Modernizing our business processes

On this page

• About our business processes
• Providing continuous oversight
• Focusing on areas of greatest risk
• Contact us

About our business processes

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency uses business processes that make it a priority to protect:

• our environment
• the health of people in Canada

We're modernizing these processes to ensure we give continuous oversight and focus resources on areas of greatest risk.

Learn more:

• How we're transforming the agency

Providing continuous oversight

The agency is an international leader in assessing the science related to pesticides and providing protection from pesticide risks. To keep up with the pace of research and evolving scientific information on pesticides, we're taking a more proactive approach.

This approach involves adding new processes to help ensure that pesticides are safe for you, your community and the environment. It will support other review programs outlined in the Pest Control Products Act, such as applications for registration, re-evaluation and special review.

From when a new pesticide is registered in Canada and throughout its regulatory lifecycle, we will:

• collect and assess new scientific information on pesticides in Canada on a ongoing basis and
• take quick regulatory action where needed in response to new information on a registered pesticide

We're committed to building awareness, understanding and confidence in the pesticide regulatory system in Canada. We will keep stakeholders and the public informed about our activities by:

• posting how we searched for pesticide information
• listing all the information we collected and
• letting you know how we considered this information and any actions taken to protect your health or the environment

We're currently consulting stakeholders and the public on this new approach, which we will implement in phases, starting on April 1, 2024.

Learn more:

• Continuous oversight of pesticides policy

Focusing on areas of greatest risk

Some pesticides require more regulatory oversight than others, such as those:

• that have higher risks requiring significant mitigation
• where emerging science requires more frequent reviews

We're establishing criteria for different pesticides, depending on their level of risk. Our team is testing and validating these criteria, and our advisory committee is providing advice.

By adopting this proportional effort framework, we will be able to better allocate resources based on the level of effort required.

We're consulting with stakeholders, partners and pesticide risk assessment experts on the framework. Full implementation will begin in fall 2024.

Learn more:

• Science Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products
• Modernized Business Processes Technical Working Group 

Contact us

Our Office of Program Renewal welcomes feedback on our modernized business processes. Please email us at pmra.info-arla@hc-sc.gc.ca.