Selling and buying pesticides – Domestic vendors wholesale/retail

Overview

In Alberta, federally classed domestic pesticides fall under Schedule 3 and 4.

There are vendor and dispenser regulatory requirements for Schedule 3 pesticides, which are products intended for lawn and garden use. There are no regulatory requirements for vendors or dispensers selling Schedule 4 pesticides.

An explanation of the Alberta pesticide schedules can be found at:

• Part one - Pesticide management regulations

Selling domestic pesticides

Schedule 3

Anyone who sells a Schedule 3 pesticide at wholesale must hold a wholesale vendor registration.

Anyone who sells a Schedule 3 pesticide at retail must do the following at each retail outlet:

• employ at least 1 individual holding a lawn and garden pesticide dispenser certificate (or a certified pesticide applicator)
• ensure a dispenser or dispenser assistant is working at the outlet whenever it is open
  • When a dispenser is temporarily away from the outlet, a dispenser assistant can authorize a pesticide sale.

Training

Lawn and garden pesticide dispenser certificates are issued by Olds College.

The certified dispenser must train all dispenser assistants working at their outlet every year. They must use the training checklist found in Appendix B of the:

• Environmental Code of Practice for Pesticides

More information on pesticides that can be sold can be found at:

• Registered Pesticide Product Listing: 2022 Edition

Schedule 4

There are no vendor or dispenser requirements for selling Schedule 4 pesticides, but the vendor must ensure proper display and/or safe storage of the pesticides.

Record-keeping requirements

Wholesale

Registered wholesale pesticide vendors may only sell these pesticides to retailers who employ a certified lawn and garden pesticide dispenser. A record of each Schedule 3 sale must be kept for 5 years. Each record must include:

• name and address of purchaser
• purchaser's wholesale or retail vendor registration or Agrichemical Warehouse Standards Association (AWSA) certificate number (if applicable) and expiry date
• name of pesticide dispenser or applicator certificate holder, certificate number and expiry date
• product name (including the pest control products registration number) and quantity of pesticide(s) sold
• date of sale

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas can ask for a summary of these sales records. It must be provided within 30 days of a written request by the Director.

Retail

Retail vendors who sell domestic class pesticides are not required to keep sales records.

Vendors’ responsibilities

Wholesale and retail vendors of domestic pesticides must ensure that:

• pesticides are stored and displayed in an appropriate manner
• pesticide emergencies are responded to effectively
• unwanted pesticides and pesticide waste are disposed of in accordance with regulations
• customers are assisted with product selection and product use information

Location of pesticides

Vendors selling and storing domestic pesticides are responsible for ensuring that:

• pesticides are not stored within 30 horizontal metres of open water (unless authorized by a Special Use Approval)
• pesticides are not stored on sites where the risk of flooding is less than a 24-hour, 1-in-25-year storm
• pesticides kept outdoors are protected from rain, wind and other weather hazards
• pesticides are not stored or sold where groceries (such as fresh or frozen meat or produce, fresh dairy products, unwrapped baking), food or personal use items (cosmetics, disposable diapers, drugs, first aid and medical supplies, personal hygiene products) are stored
• the following are not subject to pesticide contamination:
  • beverages
  • food (packaged items such as cookies, nuts, candy)
  • personal use items (cosmetics, disposable diapers, drugs, first aid and medical supplies, personal hygiene products)

Pesticide displays

Vendors selling pesticides in Schedule 3 must meet the following requirements, ensuring that:

• pesticides are not displayed where groceries (such as fresh or frozen meat or produce, fresh dairy products, unwrapped baking) are sold
• pesticides are displayed at least 3 metres and one aisle away from food, beverages and personal use items

Spills and releases

Vendors must ensure that:

• spill cleanup and personal protective equipment is available
• workers responsible for pesticides are knowledgeable about spill clean-up and fire-response procedures
• floor drains in pesticide display areas are protected from pesticide releases
• pesticide spills that result in a release beyond the outlet (including odours) or spills that are or are likely to cause an adverse effect are reported to the Alberta government as soon as possible

For more information on pesticide release reporting requirements, see:

• Release Reporting Guideline

Learn more

For further information about vendor requirements for the sale of domestic pesticides, see:

• Retail vendor requirements : restricted and commercial class pesticides

Contact

Connect with Outreach Services:

Alberta Environment and Protected Areas
9th Floor, South Petroleum Plaza 9920 108 Street
Edmonton Alberta T5K 2G8

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-3773 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Outside Alberta: 780-944-0313
Toll free: 1-877-944-0313
Email: [email protected]

Lakeland College

Connect with Lakeland College for questions about pesticide applicator or dispenser certification:

Phone: 1-866-853-8646
Email: [email protected]

Connect with the Government of Alberta to report a pesticide spill:

Phone: 1-800-222-6514

Connect with Olds College for questions about the lawn and garden dispenser certification:

Phone: 1-800-661-6537