Pest Management Advisory Council - 2017 Meeting summary report

On May 23 and 24, 2017, members of the Pest Management Advisory Council joined the Pest Management Regulatory Agency for the annual meeting of the Council.

The meeting was held in Ottawa, Ontario at the Brooke Claxton Building, Tunney’s Pasture.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Opening and welcoming remarks

Mr. Tom Beaver, Chair of the Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC) and Dr. Richard Aucoin, Executive Director of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), welcomed members and observers to the meeting. They thanked the members for their contributions and commented on their important roles and responsibilities as members. Dr. Richard Aucoin provided and overview of PMRA’s work over the last year and current key activities.

Review of the agenda

Mr. Tom Beaver proceeded with an overview of the agenda. Further to the suggestion from a member, there was agreement to have the mandate of the PMRA as an additional agenda item.

Update on key regulatory initiatives

Mr. Jordan Hancey, Section Head, Regulatory Affairs and Applied Analysis, presented a detailed update on PMRA’s current and upcoming regulatory and policy initiatives related to data protection, implementation of the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the Grower’s Own Use Program (GROU), conditional registrations, personal use import exemption and the proposed guidance related to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS). This was followed by questions and comments from members.

Re-evaluation and special reviews

Ms. Margherita Conti, Director General, Value Assessment and Re-evaluation Management Directorateprovided an update on the modernization of the re-evaluation program, current re-evaluations and special reviews. She also provided an overview of the engagement approach described in the new re-evaluation policy and announced the hosting of bi-annual stakeholder meetings. PMAC members were appreciative of the work done to increase predictability, transparency and stakeholder engagement.

PMAC advice to PMRA:

• That PMRA closely monitor and report on the status of re-evaluations and special reviews against the timelines identified in its 5-year work plan to meet the 80% performance standard.
• When significant changes to existing mitigation measures are envisaged during the re-evaluation of a pesticide, that PMRA consider additional opportunities (e.g., targeted stakeholder forum) to proactively engage impacted/interested stakeholders and allow the submission of additional information to refine the risk assessment /risk management before the publication of the proposed re-evaluation decision.

Proposed cumulative risk assessment framework

Ms. Cheryl Chaffey, Section Head, Toxicology Re-evaluation, presented the elements of the proposed framework and methodology for assessing the cumulative effects of pesticides. She also gave an overview of the comments received during the public consultation. The Council supported the proposed cumulative risk assessment framework for health assessment.

PMAC advice to PMRA:

• That PMRA establish a system to track cumulative risk assessment determinations made as part of health risk assessments.
• That, in the future, PMRA expand the cumulative risk assessment framework to environmental assessment as scientific knowledge and methodology evolve.

National pesticide compliance program

Ms. Diana Dowthwaite, Director General, Compliance, Lab Services and Regional Operations Directorate, provided an overview of Health Canada’s National Compliance Program, priorities for the next two fiscal years, and an update on transparency and openness initiatives.

PMAC advice to PMRA:

• That PMRA maintain and publish up-to-date inspection report cards which clearly indicate whenever the necessary corrective actions have been taken by the registrant to address deficiencies identified during inspections.

Monitoring and surveillance: health-related activities

Mr. Trevor Satchwill, Section Head, Exposure Health Re-evaluation, gave an overview of the various initiatives providing post-market data and information that contribute to the understanding of human exposure and the identification of risk mitigation measures. This was followed by questions and comments from members.

Initiatives related to environmental monitoring of pesticides

Mr. Kirby, Director General, Environmental Assessment Directorate, provided an update on the progress made by the PMRA since last year’s discussion. He insisted on the importance of having robust monitoring data to inform decision-making and explained how trend analysis contributes to the understanding of the health of the Canadian environment.  PMAC members provided advice to the PMRA and agreed to make a recommendation to the Minister.

PMAC advice to PMRA:

• PMAC members reiterated advice from the 2016 meeting regarding the need for robust water monitoring data and strong support for the creation of a formal environmental monitoring network to collect water monitoring data to inform PMRA’s decision-making.

Communication and outreach strategy

Ms. Holly Campbell, Project Manager, Stakeholder Relations Section, presented an overview of the new communications and outreach strategy developed to support the PMRA 5-year strategic plan, its implementation and the findings of recent public opinion research.

PMAC advice to PMRA:

• That PMRA embark on a more proactive, timely and effective approach to communicating with the public about pesticides, including having designated spokespersons with the necessary technical expertise, position and authority to address media when issues arise.
• That PMRA continue to seek advice from PMAC regarding the implementation of the communications and outreach strategy (possibly through the establishment of a PMAC working group), and discuss potential partnerships for the targeted dissemination of PMRA information to various stakeholder groups.

The meeting was adjourned for the day.

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Mr. Tom Beaver, Chair of the Council welcomed members to the second day of the meeting and reviewed the agenda for the day.

Greetings from the Minister

Ms. Kathryn Nowers, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office, addressed the Council members on behalf of the Honourable Jane Philpott, Minister of Health. She thanked the members for the recommendations provided further to last year’s meeting. She acknowledged the important contribution of the Council to Health Canada and wished the members success with their deliberations.

Public engagement portal

Mr. Joseph Mikhael, Manager, Business Analysis, Data Management and Protection Section, presented an overview of the web portal being developed for the public to interact with the PMRA more easily. This was followed by questions and comments from members.

Membership renewal

Ms. Mireille Prud’homme, Section Head, Stakeholder Relations, informed the members about the upcoming membership renewal and associated nomination process. This was followed by questions and comments from members.

