How we’re transforming the Pest Management Regulatory Agency
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About the transformation
The Pest Management Regulatory Agency is undergoing a comprehensive transformation in response to evolving challenges and in line with our mandate. Our methodical, forward-looking approach is based on 4 key areas of work, or ‘pillars’:
- Improved transparency
- Increased use of real-world data and independent advice
- Strengthened human health and environmental protection through modernized pesticide business processes
- Targeted review of the Pest Control Products Act
Improved transparency
We strengthen trust in our regulatory decisions by sharing accessible information and explaining the basis for our decisions.
To help people understand what our role is and how we regulate pesticides in Canada, we're:
- making it easier for the public to get involved in in the decision-making process
- writing regulatory documents in clear and concise language
- better explaining how we use data in the decision-making process
Initiatives to improve transparency include:
- changing how we communicate about regulatory decisions
- creating online resources in plain language, like web content and infographics, that explain the scientific methods we use
- reviewing how the public accesses confidential test data for research purposes
Our key priorities are openness, transparency and accountability. That's why we're making more data and information available to the public than ever before.
Increased use of real-world data and independent advice
The agency is using more real-world data and information to make our regulatory decisions, supplementing what we've gathered under existing processes. We're also getting advice from external experts that will support thorough and informed decision-making.
Strengthened human health and environmental protection through modernized pesticide business processes
The agency uses pesticide business processes that prioritize maintaining and improving:
- our environment
- the health of people in Canada
We aim to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of pesticide regulation in Canada through:
- reviewing scientific literature more systematically
- monitoring and updating information more frequently
- introducing a proportional effort approach to ensure that resources focus on areas of greatest risk
Targeted review of the Pest Control Products Act
Legislation must adapt to be effective. With this in mind, we've reviewed the Pest Control Products Act to see if it should update its approach to issues like:
- transparency
- modernized business processes
- the use of real-world data
Health Canada determined that we can meet our transformation agenda through regulatory and administrative changes, without changing the act's text. We've begun consultations for regulatory amendments that would advance our agenda.
Next steps
On June 20, 2023, the ministers of Health, Environment and Climate Change, and Agriculture and Agri-Food announced upcoming changes to pesticide management. These next steps focus on sustainability while giving farmers the tools they need to keep growing safe and nutritious food.
The steps announced included a consultation on proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations. These amendments are based on the results of the 2022 consultations to review the Pest Control Products Act.
Steps also included restarting the science-based evaluation process for proposed increases to pesticide maximum residue limits:
- in line with international guidelines
- centring the health and safety of people in Canada
We also plan to eliminate the use of pesticides for cosmetic purposes on federal lands through amendments to the Greening Government Strategy. The strategy specifies how the Government of Canada will:
- transition to net-zero carbon and climate-resilient operations by 2050
- reduce other environmental impacts, including on:
- waste
- water
- biodiversity
Finally, the announcement included our aim to use real-world information to:
- progress a sustainable approach to pesticide management in Canada
- better understand the impacts of pesticides on the environment
These steps aligned with Canada's commitment to implement the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which:
- aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss
- includes a focus on reducing the overall risk from pesticides by at least half by 2030
We'll continue to consider all approaches, tools and actions that help Canada achieve its commitments under the framework.
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