Public Concerns Over Transparency and Health Risks
In 2021, Health Canada suspended changing maximum residue limits (MRLs), the maximum allowable pesticide residues allowed under Canadian law. This year, 3 ministries, including Health Canada, ended the residue limit adjustments and began looking for ways to transform the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). The decision was made to enhance transparency and access to pesticide decision-making information. However, faith in the agency is still an ongoing issue, as surveys indicate that 40% of Canadians believe scientific advancements in pesticide assessment are outpacing the regulatory system.
Despite rising concerns regarding risks to human health and the ecosystem, global pesticide use has increased over the last 3 decades. Advancing pesticide regulations to keep pace with the country’s agricultural system while protecting human and environmental health is becoming a growing challenge for the country. Between 2011 and 2021, the PMRA registered up to 27 new active pesticide ingredients yearly. Meanwhile, it has banned only 32 of the 531 prohibited active pesticide ingredients already regulated in nearly 170 other countries.
The decisions surrounding chemical registration have been highly controversial, emphasizing the lack of transparency and potential industry bias. For example, in the case of glyphosate, sales across the country reached almost 470 million kg from 2007 to 2018. Concerns from the general public regarding health risks and regulated uses led to legal challenges. Additionally, the 2018 decision to phase out 3 of the most common toxic neuro-active insecticides was backtracked in 2021. Researchers and the general public wondered whether the industry influenced the decision.
In July 2022, Health Canada established an independent Science Advisory Committee to create a more dependable and transparent manner for pesticide review processes. Comprised of eight academic experts screened to deter any conflict of interest, the committee has been entrusted to provide objective and verifiable advice to inform regulatory decisions regarding pest control products. Since its creation, they have met Health Canada’s PMRA in a public forum five times.
Developing A Pesticide-Safe Country
For more information about how Health Canada plans to develop safer, more transparent pesticide regulations, check out TheConversation.com:
“The journey to more transparent and scientifically robust pesticide regulation in Canada is long overdue, yet essential.
A greater emphasis on transparency and communication of the science that underpins regulatory decision-making is urgently needed. A lack of access to data and information used in risk assessment undermines the public trust.
An over-reliance on industry supplied confidential studies, limited application of data from independent scientists, a lack of publicly available data on active ingredient pesticide sales, use and environmental monitoring, are all contributing to skepticism.”
From Striving for transparency: Why Canada’s pesticide regulations need an overhaul - The Conversation
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Written by Agriculture Pro Source
November 28th, 2023