Sale of citronella oil bug repellents coming to an end

If you're a fan of citronella oil-based insect repellents, it's time to stock up. Health Canada has set Dec. 31 as the deadline for retailers to phase out the sale of the products.

Citronella is an essential oil that comes from the leaves and stems of lemongrass plants. Many consumers concerned about the potential health effects of DEET-based repellents have long preferred citronella oil, believing it to be a more natural alternative.

But Health Canada classifies citronella oil insect repellents as pesticides that must therefore meet certain safety standards. Back in 2004, Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency completed a review of citronella-based insect lotions and sprays and said it was not convinced the products were safe.

While the agency found no "imminent health risks" from citronella-based repellents, it also said manufacturers had not provided them with adequate safety data to allow for the continued registration of the products as pesticides.

Citronella candles and air fresheners were not included in the review since they are not applied to the skin.

In particular, Health Canada said it was concerned that citronella oil can contain methyl eugenol, which has been shown to be carcinogenic in animal studies. They also had concerns about the potential for reproductive toxicity at high doses, as well as potential fetal risks.

The agency noted that citronella-based products repel insects for only 30 minutes, so users tend to apply it repeatedly, which leads to greater exposures.

Health Canada stated that unless manufacturers could provide it with further data to address its safety concerns, it would be phasing out of the sale of the products. The deadline for that phase-out is Dec. 31.

A Health Canada spokesperson tells CTVNews.ca that while certain manufacturers did provide further research, the data they submitted failed to meet the agency's requirements.

So while Canadians will no longer be able to buy citronella oil repellents in Canada, they can still be purchased in the U.S.

That's because the Environmental Protection Agency considers citronella oil safe, with little or no toxicity to humans. It's says its only concern is skin irritation. But if consumers use citronella oil products according to label instructions, the EPA says "citronella is not expected to pose health risks to people, including children and other sensitive populations."