quality closures that lead to exposure

Such cases must be reported as they directly affect user safety.

Adverse Effects in Laboratory Animals (New Data)
- If new scientific research reveals concerns about:
  - Toxicity
  - Carcinogenicity
  - Reproductive effects

Findings from any scientific study, including a completed translated study, that indicate a new hazard or excessive residues must be reported.

Registrants must report such findings to PMRA.

Incidents are grouped by the same type of organism, and annual summaries should analyze similar incidents to identify trends.

All reports must include the prescribed information as outlined in the reporting requirements.

Why Incident Reporting Matters for Health or Environmental Risk

Incident reporting helps PMRA:

Detect new risks from real-world product use
Update labels to improve safety and clarity
Re-evaluate products when needed
Prevent harm to people, pets, and ecosystems
Maintain transparency and trust in pesticide regulation

PMRA and Health Canada use critical analysis and concise critical analysis of incident data and incident information to identify trends and inform regulatory decisions. Health Canada evaluates all pesticide incident reports and requires an annual summary from registrants to support ongoing risk assessment and transparency.

For registrants, accurate reporting demonstrates responsibility and supports ongoing market access.

When Must Incidents Be Reported?

The PCPA sets strict timelines depending on the nature of the incident:

Serious human or domestic animal incidents: Report within 15 days
Environmental incidents causing significant harm: Report within 15 days
Less serious incidents: Report within 90 days
Foreign incidents: Report annually if relevant to Canadian use

Each reporting period and annual reporting cycle is defined by regulation, with specific reporting timelines and time limits for each type of incident. The prescribed date for submitting reports must be observed by every registrant or applicant and other regulated parties.

Registrants must track, assess, and submit reports even if incidents occur outside Canada, especially if they indicate potential health or environmental risks. Registrants must submit incident reports and are responsible for reporting incidents either through official forms or by contacting authorities to report an incident directly.

How to Submit Incident Reports to PMRA

PMRA requires registrants to use the Mandatory Incident Reporting Form and follow the guidance in https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2025/sc-hc/h113-31/H113-31-21-2023-eng.pdf. Specific reporting forms are mandated by Health Canada for all pesticide incident reports submitted as part of the incident reporting program.

Incident reports must be submitted through:

7003 PMRA Incident Reporting Form
On an approved electronic system

A complete report usually includes:

Product name and PCP registration number
Description of incident
Location and date
Exposure details
Symptoms or effects observed
Any corrective actions taken

Mandatory reporting is enforced, and non compliance with reporting obligations can result in penalties.

PMRA may request follow-up information during their evaluation.

Conclusion: Incident Reporting Is Key to Maintaining Registration

Mandatory PMRA incident reporting is not just a regulatory requirement- it’s a critical component of ensuring ongoing product safety and responsible stewardship. By understanding the rules, monitoring incidents effectively, and submitting timely reports, registrants can maintain compliance, protect public health, and contribute to a safer pesticide marketplace in Canada.

If you need help setting up an incident reporting system, preparing submissions, feel free to reach out- Dell Tech Laboratories.

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