Re-evaluation Note REV2022-01, Pest Management Regulatory Agency Re-evaluation and Special Review Work Plan 2022-2027

Pest Management Regulatory Agency
6 May 2022
ISSN: 1925-0649 (PDF version)
Catalogue number: H113-5/2022-1E-PDF (PDF version)

Table of contents

• Background
• Part A – Current re-evaluation and special review work plan (Tables 1–2)
  • Part A, Table 1 Targets for consultation and final decisions of special reviews
  • Part A, Table 2a Targets for consultation and final re-evaluation decisions
  • Part A, Table 2b Status of other active ingredients (currently in early part of re-evaluation process)
• Part B – Future re-evaluation initiations (re-evaluation initiations anticipated between April 2022 and March 2027)
  • Part B, Table 1 Future re-evaluation initiations between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2027

Background

The purpose of this document is to inform registrants, pesticide regulatory officials and the Canadian public of the re-evaluation and special review work planned by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027.

This work plan includes the proposed and final decisions published since 1 April 2022, all open re-evaluations and special reviews, as well as new re-evaluations expected to be initiated in this time frame (1 April 2022 to 31 March 2027). This document presents updates to the information last published in Re-evaluation Note REV2021-03, Pest Management Regulatory Agency Re‑evaluation and Special Review Work Plan 2021-2026.

Health Canada regulates pesticides in Canada, with the primary objective of protecting the health of Canadians and the environment. A pesticide may only be sold or used in Canada if it has been registered or otherwise authorized under the authority of the Pest Control Products Act. Health Canada uses a rigorous science-based risk assessment approach to ensure that the product meets health and environmental protection standards and has value.

As part of the post-market program, registered pesticides are re-evaluated on a cyclical basis to determine their continued acceptability. Pesticides may also be re-evaluated as a result of changes in the information required or the procedures used by Health Canada to determine that the pesticide meets current health, environment and value standards.

The re-evaluation process is described in Regulatory Directive DIR2016-04, Management of Pesticides Re-evaluation Policy. In addition, a special review may be initiated at any time if there are reasonable grounds to believe that the health or environmental risks, or the value of a pesticide, are no longer acceptable. Special reviews differ from re-evaluation in that a special review is intended to examine only specific aspects of a pesticide. Additional information on special reviews can be found in the Guidance Document, Approach to Special Reviews of Pesticides.

As required under the Pest Control Products Act, Health Canada publishes all post-market proposed decisions for public consultation. Following consultation, comments and information submitted by the public and other stakeholders are considered before Health Canada issues a final decision. Stakeholders are encouraged to stay informed of upcoming consultations, and new initiations, for active ingredients by visiting the Pesticides section of Canada.ca.

This five-year work plan may change in response to workload and emerging issues that require priority action. While this work plan will be updated annually, during the course of the year interested stakeholders can monitor the PMRA’s Public Registry to view the announcement of new re-evaluations and special reviews, as well as the publication of proposed and final decisions.

Part A – Current re-evaluation and special review work plan (Tables 1–2)

The post-market review program workload remains significant, surpassing existing resources and increasing. In response, Health Canada is developing new and modern approaches for pesticide evaluations that will support a sustainable program that maintains Canada’s high standards of environmental and human health protection and will improve its timely science-based decisions.

As part of its Transformation Agenda (PMRA-Transformation), Health Canada will continue its work in 2022 to modernize business processes to strengthen human health and environmental protection through a continuous oversight and a proportional risk-based approach, as opposed to the current point-in-time model. Modernization efforts will result in increased efficiency, transparency and timely decisions. As part of this new approach, the Department will increase its use of real world data (related to pesticide use and water monitoring), and independent scientific advice to better inform its evidence-based decisions on pesticides.

