Value of the Science Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products remains unclear

The plant science industry supports transparency and the inclusion of scientific and technical information and advice that is relevant to the Canadian pesticide evaluation process. The Pest Management Regulatory Agency’s (PMRA) current processes already require that it assesses relevant data from all sources and make decisions on the safety of pesticides based on a weight of evidence approach. In that context, we fail to understand the value the SAC will bring to this already comprehensive approach.

We are disappointed that the list of newly appointed members to the SAC was released without any opportunity for public consultation on the appointments. It would appear as though the list of committee members as it is proposed is lacking in expertise on pesticide evaluation and real-world knowledge of Canadian agricultural production. As such, it is unclear what knowledge gap this committee would fill above and beyond the work of the more than 300 scientists at Health Canada whose sole focus is on the complex and multi-faceted issue of pesticide evaluation.

There’s a lack of transparency and limited information publicly available about what specific scientific advice is being sought from the committee members and the portion of the first meeting during which this would be discussed will not be open to observers.

The speed and scope of the PMRA’s Transformation Agenda, of which the SAC is one piece, raises questions about how it might impact the Government of Canada’s broader food security and affordability priorities. There is nothing in this process that appears to be taking into account these top-of-mind issues for Canadians.

One example of this is the arbitrary freeze on the establishment of certain Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) that the government implemented at the outset of the transformation process and committed to resolving by this spring. There is no resolution in sight and furthermore, there’s no scientific justification for this, nor does it deliver any health or safety benefits for Canadians. What this freeze does do is damage Canada’s global reputation as a beacon for science-based policy and trade rules.

The PMRA’s Transformation Agenda must be considered in the context of Canada’s broader approach on food security and affordability. Pesticides are important tools that help farmers grow more safe, high-quality and affordable food in the face of enormous challenges such as climate change. Canada must continue to enable timely access to safe and effective pesticides so that Canadian farmers can live up the challenge of feeding Canadians and the world at this critical time in our history.