SPECIAL REPORT by Kate Stiefelmeyer, Al Mussell and Cher Brethour

The Federal Environment Commissioner released a 2003 report containing sweeping criticisms of the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA). Among the findings were that PMRA had inconsistently applied evaluation criteria, that PMRA had not met its own targets, that old pesticides have not been reevaluated, and that there are general problems with PMRA’s regulatory approval processes.

The popular media interpreted the report as a finding that government regulators allowed dangerous chemicals into the environment. This was countered by defensive messages from farm groups. Both interpretations miss the mark. In fact, the Environment Commissioner found that PMRA is slow to approve newer, more effective, and safer pesticide products. This puts Canadian farmers at a competitive disadvantage, and unnecessarily puts the environment at risk.

This special report focuses on the material findings in the Environment Commissioner’s report, and puts them in the greater perspective of regulations and the economic aspects of regulation in Canadian agriculture.