In 2009, the Ontario government passed the Ontario Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act, which banned the sale and use of more than 250 products and 80 pesticide ingredients. There are exceptions for situations where pests affect public health and safety (eg. stinging insects, fighting West Nile virus, controlling poison ivy), and for golf courses, agricultural and forestry use. However, most City parks, gardens and green spaces are impacted by the ban.