In our February 1 issue of Country Guide, Gerald Pilger suggested a system under which pesticides would be sold with a “prescription” for their specific use, similar to the system when buying medications from a pharmacy. CropLife Canada asked for space to outline its position on pesticide labelling.
CropLife Canada represents the Canadian manufacturers, developers and distributors of pest control and modern plant breeding products. We understand there is a vast amount of complex information available on pesticides which can be challenging to wade through. That’s why we are working with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to support their new labelling initiative. The goal is to make labels more consistent, which also makes them easier to search, read and understand.
Product labels are the primary tool to communicate information to enable the safe and effective use of pesticide products. Pesticide labels are regulated by the Pest Control Products Act (PCPA) and are required to include specifics like directions for use and safety information.
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In an effort to make pesticide label information easier to find and the approval of pesticide labels more efficient, the PMRA is currently working with pesticide registrants and other stakeholders to develop a new standard for pesticide labels, which includes standardized templates, risk mitigation statements and use of consistent language. The PMRA is consulting numerous stakeholders on the standard label template, including large grower associations, provincial agriculture representatives, and registrants.
CropLife Canada supports the continuous improvement of product labelling and is supportive of the PMRA’s current initiative to modernize pesticide labels in Canada. Our members look forward to working with the PMRA on the different components of the label improvement initiative as they are developed. We encourage you to reach out to your grower organization or directly with the PMRA through the consultation process as it continues.
