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The Government of Saskatchewan is updating the rules around the application of agricultural pesticides, especially when it comes to the use of drones.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the changes to Saskatchewan’s pest control products regulations are designed to modernize practices while also enhancing compliance measures for commercial pesticide users.
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The changes create a new licence category for drones, allowing licensed commercial applicators to use aerial drones to apply pesticides, so long as the product has been federally registered for that use. The province has also updated insurance requirements for those offering pesticide application using drones, to ensure they “carry adequate coverage for pesticide drift liability.”
The government noted that seven pest-control products have been registered for drone application by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency, but noted that “there is no specific timeline for when new pest control products will be registered.”
One fungicide product, to control powdery mildew on fruits, vegetables and cannabis or hemp, has also been approved for the use.
The updated regulations also include one-year licence terms for all types of commercial pesticide licence, which the ministry said supports both consistency and improved compliance.
Finally, the changes add compliance and record-keeping requirements, requiring producers to keep GPS records for aerial applications.
“By introducing a licence category for drone spraying and enhancing compliance measures, we are helping commercial applicators adopt new technologies,” David Marit, Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister, said in a statement.
The government said the changes were informed by consultations held early last year with stakeholders in the industry.
“In Saskatchewan, commercial pesticide applicators require a pesticide applicator licence. Agricultural producers are exempt from this requirement when applying pesticides on their own land. Producers must follow federal pesticide regulatory requirements, including product label restrictions,” the province noted.
“Training for pesticide applicator licences remains mandatory. Saskatchewan Polytechnic is offering an RPAS Pesticide Applicator course in early 2026.”