Re-evaluations for the remaining legacy pesticides, that is, older pesticide active ingredients registered before 1995, and older special reviews, continue to be prioritized for completion. In recent years, as Health Canada has focussed its resources on the review of these priority chemicals, reviews of many of the cyclical re-evaluations were paused. The number of re-evaluation initiations currently required as per the 15-year legislative requirement continues to be high and given current capacity considerations, the backlog is growing.

In 2022, Health Canada will engage with partners and stakeholders to develop a proportional risk-based approach to be applied across the regulatory life-cycle of pesticides, with implementation to be initiated over 2022 and 2023. The new approach will build upon the risk based prioritization framework introduced by the re-evaluation program in 2020.^{Footnote 1} In parallel, ongoing efforts to streamline the re-evaluation processes for lower priority actives will continue, while ensuring that the requirements of the Pest Control Products Act are met. Additional resources will also be injected for higher priority actives which require a more comprehensive risk assessment and potential regulatory actions in response to any new unacceptable risks identified.

Health Canada has made every effort to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on regular operations. Also, the delay in publication of decision documents due to the shift in departmental priorities to COVID-19 communications is expected to continue.

Part A, Table 1 Targets for consultation and final decisions of special reviews

Active ingredient name	Target date of consultationTable 1 Footnote 1
AtrazineTable 1 Footnote 2	September 2022
Desmedipham	Initiated in March 2022
DicambaTable 1 Footnote 3	Q1 (2023–24)
Fosetyl aluminum	Initiated in April  2022
Glufosinate ammonium	Q3 (2023–24)
MCPA MCPA (present as acid) MCPA (present as amine salts: diethanolamine, dimethylamine, or mixed amines) MCPA (present as esters) MCPA (present as potassium salt or as sodium salt)	Initiated in March 2022
Methyl bromide	March 2023
Picoxystrobin	October 2022
Potassium dimethyldithiocarbamate	August 2022
Sodium dimethyldithiocarbamate	August 2022
Chlorothalonil	Consultation started on 10 February 2022
DiodofonTable 1 Footnote 2 (paints, coatings and related uses)	September 2022
PentachlorophenolTable 1 Footnote 2	November 2022
Table 1 Footnote 1 Q1 (April–June); Q2 (July–September); Q3 (October–December); Q4 (January–March) Table 1 Return to footnote 1 referrer Table 1 Footnote 2 Legacy pesticide; that is, older special review. Table 1 Return to footnote 2 referrer Table 1 Footnote 3 The scope if the special review of dicamba was recently expanded, please see the initiation Notice in the public registry for more information. Table 1 Return to footnote 3 referrer

