The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) of Health Canada is responsible for registering and reviewing crop protection products in Canada to ensure they meet standards for human health and environmental protection. This includes both the addition of new products to the marketplace by registrant companies as well as periodic reviews of existing products to ensure they continue to meet current standards. Existing products are reviewed every 15 years under the re-evaluation stream or upon identification of new critical information in the case of a special review. The following is an update on key active ingredients undergoing reviews or have been newly proposed for registration in 2025.

New registration activity

The Registration Directorate of PMRA is responsible for reviewing applications for new active ingredients in Canada. To date in 2025, a total of four new active ingredients has been proposed for registration: Flg22-Bt peptide, metamitron, cyclobutrifluram and fluoxapiprolin.

Flg22-Bt peptide represents a new mode of action in the class of fungicides known as host plant defence inducers. These substances interact with existing biological defence mechanisms to activate certain biochemical pathways and turn on genes in plants. It is comparable to boosting a plant’s immune system to prepare for a future threat. There are several registered products already in this area such as acibenzolar-S-methyl (Actigard), Bacillus mycoides isolate J (LifeGard), and extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis (Regalia). These defence inducer substances can be either biological or synthetic in origin. FLG22-Bt peptide is synthetically produced but is also naturally occurring as a component of Bacillus thuringiensis or Bt. It is now registered in Canada as Vismax for Fusarium suppression on soybean seed and head blight of wheat and may potentially be expanded to other crops.

Metamitron is originally a herbicide used in Europe on crops such as garden and sugar beets. However, at some point, it was discovered that when applied at the right dose to apple and pear trees, it causes a temporary drop in photosynthesis which is enough for fruit thinning activity. It has subsequently been developed as a fruit thinning product for apple and pear under the name Brevis. Though not yet finalized, the registration of metamitron would be a welcome addition to the crop load management toolbox for Canadian growers of pome fruit.

Cyclobutrifluram is a new nematicide/fungicide belonging to both the Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) group 7 and nematicide group N-3 products. Its closest relative would be fluopyram (Velum Prime). Initial proposed registration includes suppression of root-knot nematode on romaine lettuce and control of soybean-cyst nematode and Fusarium on soybean. Its registration is not yet finalized.

Fluoxapiprolin is the second entry into the class of fungicides under FRAC group 49 after  X such as late blights and downy mildews. Xivana Prime will be the initial product containing fluoxapiprolin and will expand access to FRAC group 49 to some new crops such as grapes, providing a new mode of action for disease control. Its registration is not yet finalized.

Re-evaluation and special reviews

On the other side of PMRA, publication of several major re-evaluation and special review decisions has been delayed to beyond this fiscal year. Active ingredients that were planned for decisions in fiscal year 2025-2026 which are now delayed include: clothianidin (Clutch/Titan), chlorpropham (CIPC), fenamidone (Reason), spinetoram (Delegate), spinosad (Success), and thiamethoxam (Actara/Cruiser). 

However, the active ingredients below have already had or are still expected to have review decisions published in 2025.

Abamectin (Avid/Agri-Mek/Minecto Pro) is an insecticide based on a soil-dwelling bacteria and is the only member of the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) group 6 products registered in Canada. An insecticide and miticide, Abamectin is registered on a range of outdoor and greenhouse vegetable and fruit crops. The final re-evaluation decision for abamectin was completed in July 2025 with all uses being maintained along with updated mitigation measures required. Label updates will now be undertaken by the registrant.

Chlorothalonil (Bravo/Echo) is a well-known broad-spectrum fungicide belonging to the multisite FRAC group M products first registered in 1967. It is registered on a wide range of fruit and vegetables for disease control. The product was proposed for cancellation on all food crops in a 2022 proposed decision – despite the fact that many crops still strongly rely on this product for key disease control and resistance management. A final decision is now expected in October 2025. 

Novaluron (Rimon) is an insecticide from IRAC group 15. Initially registered for just apple and potato, this product has been a solution for numerous additional pest needs, and the label has been expanded via Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pest Management Centre and the Minor Use Program for a range of indoor and outdoor fruit and vegetables. A proposed special review decision is expected in October 2025.

Prohexadione calcium (Apogee/Kudos) is a plant growth regulator used on apple, cherry and strawberry. It also is implicated in disease control in some situations. A proposed re-evaluation decision is expected in November 2025.