PMRA mandate

The PMAC members discussed the mandate of the PMRA, the scope of Agency’s activities both domestically and internationally, and how such activities not only are important to the health of Canadians and their environment, but also to their economic health. Some PMAC members expressed concerns with the limited financial resources available for PMRA’s participation in harmonization work and the establishment of international food standards (maximum residue limits, in particular). PMAC members agreed to make a recommendation to the Minister.

Poster exhibit

Posters were displayed during the meeting to provide information about PMRA scientific activities. Authors were present to discuss their work with PMAC members.

Visit of the Iskotew Lodge

Meeting participants had the opportunity to visit the Iskotew Lodge located in the Brooke Claxton Building.

Participant list

Chair

Tom Beaver

Council Members/ Alternates

Claire Infante-Rivard, McGill University
Craig Hunter, Canadian Horticultural Council
Dave Carey, Canadian Seed Trade Association
David Beresford, Trent University
Kathleen Cooper, Canadian Environmental Law Association
Karsten Liber, University of Saskatchewan
Pierre Petelle, Croplife Canada
Richard Phillips, Grain Growers of Canada
Rod Scarlett, Canadian Honey Council
Shannon Coombs, Canadian Consumer Specialty Products Association

Invited Guest

Alexandra McGregor, Assembly of First Nations
Ms. Kathryn Nowers, Policy Advisor, Minister’s Office

Executive Secretariat

Richard Aucoin, Executive Director, Pest Management Regulatory Agency

Secretariat

Paula McLaughlin, Pest Management Regulatory Agency

PMRA Representatives

Jason Flint, Director General, Policy, Communications and Regulatory Affairs (PCRAD)
Jordan Hancey, Section Head, Regulatory Affairs and Applied Analysis, PCRAD
Margherita Conti, Director General, Value Assessment and Re-evaluation Management Directorate (VRD)
Cheryl Chaffey, Section Head, Toxicology Re-evaluation, Health Evaluation Directorate (HED)
Trevor Satchwill, Section Head, Exposure Health Re-evaluation, HED
Scott Kirby, Director General, Environmental Assessment Directorate (EAD)
Diana Dowthwaite, Director General, Compliance, Lab Services and Regional Operations Directorate (CLSROD)
Holly Campbell, Project Manager, Stakeholder Relations Section, PCRAD
Joseph Mikhael, Manager, Business Analysis, Data Management and Protection Section, Registration Directorate (RD)
Mireille Prud’homme, Section Head, Stakeholder Relations, PCRAD
Cristina Aroche, Scientific Evaluator, Toxicology Re-evaluation Section, HED
Jonathan Moulins, Chemist, Laboratory Services Section, CLSROD
Peter Bradley, Residue Chemist, Laboratory Services Section, CLSROD
Sara Mohr, Senior Evaluation Officer, Health Effect Division, HED
William Mohan, Chemist, Laboratory Services Section, CLSROD

In camera session

The PMAC members went over their input to the PMRA and to the Minister of Heath.

Closing comments

In closing, Mr. Tom Beaver and Dr. Aucoin thanked members for their input and advice to Health Canada and invited members to send in feedback on the meeting to the Secretariat.

Next meeting will be scheduled for spring 2018 in Ottawa, date to be determined.

2017 Recommendations to the Minister of Health

Surveillance and monitoring

Health Canada’s primary objective under the Pest Control Products Act is to regulate pesticides to prevent unacceptable risks to both human health and the environment, and as such, calls for collaboration with other federal departments having an environmental protection mandate, such as Environment and Climate Change, when complementary actions need to be undertaken.

Canada having some 20% of the world's total freshwater resources, the monitoring of chemicals, such as pesticides in surface and groundwater should be considered as a priority for the federal government to ensure the protection of human health and the environment.

Water monitoring information is vital to support Health Canada’s regulatory decision making for pesticides, while recognizing that environmental monitoring of pesticides falls outside of the Health Canada mandate.

Recommendation 1:

PMAC recommends that the Minister of Health engage in discussions with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for the establishment of a national water monitoring network. PMAC also recommends that the Federal Ministers put in place the necessary, long-term financial support for generating robust surface and groundwater monitoring data, in partnership with provincial, territorial and federal government partners involved in environmental research and monitoring.

PMRA mandate

In response to concerns raised by some PMAC members regarding the mandate of the PMRA, the Council’s discussion focused on two issues: PMRA’s role in providing access to new pest control products and PMRA’s limited financial resources for technical support to trade, including to support Canada’s participation in the setting of international food pesticide residues (MRLs) standards.

Recognizing the primary objective under the Pest Control Products Act is to regulate pesticides to prevent unacceptable risks to both human health and the environment, several PMAC members noted that PMRA has a role to play, as a regulator, in supporting the competiveness and export potential of Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector.  Regulatory decisions by PMRA directly impact Canadian farmers’ access to pest management tools which in turn can affect the competiveness of the agri-food sector. Similarly, the establishment of science-based food safety standards, including maximum residue limits, can affect trade in Canadian agri-food products.

The government has identified the agriculture sector for investment to enhance production and export to sustain Canada’s economic growth. The Advisory Council on Economic Growth calls for a government-wide approach for issues such as this that fall under the mandate of several departments.

Recommendation 2:

PMAC recommends that the Minister of Health engage in discussions with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to ascertain the level of technical support required from the PMRA, particularly with respect to international pesticide maximum residue limits on food to support the competitiveness of Canadian exports and the Canadian agri-food sector. PMAC also recommends that the Ministers seek the necessary funding to support a sustainable level of effort from the PMRA in this area.