Part A, Table 2a Targets for consultation and final re-evaluation decisions

Active ingredient name	Re-evaluation category	Target dateTagble 2 Footnote 1 of consultation
Proposed Re-evaluation Decisions
1- or 3-Monomethylol-5,5-dimethylhydantoin	1	May 2022
1,3-Bis(hydroxymethyl) -5,5-dimethylhydantoin	1	May 2022
6-Benzylaminopurine	3	March 2023
Abamectin	1	November 2022
Acetamiprid	1	Q3 (2023–24)
Azoxystrobin	1	January 2023
Bacillus sphaericus	3	July 2022
Bacillus subtilis cluster: Bacillus Subtilis (strain MBI600) Bacillus subtilis (strain QST 713)	3	May 2022
Capsaicin cluster: Capsaicin Related capsaicinoids	3	June 2022
Clothianidin general re-evaluationTagble 2 Footnote 2	1	Q1 (2023–24)
Cyprodinil	1	Q4 (2023–24)
D-cis, trans-allethrin	1	Q1 (2023–24)
DEET plus related active toluamides	1	Q1 (2023–24)
Dodecylguanidine hydrochloride	1	July 2022
Famoxadone	1	Q2 (2024–25)
Fenamidone	1	Q3 (2023–24)
Fenbuconazole	1	Q4 (2022–23)
Fluazinam	1	Q3 (2024–25)
Formic Acid	3	July 2022
Gibberellins cluster: Gibberellic acid Gibberellins A4A7	3	March 2023
Glufosinate ammonium	1	Q3 (2023–24)
Hypochlorite cluster: Available chlorine, present as calcium hypochlorite Available chlorine, present as sodium hypochlorite Sodium hypochlorite	3	November 2022
Mecoprop cluster: Mecoprop-P (present as Acid) Mecoprop-P (present as Dimethylamine Salt) Mecoprop-P (present as Potassium Salt) Mecoprop-P (present as Diglycolamine Salt)	1	Q1 (2024–25)
Methyl bromide	1	March 2023
Methoxyfenozide	1	Q3 (2024–25)
Methyl Nonyl Ketone	3	April 2022
Nonylphenoxypolyethoxyethanol	3	March 2023
Nucleopolyhedrovirus cluster: Nucleopolyhedrovirus for Douglas-fir tussock moth Neodiprion abietis nucleopolyhedrovirus	3	October 2022
Phorate	2	Q4 (2024–25)
Picolinafen	1	Q1 (2024–25)
Predacide cluster: Sodium monofluoroacetate Strychnine	2	August 2022 NOTE: all sodium cyanide end use products were discontinued. Re-evaluation closed for this active ingredient.
Putrescent whole egg solids	3	June 2022
Quizalofop-p-ethyl	1	July 2022
S-metolachlor and R-enantiomer	1	September 2022
Silicon dioxide cluster: Silica aerogel Silicon dioxide (present as 100% diatomaceous earth) fresh water fossils	3	June 2022
Spinetoram	1	Q1 (2024–25)
Spinosad	1	Q1 (2024–25)
Thiamethoxam general re-evaluationTagble 2 Footnote 2	1	Q1 (2023–24)
Verbenone	3	September 2022
(Z)-9-Tricosene	3	April 2022
Cumulative Health Risk Assessment: N-methyl carbamatesTagble 2 Footnote 3	1	Q3 (2023-24)
Cumulative Health Risk Assessment: OrganophosphatesTagble 2 Footnote 4	1	To be initiated in May 2022.
Final Re-evaluation Decisions		Target date of final decision
1-Methylcyclopropene	3	Consultation started on 24 March, 2022
Ancymidol	3	June 2022
ChlorothalonilTagble 2 Footnote 5 (paints, coatings and related uses)	Legacy active	September 2022
Chondrostereum purpureum (Strain: PFC2139)	3	Consultation started on 22 March 2022
Corn gluten meal	3	Consultation started on 22 March 2022
DazometTagble 2 Footnote 5 (paints, coatings and related uses)	Legacy active	September 2022
Difenoconazole	2	April 2022
Dried blood	3	May 2022
Enoic acid cluster: Octadec-9-enoic acid, methyl ester Octadec-9-enoic acid, ethyl ester	3	June 2022
Florasulam	1	April 2022
Flucarbazone (present as flucarbazone-sodium)	1	Q3 (2023–24)
Flufenacet	1	Q3 (2023–24)
FolpetTagble 2 Footnote 5 (paints, coatings and related uses)	Legacy active	September 2022
Isoxaflutole	1	April 2022
Kaolin	3	June 2022
Mustard cluster: Brassica Hirta White Mustard Seed Powder Sodium alpha-olefin sulfonate	3	April 2022
Pheromones cluster: 1-Dodecanol 1-Tetradecanol Codlelure (E,Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate (E,Z)-11-tetradecenal (Z)-9-dodecenyl acetate (E,Z)-3,13-Octadecadien-1-yl acetate	3	April 2022 NOTE: All end use products discontinued for  (Z)-9-tetradecen-1-yl acetate, (Z)-11-tetradecenal, (Z)-11-tetradecen-1-ol, and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate. Re-e-evaluation closed for these active ingredients.
Piperonyl butoxideTagble 2 Footnote 5	Legacy active	October 2022
P-menthane-3,8-diol	1	August 2022
PyrethrinsTagble 2 Footnote 5	Legacy active	October 2022
Sodium omadine (paints, coatings and related uses)	Legacy active	September 2022
Tebuconazole	1	February 2023
Trinexapac-ethyl	1	Q2 (2023-24)
ZiramTagble 2 Footnote 5 (paints, coatings and related uses)	Legacy active	September 2022
Zoxamide	1	Consultation started on 28th March 2022
Polymerized butenes	3	All end use products Discontinued. Re-evaluation closed.
Pymetrozine	1	All end use products Discontinued. Re-evaluation closed.
Bis(Trichloromethyl)Sulfone	3	All end use products Discontinued. Re-evaluation closed.
1-(3-Chloroallyl)-3,5,7-Triaza-1-Azoniaadamantane Chloride (Cis Isomer)	3	All end use products Discontinued. Re-evaluation closed.
4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA)	3	All end use products Discontinued. Re-evaluation closed.
Table 2 Footnote 1 Q1 (April–June); Q2 (July–September); Q3 (October–December); Q4 (January–March) Table 2 Return to footnote 1 referrer Table 2 Footnote 2 Cyclical re-evaluations of clothianidin and thiamethoxam were initiated in 2016 to assess their value, as well as human health and environmental risks other than impacts on pollinators and aquatic invertebrates. The assessment of the impacts on pollinators was completed in 2019. Special reviews of clothianidin and thiamethoxam related to aquatic invertebrates were completed in March 2021. Special reviews of clothianidin, thiamethoxam and imidacloprid related to squash bees were completed in February 2022. Table 2 Return to footnote 2 referrer Table 2 Footnote 3 Work plan is published separately (REV2021-01: Project Plan for Cumulative Health Risk Assessment - N-Methyl Carbamates) Table 2 Return to footnote 3 referrer Table 2 Footnote 4 The cumulative risk assessment of the organophosphates: A separate work plan will be published later in FY 2022–2023. Table 2 Return to footnote 4 referrer Table 2 Footnote 5 Legacy pesticides; that is, older pesticide active ingredients registered before 1995 Table 2 Return to footnote 5 referrer

