Understanding Health Canada’s role in regulating pool sanitation

by jason_cramp | June 22, 2015 8:30 am

[1]

When a bather slips into the relaxing waters of their pool or spa, they are probably not thinking: “Are the products used to keep my pool clean safe for my health and the environment?” No, instead pool and spa owners are unwinding, exercising, and having fun when they slide, step, or jump into the water.

The safety of pool and spa owners is a shared responsibility. Aquatic industry retailers and maintenance professionals need to be informed about the range of safe and registered pool and spa sanitation products on the market, while Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) officers monitor and enforce pool/spa product safety across Canada in line with the country’s pesticide laws and regulations. Further, pesticide manufacturers must ensure their products are properly packaged and labelled with markings approved by Health Canada, the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health. Finally, some of this responsibility also lies on the consumer who should only use registered products and carefully follow all label directions.

[2]

What does Health Canada do?

Health Canada promotes and monitors compliance with the Pest Control Products Act and the Pest Control Products Regulations not only to protect the well-being of Canadians, but also the environment. The department also responds to incidents, complaints, and situations of non-compliance.

Before any pesticide can be imported into, sold, or used in Canada, it must undergo a scientific evaluation by Health Canada. Pesticide companies must provide sufficient data and information to determine the health and environmental risks (if any) are acceptable and the product has value, that is, it satisfies a need and is effective for its intended use. When evaluating pesticides, they are registered only if the risks it poses to health and the environment are acceptable and the product is shown to be effective.

All products designed to manage, destroy, attract, or repel pests that are used, sold, or imported into Canada are regulated by the PMRA. These products include chemicals, devices, and even organisms, and are referred to as pest control products or, simply, ‘pesticides.’ The federal law that outlines the legal use of pesticides in Canada is the Pest Control Products Act. Provinces and Territories may also administer and enforce their own regulations. Many think the term pesticides only refer to herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. However, other pesticides that fall under the Pest Control Products Act include swimming pool algaecides, disinfectants, as well as sanitizers.

[3]

The Law

“All pool and spa products (chemicals and devices) used to control micro-organisms and algae must be registered or scheduled under the Pest Control Products Act,” says Andrea Sawatzky, a pesticide compliance officer with Health Canada Alberta region. “Health Canada officials then review registration applications for possible risks to human health and the environment, as well as testing how well the product works.”

According to the Pest Control Products Act, registered or scheduled products need to have labels with directions and information on how to use them properly. Registered products are easy to spot as the label should have a five-digit registration number on the front of the package, in one of the following formats:

• Registration No. 00000 Pest Control Products Act (PCPA), or
• Reg. No. 00000 PCPA

Scheduled product labels will say “Scheduled under The Pest Control Products Act.” As many in the industry know, there are four types of devices used to sanitize pools and spas.

1. Chlorine and bromine generators, which use electrical energy to produce acid from salt to clean the water. Note: Chlorine and bromine generator devices must be registered by Health Canada.
2. Chemical dispensing devices that automatically release acid from chlorine or bromine chemicals into pools. The user’s manual should be carefully followed. Chemical dispensing devices for pool use do not have to be registered.
3. Ionizers, which produce metal ions to control algae. Pools and/or spas equipped with an ionizer must still use chlorine- or bromine-based products to sanitize the water. Ion and disinfectant levels should be checked often and electrodes replaced as needed. Note: Ionizers must be registered by Health Canada.
4. Ozone-generating devices can be used to reduce organic matter in pool and spa water. Although these devices can be used with chlorine- or bromine-based products, they do not replace them. The main purpose of ozone-generating devices is to oxidize organic matter. Ozone-generating devices do not have to be registered, unless the product claims to control micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses, or algae.

[4]

Other pool and spa products (e.g. pH adjusters, shock treatment, chlorine neutralizers, and devices used only to dispense pool and spa chemicals) do not have to be registered. This is because they do not control disease-causing micro-organisms or algae. When using ionizers or ozone-generating devices, chlorine- or bromine-based products are still required as the proper level of sanitizer must be maintained to prevent the spread of disease-causing micro-organisms.

