Domestic vendors: wholesale/retail
Domestic Pesticides: Wholesale/Retail Vendor Requirements
(Alberta Schedule 3) February, 1997
Alberta's pesticide vendor regulations have been amended to reduce administration and to accommodate regulatory reform. The information presented in this factsheet summarizes regulatory requirements for the wholesale and retail sale of Domestic Class pesticides.
What authorizations are required to sell Domestic pesticides in Alberta?
Anyone who sells a Schedule 3 ("Domestic" class pesticide intended for lawn and garden use) pesticide at wholesale in Alberta is required to hold Wholesale Vendor Registration.
Anyone who sells a Schedule 3 pesticide at retail in Alberta is required to employ at least one Pesticide Dispenser (or certified Pesticide Applicator) at each retail outlet. A Pesticide Dispenser is a person 18 years of age or older who has completed a recognized dispenser training course. Pesticide Dispensers are issued numbered certificates.
There are no vendor or dispenser requirements to sell a Schedule 4 pesticide in Alberta, although the vendor must ensure that the display and/or storage of the pesticide does not, nor is likely to cause an adverse effect.
An explanation of how pesticides are categorized in Alberta for sales and use can be found in pesticide scheduling.
What are a Wholesale Vendor's responsibilities?
A registered Wholesale Vendor may only sell pesticides to retailers who employ a certified Pesticide Dispenser. A record of each Schedule 3 pesticide sale must be kept for five years. Each record must include the following information:
- name and address of purchaser
- purchaser's Wholesale, Retail Vendor Registration or Agrichemical Warehouse Standards Association (AWSA) Certificate number (if applicable)
- Pesticide Dispenser holder's name and certificate number (for retail outlets only)
- product name and quantity of pesticide(s) sold
- date of shipment.
A summary of these sale records must be provided to Alberta Environment within 30 days of a written notice from the Director.
What are a Retail Vendor's responsibilities?
Each pesticide retailer is responsible for ensuring that:
- pesticides are stored and displayed in an appropriate manner;
- pesticide emergencies are responded to effectively; and
- customers are assisted with product selection and product use information.
The following requirements must be followed by pesticide Wholesalers and Retailers.
Pesticides must be stored and displayed in a manner to prevent environmental contamination:
- spill cleanup and protective equipment must be available for pesticide spills and staff responsible for pesticides must be knowledgeable regarding pesticide spill clean-up and fire response procedures (pesticide dispenser training provides this information).
- floor drains in pesticide display area must be protected from release of a pesticide.
- pesticides kept outdoors must be protected from rain, wind and other weather hazards.
- pesticide spills that result in a release beyond the outlet (including odours) are reported to Alberta Environment within 24 hours (1-800-222- 6514).
For more information on reporting guidelines see the Release Reporting Guideline published by Alberta Environment.
Pesticides cannot be stored within 30 horizontal metres of open water (unless authorized to store closer in a Special Use Approval) or on sites where the risk of flooding is less than a 24 hour, 1 in 25 year storm.
Pesticides must be managed to ensure that groceries (fresh or frozen meat, fresh or frozen produce, fresh dairy products, unwrapped baked goods, etc.); food (packaged items such as cookies, nuts, candy, etc.); beverages; and personal use items (drugs, cosmetics, first aid and medical supplies, personal hygiene products and disposable diapers) are not subject to pesticide contamination.
- Pesticides cannot be sold or displayed in a grocery store.
- Pesticides must be displayed a minimum distance of 3 metres and one aisle away from food, beverages and personal use items.
Questions concerning Pesticide Vendors or certified Pesticide Dispensers, or any other pesticide regulatory requirement can be directed to the nearest Alberta Environment Regional Office.
Copies of the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act and its regulations are available from Queen's Printer Bookstore (Calgary 297-6251, Edmonton 427-4952).
