OTTAWA – The federal government last week announced implementation of a new streamlined pesticide registration system that will move responsibility for the system to Health Canada.
The changes won grudging endorsement from a farmer who had been involved in years of negotiations to improve the current cumbersome registration system.
“I have some real concerns about how this will work,” said Ron Cameron, a Thamesville, Ont. vegetable grower and spokesperson for the Canadian Horticultural Council.
“But we have to endorse the general thrust of the proposals.”
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Once fully implemented in two years, after legislation is approved by Parliament, the government is promising the goal will be to have pesticide registration decisions made within 18 months of application.
Ottawa will help pay for registering minor-use chemicals required by some farm sectors. A fund of $1 million a year for two years has been designated.
As many as 150 Agriculture Canada employees involved in pesticide testing and registration work will be moved to Health Canada.
“The new system will be faster, more efficient and geared to giving farmers the tools to become more competitive,” said Lyle Vanclief, parliamentary secretary to the agriculture minister.
For years farmers have complained they are at a disadvantage because they do not have access to the same crop protection chemicals as their American competitors because of a slow and costly registration process or because it is difficult to win approval for import of minor-use chemicals.
Cameron said farmers will benefit by having a better array of chemicals available faster if the new streamlined system works as it is supposed to work.
The increase in minor-use chemicals is a major gain. But he said there is a very high price for farmers.
The new system will cost $20 million a year more than the current $14 million budget and that money will be picked up from the agricultural sector in user-pay fees, he said.
“That is a hefty price for farmers to pay.”
As well, the new system will allow environmental and other groups to review, comment on and challenge decisions before they are implemented, he said.
