Health Canada to Create New Science Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) announced in January it was forming a new science advisory committee on pest control products.

The agency solicited the nomination of experts who had relevant knowledge and experience in the use of pesticides in Canada, environmental fate and modelling, health and environmental risk assessment and pesticide value assessment.

“The committee will provide scientific advice, as appropriate, prior to certain evidence-based federal decisions on pesticides, including on pesticide Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs),” stated PRMA in an email.

The Canadian Pest Management Association (CPMA) nominated Sean Rollo to the committee. Rollo is the technical and business development manager for Orkin Canada. He is a past president of CPMA, current president of the Atlantic Pest Management Association and has worked as part of the association to build the industry’s relationship with PMRA over the past 15 years. “It’s been a long process, and the result has been fantastic,” he said of this effort.

Compared to early meetings, PRMA today has a much better understanding of the structural pest management industry. “They totally understand who we are, they’re very engaging with us, and it’s been a real breath of fresh air to be working with agencies that understand exactly what we’re doing and how we’re using our products. There’s always room for improvement, don’t get me wrong, but the relationship is certainly very healthy,” said Rollo.

He hopes structural pest management industry representation on the committee will reinforce that cooperation. Additionally, CPMA and PRMA have agreed to begin meeting quarterly by phone and in person, instead of once a year.

Rollo is not sure when PRMA will announce who has been named to the advisory committee. According to PRMA, appointments will be part of an open, transparent and merit-based selection process that will strive for balanced regional and linguistic representation and gender parity and be reflective of Canada’s diversity.

Rollo expects the committee to have “a good representation of various industries” plus government and manufacturers and that it will focus on ways to improve agency efficiencies, such as streamlining product re-evaluations and new active ingredient approvals using a science-based approach.

The formation of the advisory committee is a positive step for the structural pest management industry. “The fact that they’re coming to industry for opinion is greatly appreciated and ideally helps to solve some of the bigger problems,” said Nicholas Holland, president of CPMA and owner of Peregrine General Pest Control in Calgary, Alberta.

In addition, PRMA announced the launch of a new website to facilitate public, stakeholder and partner engagement on its proposed Transformation Agenda and the accompanying targeted legislative review of the Pest Control Products Act.

The author is a frequent contributor to PCT.