“We always encourage pool and spa retailers and owners to avoid products that are not clearly labelled. We strongly advise pool and spa owners to only use registered or scheduled products. Lastly, we like to emphasize how important it is to follow all label directions,” explains Sawatzky.

Safety first: gloves, foot wear key to staying safe

Pesticide labels contain specific instructions on how the product is intended to be used, and what steps to take to protect bathers from exposure. Carefully reading labels and following directions are important when cleaning and sanitizing pools and spas. Labels may include stickers, tags, seals, leaflets, brochures and/or wrappers applied to, or attached to, the product package.

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) is often required when handling commercial or restricted class pool/spa sanitation products—basically any special clothing or equipment worn to minimize pesticide exposure and protect one’s health. These PPE items include: chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, footwear, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, and sometimes a respirator.

“Studies have shown wearing chemical-resistant gloves and footwear can significantly reduce exposure,” says Sawatzky. “It’s especially important to be mindful of what kind of PPE to use when mixing, loading, cleaning, or repairing pools and spas.”

Other instances where personal protection equipment is required include: handling an item treated with pesticides or equipment used to apply a pesticide, and re-entering an area that has been treated with pesticides.

As pesticides have specific uses, the label instructions will indicate the specific PPE that needs to be used.

[5]

Promoting and verifying compliance

Working with other federal and provincial ministries, pesticide compliance officers promote and verify compliance with the Pest Control Products Act through investigations, inspections, and consultations.

“Our days are varied. One day I will investigate a pesticide issue, the next I’ll research the sale and importation of certain products. We also perform on-site inspections of pesticide use and storage and try to educate individuals, associations, and businesses as much as possible about pesticide regulatory requirements,” says Sawatzky. “Where contraventions of the act or regulations occur, we have to take appropriate enforcement actions.”

Enforcement options

Abiding to the Pest Control Products Act and Regulations is mandatory. Compliance officers encourage voluntary reporting of suspected infractions, inspect for compliance, and respond to non-compliance situations. If a pool or spa distributor or supplier violates the Pest Control Products Act or Regulations, their infractions are responded by various enforcement processes
to encourage future compliance. Some of these enforcement measures include: verbal education, education/enforcement letter, voluntary removal, denial of product entry into Canada, administrative monetary penalty, and sometimes even prosecution. Pesticide compliance officers use only those rules, sanctions, and processes founded in law.

“There are a number of factors in play when we’re determining the enforcement action. We consider the contravener’s history of compliance with the act, the degree of actual harm or potential harm as a result of not complying with the law, and the evidence of corrective action taking place, among other factors,” says Sawatzky.

Working with pool and spa pesticides—do’s and don’ts
Do	Don’t
• Read the label.	• Don’t store pesticides in unlabelled containers.
• Wear all personal protective equipment (PPE) as stated on the label.	• Don’t use a pesticide other than for its intended use.
• Store pesticides according to label statements.	• Don’t apply more pesticide than is specified on the label.
• Wash hands on a regular basis, especially before eating, smoking, or going to the bathroom.	• Don’t breathe in pesticide spray or dust.
• Inform people nearby of areas treated with pesticides.	• Don’t burn pesticides or pesticide containers.
• Dispose of pesticide containers according to the label statement.	• Don’t pour pesticides down the drain.

Now you know

So the next time a customer has questions about the safety of their pool/spa sanitation product(s), this information may help. The law, regulations, and safety practices of maintaining pools and spas are in place to protect Canadians and the environment. After all, swimming and soaking is supposed to be safe and relaxing. When in doubt whether a product or device is subject to the Pest Control Products Act, contact Health Canada Pest Management Information Service via e-mail pmra.infoserv@hc-sc.gc.ca[6] or visit www.hc-sc.gc.ca/contact/cps-spc/pmra-arla/infoserv-eng.php[7]. For more information on reporting pesticide incidents, visit www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/part/protect-proteger/incident/index-eng.php[8].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/understanding-health-canadas-role-in-regulating-pool-sanitation/

---