On May 19, Health Canada published the its final re-evaluation decision regarding the risks to human health and environment from the neonicotinoid pesticide imidacloprid.

On 16 Dec 2016, The Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency(PMRA) opened a 45-day public consultation on the “Guidance for Preparing Safety Data Sheets According to the Globally Harmonized System of classification and Labelling of Chemicals for Pest Control Products in Canada”. Safety Data Sheets (SDSs) are primarily utilized by workers in workplaces involved in pesticide application and handling, as well as during emergency response, by consumers and those involved in the transportation of dangerous goods. Although implementation of the guidelines in the document is discretionary, it will serve as an initial step in the eventual implementation of mandatory SDS regulatory requirements which will be detailed in a Pest Control Products Act which in future.

On 16 May 2016, the Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) released the “Regulatory Directive DIR2016-02, Notification/Non-notification”. To simply certain minor changes to registered product, the PMRA has provided a notification/non-notification policy since 1994 and the industry and stakeholders can follow the notification or non-notification process without standard registration alteration formalities.

Health Canada intends to stop granting new conditional registrations of pesticides since June 1, 2016. This is an important step in improving the openness and transparency of Canada’s pesticide regulatory system.Moving away from conditional registrations will provide reassurance that all pesticide registration decisions are made with the same high level of scientific and public scrutiny.