Federal court rules in favour of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s authority to set phase-in periods for amended pesticide registrations
December 19, 2019 - CropLife Canada is pleased with the recent ruling from the federal court that stands firmly in support of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) authority to set phase-in periods for amended pesticide registrations. This is a win for modern, sustainable agriculture in Canada.
The legal case, which was brought forward by a number of activist groups – the David Suzuki Foundation, Friends of the Earth Canada, Équiterre and Wilderness Committee – challenged the PMRA’s authority to set reasonable timelines for the implementation of label changes for a pesticide following a re-evaluation or special review decision. The impracticality of what these groups were suggesting demonstrates their lack of understanding of the scientific regulatory process and their disregard for Canada’s agricultural and food systems.
The groups who filed this lawsuit have a long-standing history of opposing advances in modern agriculture. They are unhappy that the science continues to demonstrate the safety of pest control products and are now trying to use the courts to create an unworkable system that prevents farmers from using modern and effective pest control tools.
The case was never about health and safety but rather about process. The PMRA already has the ability to expedite a phase-out of a pesticide if it determines there is an imminent and serious risk to human health or the environment.
Without providing any benefits to Canadians, a result in favour of the plaintiffs would have handcuffed Canadian farmers by imposing immediate changes to use patterns for pesticides without consideration of the disruptions this would cause for businesses and farmers, and the impact it would have on the competitiveness of the agriculture industry in Canada. Some segments of the industry would have experienced immediate removal of tools from their toolbox for which they would have no alternatives.
It would have also created a significant amount of unpredictability in the regulatory system that would have almost certainly driven innovation away from Canada, costing farmers, the Canadian economy and Canadian consumers as a whole.
The court’s ruling confirms that the PMRA can continue to protect the health and safety of Canadians and the environment while at the same time recognizing the practical implications of changing what’s available to farmers to protect their crops.
CropLife Canada acted as an intervenor in this case and as such had the opportunity to provide context on the broader implications this decision would have on the industry. We will continue to stand up for modern agriculture in the face of groups who are set on undermining Canada’s world-class agriculture system. The reality is that agriculture in this country has never been more sustainable than it is today thanks in part to tools like pesticides. And Canada’s world-renowned, science-based regulatory system has a long history of enabling agricultural innovation while protecting the health and safety of Canadians and their environment.
Media Contact:
Erin O’Hara
613-230-9881 ext. 3223