Part A, Table 2b     Status of other active ingredients (currently in early part of re-evaluation process)

The re-evaluations of the following active ingredients are in the early part of the re-evaluation process, and Health Canada will provide an updated status in the next work plan to be published in spring 2023:

Active ingredient name	Current status
1,2-Dibromo-2,4-Dicyanobutane	Scoping phase
1-(3-Chloroallyl)-3,5,7-triaza-1-azoniaadamantane chloride (cis isomer)	Scoping phase
2-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-nitro-1,3-propanediol	Scoping phase
10,10'-Oxybis(Phenoxarsine)	Scoping phase completed
Aminopyralid aminopyralid triisopropanolamine salt aminopyralid potassium salt	Scoping phase
Antimicrobials cluster: 2,2-Dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide 2-Methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one 5-Chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one 4,5-Dichloro-2-N-Octyl-3(2H)-Isothiazolone Bronopol Methylene bis(thiocyanate)	Scoping phase
Triazinetrione cluster: Available Chlorine, present as Sodium Dichloro-S-Triazinetrione Available Chlorine, present as Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione Trichloro-S-Triazinetrione	Scoping phase
Bensulide	Scoping phase completed
Bifenazate	Scoping phase completed
Boscalid	Scoping phase completed
Bromacil (present in free form, as dimethylamine salt, or as lithium salt)	Scoping phase
Carbon dioxide cluster Carbon dioxide gas Liquid carbon dioxide	Scoping phase
Cyazofamid	Scoping phase
Dichlobenil	Scoping phase
Daminozide	Scoping phase completed
Diflubenzuron	Scoping phase
Fatty Acid cluster: Potassium Salts of Fatty Acids Triethanolamine Salts of Fatty Acids Fatty Acids Ammonium Salt of Fatty Acid	Information gathering phase
Foramsulfuron	Scoping phase completed
Fish toxicants cluster: 4-Nitro-3-(trifluoromethyl) phenol sodium salt Niclosamide	Scoping phase completed
Hydramethylnon	Scoping phase completed
Iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium	Scoping phase completed
Ipconazole	Scoping phase completed
Mesotrione	Scoping phase completed
Metribuzin	Scoping phase
Paraquat	All end use products Discontinued. Re-evaluation closed.
Pinoxaden	Scoping phase
Potassium bicarbonate	Scoping phase
Prohexadione calcium	Scoping phase
Pyrimethanil	Scoping phase
Pyraclostrobin	Scoping phase completed
Rodenticide Cluster: Brodifacoum Bromadiolone Bromethalin Chlorophacinone Diphacinone (present in free form or as sodium salt) Warfarin (present in free form or as sodium salt) Zinc phosphide Difethialone	Scoping phase
Spirodiclofen	Scoping phase
Sulphur	Information gathering phase
Terbacil	Scoping phase
Tetrachlorvinphos	Scoping phase completed
Topramezone	Scoping phase
Triclopyr (present as butoxyethyl ester)	Scoping phase
Trifloxystrobin	Scoping phase completed

