Public Health Agency of Canada's Regulatory Stock Review Plan: 2025 to 2030
The Regulatory Stock Review Plan is a public list and description of reviews of regulations that the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) plans to undertake within a 5-year period.
The stock review plan is developed through careful consideration and consultation on PHAC regulations to determine whether these continue to meet their objectives and how they can better serve people in Canada. It is intended to give people in Canada, including businesses, Indigenous Peoples, and trading partners an opportunity to inform the reviews of regulations and to plan for the future.
The stock review plan will be adjusted and updated every year to reflect PHAC's regulatory priorities and changes to the operating environment.
Ongoing reviews
Regulations to Amend Schedule 1 of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act
| Title | Regulations to Amend Schedule 1 of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act |
|---|---|
| Enabling act(s) | Human Pathogens and Toxins Act |
| Rationale | The proposed regulatory amendment to Schedule 1 of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act will include an update to the list of toxins requiring regulatory oversight and reflect changes in scientific nomenclature, based on recommendations of the external Advisory Committee on Human Pathogens and Toxins. |
| Narrative | The proposed changes will impact laboratories, manufacturers, importers and retailers who may be required to apply for or adjust a licence based on any changes to toxins they are handling. |
| Date of last review or amendment | 2019 |
| Targeted start for review | 2020 |
| Departmental contact | Natasha Kuran |
Amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations
| Title | Amendments to the Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations |
|---|---|
| Enabling act(s) | |
| Rationale | As part of the Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement, a commitment was made to adhere to the Government's life-cycle approach to regulatory development through evaluation of the effectiveness of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations (HPTR) in meeting its objectives. In 2021, PHAC's Office of Audit and Evaluation (OAE) completed the first evaluation on the effectiveness and efficiency of activities related to the implementation of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act and Regulations (HPTA/R). The evaluation focused on the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulatory framework from 2015/16 and 2020/21 and included the Centre for Biosecurity's Management Response and Action Plan (MRAP). It identified areas for regulatory amendments including enhancements to the security clearance program and opportunities to increase clarity and decrease administrative burden on parties regulated by both PHAC and CFIA. PHAC is currently moving forward with next steps to amend the HPTR accordingly. Proposed regulatory amendments will also respond to the evaluation recommendations as applicable. The Centre for Biosecurity is currently in the process of undertaking a Biosecurity Program evaluation being led by PHAC's OAE. The scope of this evaluation would capture an assessment of the HPTR, including progress against the HPTR 5 year evaluation MRAP and a review of what has been done since. |
| Narrative | The proposed changes will impact regulated parties such as academia, government, and industry working with human pathogens and toxins. |
| Date of last review or amendment | 2021 |
| Targeted start for review | 2030 to 2031 |
| Departmental contact | Natasha Kuran |
Amendment to the Quarantine Regulations
| Title | Amendment to the Quarantine Regulations |
|---|---|
| Enabling act(s) | |
| Rationale | The proposed amendments to the Quarantine Regulations is to create a cohesive legal framework between amendments made to the Quarantine Act and the Customs Act in the Budget Implementation Act, 2023, No. 1. |
| Narrative | As part of the Travel Modernization Initiative, the amendment to the Quarantine Regulations will create an exception to section 12 of the Quarantine Act. This exception allows travellers to report to a screening officer via telecommunication when presenting to the CBSA, in accordance with paragraph 11(1)(b) of the Customs Act. The change aims to streamline the traveller experience while ensuring that travelers continue to meet their obligations under the Quarantine Act. To maintain necessary public health safeguards, the amendment will also require travellers to present to a screening officer, regardless of having presented or intended to present via a means of telecommunication, when an order under sections 58, 59 and/or 60 of the Quarantine Act requires them to present or if the traveller has reasonable grounds to suspect that they have or have been in close contact with a communicable disease listed in the Schedule of the Act. |
| Date of last review or amendment | 2006 |
| Targeted start for review | 2023 |
| Departmental contact | Janice Merhej Director, Policy, Programs and Travel Health Centre for Border and Travel Health Regulatory, Operations and Emergency Management Branch Public Health Agency of Canada Email: janice.merhej@phac-aspc.gc.ca |