Repellents: the U.S. and Canada are different.

United States: EPA-registered products

Choose an EPA-registered repellent with the pest and duration claims you need. Picaridin is the same active ingredient commonly called icaridin in Canada. Apply only as directed; avoid eyes, mouth, wounds, and skin under clothing. For children, apply repellent to your own hands before spreading it on the child and keep it off their hands. Read the individual product’s age precautions.

United States: clothing and gear

CDC guidance includes treating clothing and gear with a product containing 0.5% permethrin, or choosing pretreated items. Follow the product’s application, drying, and laundering directions. Clothing treatments are not skin repellents. Keep them away from pets during application and drying and follow all animal precautions. This U.S. practice must not be assumed to be authorized in Canada.

Read the Canadian label first

DEET and icaridin are established personal-repellent options. Look for the Canadian PCP number, tick claims, minimum age, application limits, and precautions. Do not use DEET or icaridin on infants younger than six months. DEET concentration and frequency limits differ by age; follow the Canadian label rather than a U.S. shopping description.

Do not choose by the biggest percentage alone

Compare products against the trip you are actually taking: the intended user’s age, expected time outside, ease of application, and instructions for reapplication. A lotion may be easier to apply deliberately than a spray in windy conditions. Read the warnings before putting a bottle in a family daypack. Human repellent is not a pet treatment.

Treated clothing is a separate category

Canada permits registered manufacturer-treated permethrin clothing for adults, with specific age and contact precautions. Check the garment label and PHAC guidance; treated clothing is not for young children. Consumer liquids or sprays for treating your own clothing are not approved for that use in Canada. Do not copy U.S. spray-on clothing instructions.

Use garments as one part of a plan

Treated fabric protects covered areas; it does not replace repellent on appropriate exposed skin or a tick check. Follow laundering instructions and the garment’s service-life guidance. Avoid prolonged pet contact, and prevent infants or young children from chewing the fabric. Read the guidance if pregnant or nursing.

A useful purchase comparison

• Is the product labelled for your country and appropriate for the user?
• Does the label mention ticks, rather than only mosquitoes?
• Can you follow the directions during the activity?
• Will the container be easy to pack and use without leaks?
• Are there enough clear label details to verify what you are buying?

An online listing with unreadable directions is a poor basis for a safety decision. Ask the seller or manufacturer for the complete local label before purchasing.