New substances: stakeholders consultations on high organisms
On behalf of the New Substances Program at Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada, we invite you to participate in our stakeholder consultation regarding the proposed amendments to the New Substances Notification Regulations(Organisms), relevant to higher organisms (i.e. organisms other than micro-organisms).
Anyone developing and/or working with genetically-modified higher organisms in research and development (R&D), including distributors of R&D higher organisms, academia or commercial sectors, and those with interests in this sector are strongly encouraged to attend this consultation. Any stakeholders importing or manufacturing (creating and/or breeding) higher organisms, including but not limited to: rodents and other mammals, insects, fish, birds, mollusks, reptiles and amphibians that may be naturally occurring or are genetically modified are also encouraged to attend.
The consultation will be held June 1 and June 2, 2016 at the Place Vincent Massey Annex building, 351 Saint-Joseph Blvd., Gatineau, Quebec. The consultation will cover proposed requirements to notify or report your activities related to higher organisms to Environment and Climate Change Canada and Health Canada. The sessions are planned as follows:
Wednesday, June 1st from 1 to 3 pm - Saint-Laurent Room
We will outline and discuss the proposed changes to notification requirements for those who do not meet the R&D exemption criteria.
Thursday June 2nd from 1 to 3 pm - Mackenzie Room
We will outline and discuss the proposed changes to exemption criteria and reporting requirements for those engaged in R&D.
You are welcome to attend one or both sessions in person or by webinar.
Should you choose to participate in the webinar sessions, you can register using the following link. If you had already registered via the Substances Management Information Line email: substances@ec.gc.ca, you do not need to register again.
Language of the Consultation:
Oral presentations will be in English but background materials and decks will be available in the official language of your choice. Questions may be posed in either official language.
Participants planning to attend in person:
If you are attending in person please consider that, on the day of consultation, there is no parking available near Place Vincent Massey building. For security reasons you will need to sign-in and be escorted to the conference room. No lunch will be provided but beverages and snacks will be offered. We recommend that you book your taxi ahead of time for your return trip after the meeting.
Background and Consultation Information:
Background information for this consultation will be sent directly to all participants who have registered as soon as it is available. If you are unable to attend and would like the background and consultation materials, please register for the webinar anyway and you will receive this information directly, otherwise they can be requested by sending an e-mail to the Substances Management Information Line at: substances@ec.gc.ca or by calling toll free in Canada 1-800-567-1999 or 1-819-938-3232 outside Canada. We anticipate that this material will be available at least two weeks in advance of the consultation.
Feel free to visit our web site for more information on our New Substances Program.
Submission of Stakeholder Feedback:
Stakeholders unable to participate in these sessions, or participants who would like to provide additional feedback, are welcome to submit their comments by June 23 to the following email address: substances@ec.gc.ca.
If you have any specific questions about this consultation or would like to receive a copy of our last consultation, the Workshop Proceedings from the June 2010 Workshop on the Review of the Provisions Dealing with Organisms Other than Micro-organism (i.e. higher organisms), please e-mail us at: substances@ec.gc.ca or call us at: 1-800-567-1999 (toll-free in Canada) or 1-819-938-3232 (outside Canada).
Nicole Davidson, Director
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Shaunalea Savard, Acting Director
Health Canada