Federal Role
Pesticides imported into, sold or used in Canada are regulated under the Pest Control Products Act and Regulations (PCPA). The PCPA is responsible for administering this legislation, registering pest control products, re-evaluating registered products and setting maximum residue limits under the Food and Drugs Act.
Companies that wish to have the right to sell a pest control product in Canada must submit detailed information and data to be evaluated by the PCPA. Companies must provide all the scientific studies necessary for determining that the product is acceptable in terms of safety, merit and value. Depending on the complexity of the submission, a complete evaluation can take anywhere from a number of weeks, to a year or more.
Before a submission is evaluated for health and environmental considerations, and for its value, (including efficacy), it is first examined by Screening Officers of the PCPA's Submission Management and Information Division (SMID). The purpose of the initial screening is to make sure that submissions meet the format, content and fee requirements of the Agency before they are sent for detailed evaluation.
The PCPA's Health Evaluation Division (HED) has three main areas:
1. Toxicological Evaluation Sections (Fungicides, Herbicides, Insecticides and Antimicrobials) identify possible human health effects of pesticides, and establish the levels at which humans can be exposed to the products without any harm. Studies assessed include short and long-term, carcinogenicity (the capacity to cause cancer), genotoxicity (the capacity to cause damage to chromosomes), and teratogenicity (the capacity to produce fetal malformations), among others
2. Occupational Exposure Assessment Section (OEAS) performs exposure assessments on all new active ingredients and all major new uses of a pesticide in order to determine how much exposure to a pesticide could occur in a typical day. These assessments take into account the different exposures that people could have to pesticides, such as those who work with the pesticides (formulators, applicators, and farmers) and bystanders (people working or living near where a pesticide is used). They also take into consideration the differing exposures that adults and children would have.
3. Food Residue Exposure Assessment Section (FREAS) evaluates every submission where a product could come in contact with food, including field crops, meat and dairy products, and processed foods. These evaluations are conducted in order to set the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides on food, both domestic and imported under the Food and Drug Act. Dietary Risk Assessments (DRAs) are also carried out to assess the potential daily intake of pesticide residues from all possible food sources. DRAs take into account the different eating patterns of infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and adults, and so include a detailed evaluation of the foods and drinks that infants and children consume in quantity such as fruits and fruit juices, milk and soya products.
Companies that wish to have the right to sell a pest control product in Canada must submit detailed information and data to be evaluated by the PCPA. Companies must provide all the scientific studies necessary for determining that the product is acceptable in terms of safety, merit and value. Depending on the complexity of the submission, a complete evaluation can take anywhere from a number of weeks, to a year or more.
Before a submission is evaluated for health and environmental considerations, and for its value, (including efficacy), it is first examined by Screening Officers of the PCPA's Submission Management and Information Division (SMID). The purpose of the initial screening is to make sure that submissions meet the format, content and fee requirements of the Agency before they are sent for detailed evaluation.
The PCPA's Health Evaluation Division (HED) has three main areas:
1. Toxicological Evaluation Sections (Fungicides, Herbicides, Insecticides and Antimicrobials) identify possible human health effects of pesticides, and establish the levels at which humans can be exposed to the products without any harm. Studies assessed include short and long-term, carcinogenicity (the capacity to cause cancer), genotoxicity (the capacity to cause damage to chromosomes), and teratogenicity (the capacity to produce fetal malformations), among others
2. Occupational Exposure Assessment Section (OEAS) performs exposure assessments on all new active ingredients and all major new uses of a pesticide in order to determine how much exposure to a pesticide could occur in a typical day. These assessments take into account the different exposures that people could have to pesticides, such as those who work with the pesticides (formulators, applicators, and farmers) and bystanders (people working or living near where a pesticide is used). They also take into consideration the differing exposures that adults and children would have.
3. Food Residue Exposure Assessment Section (FREAS) evaluates every submission where a product could come in contact with food, including field crops, meat and dairy products, and processed foods. These evaluations are conducted in order to set the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides on food, both domestic and imported under the Food and Drug Act. Dietary Risk Assessments (DRAs) are also carried out to assess the potential daily intake of pesticide residues from all possible food sources. DRAs take into account the different eating patterns of infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and adults, and so include a detailed evaluation of the foods and drinks that infants and children consume in quantity such as fruits and fruit juices, milk and soya products.