Part B – Future re-evaluation initiations (re-evaluation initiations anticipated between April 2022 and March 2027)

Under the current point-in-time re-evaluation model, the initiation date of the re-evaluation of a particular active ingredient is based on the date of its initial registration, or the date of the last completed re-evaluation. As highlighted in the PMRA Transformation Agenda, a continuous and risk-based oversight approach is being developed for pesticides in consultation with partners and stakeholders. As such, the categorization and timelines provided below are likely to change to reflect the new approach.

Part B, Table 1 Future re-evaluation initiations between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2027

1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023

Active ingredient	Initiation dates
Higher priority actives
Non anti-sapstain uses of 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio)BenzothiazolePart B Table 1 Footnote 1	To be initiated in May 2022
Acifluorfen (present as sodium salt)	To be initiated in May 2022
Carbendazim	To be initiated in April 2022
Carfentrazone-ethyl	To be initiated in March 2023
Di-n-propyl isocinchomeronate	To be initiated in June 2022
Dioxaborinanes cluster:  2,2-(1-Methyltrimethylenedioxy)bis-(4-methyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane) 2,2-Oxybis(4,4,6-trimethyl-1,3,2-dioxaborinane)	To be initiated in June 2022
Diphenylamine	To be initiated in June 2022
Endothal cluster: Endothal Endothal (present as N,N-dimethylalkylamine salt)	To be initiated in May 2022
Etridiazole	To be initiated in June 2022
Fluvalinate-tau	To be initiated in June 2022
Novaluron	To be initiated in February 2023
Oxadiazon	To be initiated in June 2022
Oxyfluorfen	To be initiated in May 2022
Prothioconazole	To be initiated in November 2022
Pyrasulfotole	To be initiated in September 2022
Spiromesifen	To be initiated in March 2023
Sulfuryl fluoride	To be initiated in April 2022
Thiacloprid	To be initiated in May 2022
Lower priority actives
Agrobacterium radiobacter Strain K84 and K1026	To be initiated in June 2022
Naled	To be initiated in June 2022
Natamycin	To be initiated in June 2022
Pantoea agglomerans cluster: Pantoea agglomerans strain C9-1 Pantoea agglomerans strain E325 (NRRL B-21856)	To be initiated in September 2022
Octenol	To be initiated in March 2023
Sodium chloride	To be initiated in June 2022
Part B Table 1 Footnote 1 anti-sapstain uses of 2-(Thiocyanomethylthio) Benzothiazole were re-evaluated in 2017 (RVD2017-08). Part B Table 1 Return to footnote 1 referrer