The Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is the Canadian government agency responsible for the regulation of pest control products in Canada under the federal authority of the Pest Control Products Act and Regulations. The agency is a branch that reports to Parliament through Health Canada. The PMRA is responsible for providing access to pest management tools while minimizing the risks to human health and the environment by “using modern evidence-based scientific approaches to pesticide regulation, in an open and transparent manner”. Their main activity areas include: new product evaluation, post market review and compliance and enforcement. The PMRA works with provincial, territorial and federal departments in Canada to help refine and strengthen pesticide regulation across the country. Outside of Canada, the Agency works closely with international organizations such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the North American Free Trade Agreement Technical Working Group, the European Union, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). They work to align the processes used to regulate pest control products and uphold the protection of health and the environment. As of April 2017, the agency has approximately 400 employees. Over 75% of PMRA’s employees are scientists, with specializations in toxicology, environmental science, biology and chemistry. Other employees include policy, regulations, communications and administration. The PMRA's headquarters is in the Sir Charles Tupper Building in Ottawa, ON.
History In 1990, the Pesticides Registration Review Team was tasked with developing recommendations to improve the federal pesticide regulatory system. The Review Team consulted with Canadians across the country proposing a major reform to the federal pest management regulatory system. Proposed reforms from the Review Team were to establish a multi-stakeholder advisory council and the federal/provincial/territorial committee. Furthermore to increase public participation they recommended providing access to information on regulatory decisions with the intention of increasing openness and transparency. Additional suggestions to improve operation included:
The use of a risk management approach Labeling provisions for safe use Re-evaluation of older pesticides and special reviews that may result from new information Data protection policy A cost recovery scheme Mandatory incident reporting Compliance and enforcement strategies and provisions The Canadian government provided a response in 1994 recognizing the principles of environmental sustainability: to protect human health, safety and the environment by minimizing the risks associated with pesticides all while enabling access to pest control products and pest management strategies. The goals listed above helped work to set up the agency’s mandate. In 1995, the formation of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency was approved with the purpose of consolidating the resources and responsibilities for pest management regulation. Staff and resources were consolidated from several federal departments — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Health Canada — into a single branch under Health Canada. Although the other departments are no longer officially involved in the decision-making process, they support the work of the PMRA through research and monitoring activities in their respective fields of expertise. Subsequently, the administration of the Pest Control Products Act was transferred from the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to the Minister of Health. By 1998, the PMRA had set up policies for product evaluations in which additional protection was required for vulnerable sectors like children and pregnant women, and pesticide exposure from all sources had to be taken into account, including food and water. These policies were formalized when a new Pest Control Products Act was approved in 2002 and came into force on June 28, 2006, replacing the 35-year old Act. On 31 January 2008, the Review Panel Regulations were instituted, to administer sections 35 to 40 of the then-renewed Act. A statutory review of the Pest Control Products Act was held by the Health Committee of Parliament on 27 January 2015. Three witnesses from the Pest Management Regulatory Agency were called to speak on the legislation. Aucoin, the Executive Director of the PMRA, stressed the science based and OECD-collaborative nature of the review process.
Organization The PMRA is managed by an Executive Director who reports to the Deputy Minister of Health:
Claire Franklin, 1995-2005 Karen Dodds:, 2005-2008 Richard Aucoin:, 2008- Directorates
Executive Director’s Office Registration Directorate Health Evaluation Directorate Environmental Assessment Directorate Value Assessment and Re-Evaluation Management Directorate Compliance, Laboratory Services and Regional Operations Directorate Policy, Communications and Regulatory Affairs Directorate Strategic Planning, Financial and Business Operations Division
Related Legislation The PMRA is responsible for administering the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and its associated regulations on behalf of the Minister of Health. The PCPA and the Pest Control Products Regulations (PCPR) maintain that:
No person manufactures, stores, displays, distributes, or uses any pest control product under unsafe conditions No person packages, labels, or advertises any pest control product in a manner that is false, misleading, or deceptive, or is likely to create a false impression about the pest control product No person sells or imports a pest control product unless it is registered Other Acts which have an impact on pest management are the Pesticide Residue Compensation Act (PRCA) and the Food and Drugs Act (FDA). Additionally, the PMRA uses the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act and its associated regulations as an enforcement tool for the PCPA. In addition, Health Canada maintains a lengthy list of Policies and Guidelines which must be observed by the Agency.
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