Pesticide Act review generates few public comments

Monday, June 24, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

Only a handful of stakeholders have responded to a call for public comments during the first mandatory review of the Pest Control Products Act since it was implemented in 2006.

The Act outlines the pesticide regulatory system in Canada. Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency is required to review it every seven years.

Health Canada media relations officer Sara Lauer says by email six stakeholders representing a variety of interested parties submitted comments during the public comment period, which ended June 15. Their comments will be “considered by government during the statutory review,” she says.

Lauer says the committee reviewing the Act has up to a year to submit a report recommending changes to the Act itself or its administration. The time period began earlier this year when the government house leader referred the review to the committee.

After the review is finalized, the government submits a response and if amendments are needed they must go through the House of Commons to get those approved. BF