Ottawa-Legislation to modernize Canadian pesticide registration by moving away from automatic, time-based re‑evaluations toward a more targeted, science - and risk-based approach has been welcomed by key agriculture organizations.

Emilie Bergeron, Vice-President of Crop Protection with CropLife Canada, told the Senate agriculture committee the bill represents an important opportunity to modernize Canada’s pesticide regulatory system by switching from automatic, time-based re‑evaluations toward a more targeted, science- and risk-based approach.

“Under the current framework, registered pest control products are subject to a mandatory re‑evaluation every 15 years, regardless of whether new scientific evidence indicates any changes in the health or environmental risks associated with a product.”

The trigger for a review is often the passage of time, rather than new science and evidence. “This approach has contributed to growing backlogs, longer review timelines and significant demands on regulatory resources.”

“These challenges have persisted for many years and have constrained the program’s ability to focus resources where new evidence indicates they are most needed,” she said.

The new legislation says that no later than 15 years after registration, the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate would review the available information and decide whether there are reasonable grounds to believe that the health or environmental risks associated with the product have increased significantly. Where that threshold is met, a re‑evaluation will be initiated.

This approach will allow regulatory resources to be directed toward products where new scientific evidence warrants further scrutiny. The legislation retains a requirement for the regulator to assess available evidence and initiate a re-evaluation when there are reasonable grounds to believe that risks have increased significantly, she said.

This would mean regulatory oversight that is proportionate to the evidence and level of risk.

Also, the bill would deliver “a regulatory system that is rigorous, science-based and protective of human health and the environment while also being efficient, predictable and responsive to new evidence.”

Kate Sauser, Manager of Policy with Grain Growers of Canada, said her organization supports the changes the legislation will bring to pesticide reviews by focusing on products where a scientific re-evaluation is really needed.

“We need a regulator with the capacity to respond quickly when new science or emerging risks arise, while also efficiently reviewing new products and technologies that can provide farmers with additional tools to provide extra food security for our nation.”

“Regulatory resources should be focused where the evidence tells us they are needed. If new science identifies a significant change in risk, investigate it.”

If the evidence indicates that a product continues to meet Canada’s health and environmental standards, resources should be directed toward higher-priority risks instead.

The government and Health Canada should establish clear and transparent criteria for determining when risks have increased significantly.

There should be meaningful engagement with farmers, registrants and other stakeholders during this process. Producers are able to provide important real-world information about how products are used, what alternatives exist and the consequences of regulatory decisions. Better data collection should also be a part of that process.

Canadian grain farmers compete with producers around the world. Greater cooperation with trusted regulatory jurisdictions, including the U.S. and Australia, can reduce unnecessary duplication while maintaining Canada’s own health and environmental standards.