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February 9, 2005
 The Basis for Re-evaluation
Modern Risk Assessment Approaches
Working with Partners
Reaching the Goal
Next Steps
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Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has a re-evaluation program in place to determine whether currently-registered pesticides remain acceptable for use. Manufacturers must demonstrate their products meet the latest health and environmental risk assessment standards. The current focus of the re-evaluation program is on all products that were registered before 1 January 1995.
The Basis for Re-evaluation
Canadians rely on the availability of safe and effective products to manage pests. Today, close to 550 pesticide active ingredients found in more than 7000 products are registered in Canada under the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA). Of these, 401 active ingredients were registered before 1995.
At the time of their registration, these pesticides
were considered acceptable based on an assessment of human
health and environmental risks according to the scientific
standards of the day. However, as scientific knowledge evolves
and new information becomes available, the PMRA requires that
registered pesticides be re-evaluated according to modern risk
assessment approaches.
Modern Risk Assessment Approaches
The re-evaluation program uses modern scientific approaches to examine the continued acceptability of older pesticides. Today’s modern approaches include assessments that consider the following:
- exposure risks to sensitive people such as children;
- aggregate exposure from combined dietary, residential and drinking water sources; and
- risk of cumulative exposure to chemicals with a common mechanism of action.
Working with Partners
The Canadian re-evaluation program relies strongly on the
availability of reviews from the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (USEPA), which ties Canadian re-evaluation
efforts to the American program. In fiscal year 2003–2004,
84 active ingredients were addressed. Approximately 83% of
PMRA’s decisions parallelled USEPA’s decisions.
The PMRA aims to complete its re-evaluation of the 401 targeted active ingredients within the same time frame as the USEPA (2006–2007 for food uses, 2008–2009 for non-food uses). This internationally harmonized approach will increase regulatory efficiency and help to maintain a level Canada–United States playing field for trade in agricultural and other products treated with pesticides.
Reaching the Goal
here are currently 401 active ingredients slated for re-evaluation under the current re-evaluation program. As of 31 December 2004, re-evaluation decisions have been made or proposed for 166 active ingredients.
Next Steps
For fiscal year 2004–2005, the PMRA is targeting to complete re-evaluation reviews for an additional 42 active ingredients.
Need More Information?
Visit the following links on the PMRA’s website to read more about the topics discussed in this document.
Re-evaluation Documents
Risk Assessment Process
Government Regulations
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