Forward Regulatory Plan 2023-2025: Regulations Amending the Pest Control Products Regulations (Strengthening the Regulation of Pest Control Products in Canada)
Title of Regulatory Initiative
Regulations Amending the Pest Control Products Regulations (Strengthening the Regulation of Pest Control Products in Canada)
Enabling Act
Description
Health Canada is proposing regulatory amendments in response to the spring 2022 consultations on the targeted review of the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). The proposed amendments focus on the following areas:
- Facilitate access to confidential test data (CTD) for research and re-analysis purposes;
- Increase transparency for maximum residue limit (MRL) applications for imported products;
- Give the Minister of Health the explicit authority to require the submission of available information on cumulative environmental effects that have a common mechanism of toxicity and require the Minister to consider cumulative effects on the environment during risk assessments where information and methodology are available; and
- Strengthen the consideration of species at risk in risk assessments by giving the Minister the explicit authority to require registrants and applicants to submit available information on species at risk.
Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)
This initiative is not part of a formal regulatory cooperation work plan.
Potential impacts on people in Canada, including businesses
It is anticipated that the proposed regulatory amendments would strengthen protection of human health and the environment, including wildlife, from risks posed by pesticides in Canada. Specifically, the proposal would:
- Provide timelier and improved access to CTD for research and re-analysis purposes;
- Support the development of independent data on pesticides;
- Improve the transparency of the process for setting MRLs for imported food products; and,
- Improve the protection of health and the environment from risks posed by pesticides.
Consultations
Health Canada launched a targeted review of the PCPA and published a discussion document in spring 2022. A What We Heard Report was published in fall 2022. The review determined that the department can achieve most of the transformation objectives within the current provisions of the PCPA.
A Notice of Intent (NOI) was published on June 20, 2023, followed by an informational webinar on July 25, 2023. The NOI was open for comments until September 8, 2023.
People in Canada will have the opportunity to provide comments on the proposed regulatory amendments during the Canada Gazette, Part I public comment period, which is expected to take place in spring 2024 and last 70 days.
Health Canada plans to publish the amended regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part II in spring 2025.
Further information
Additional information can be requested from the departmental contact.
Departmental contact information
Jordan Hancey
Director
Policy and Regulatory Affairs Division
Pest Management Regulatory Agency
Health Canada
Telephone: 613-302-3886
Email: jordan.hancey@hc-sc.gc.ca
Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan
November 2023
Consult Health Canada's acts and regulations web page for:
- a list of acts and regulations administered by Health Canada
- further information on Health Canada's implementation of government-wide regulatory management initiatives
Consult the following for links to the Cabinet Directive on Regulation and supporting policies and guidance, and for information on government-wide regulatory initiatives implemented by departments and agencies across the Government of Canada:
To learn about upcoming or ongoing consultations on proposed federal regulations, visit:
Page details
- Date modified: