Fast-Track Approvals for Seeds, Feeds, Pesticides

Summary#

This bill creates a fast-track, provisional pathway to register or approve animal feeds, crop seeds, and pest control products in Canada when at least two “trusted jurisdictions” abroad have already approved them. It sets a 90-day deadline for provisional decisions, lets regulators rely on foreign reviews, and requires workplace safety information for provisionally registered pest control products. Final registration still needs a full evaluation and compliance with Canadian law.

• Provisional approval/registration within 90 days if two trusted jurisdictions have approved the product, unless Canadian law is not met (Feeds Act after s.4; Seeds Act after s.3.2; Pest Control Products Act after s.7).
• “Trusted jurisdictions” are foreign states or subdivisions designated later by regulation (Feeds Act s.5(1)(a.1); Seeds Act s.4(1)(h.11); Pest Control Products Act s.67(1)(e.1)).
• Regulators may rely on evidence from trusted jurisdictions’ reviews (Feeds Act s.5(1)(b.2); Seeds Act s.4(1)(h.12); Pest Control Products Act s.7(9)(b)).
• Provisional pesticide registrations must include conditions and a material safety data sheet for workplaces (Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration(1)-(2)).
• Certain feeds that contain a pest control product can, by regulation, be deemed registered under the Pest Control Products Act (Feeds Act s.5(1)(h), amended).
• Coordinating clauses align this bill with the Regulatory Modernization Act (Bill S-6) depending on which comes into force first (Coordinating Amendments).

What it means for you#

• Households
  • You may see some new pest control products reach the market sooner, subject to Canadian conditions and labels (Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration). Timing depends on future regulations that set trusted jurisdictions and application rules. Data on price effects: Data unavailable.
• Farmers and Producers
  • You could access new feeds and seed varieties sooner. If two trusted jurisdictions have approved them, Canada must provisionally approve/register within 90 days unless Canadian requirements are not met (Feeds Act after s.4; Seeds Act after s.3.2).
  • Provisionally registered products can be sold and used under conditions set by the Minister/Registrar. Products could later be denied final registration, so you may need to monitor label changes or withdrawals (Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration(3); Feeds/Seeds regulations on duration and cancellation).
  • If a feed contains a pest control product, it may be deemed registered under the Pest Control Products Act in set circumstances, simplifying compliance (Feeds Act s.5(1)(h), amended).
• Agricultural and Pest-control Workers
  • Workplaces where a provisionally registered pest control product is used or made must receive product safety information, including a material safety data sheet, as a condition of registration (Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration(2); s.67(1)(s)).
• Businesses (Seed, Feed, and Pest-control Companies; Importers/Distributors)
  • You can apply for provisional status by referencing approval in two trusted jurisdictions and by submitting available foreign review information (Seeds/Feeds provisional clauses; Pest Control Products Act s.7(2.2), s.7(9)(b)).
  • Regulators can rely on foreign evidence, which may reduce duplicate testing. You must still meet Canadian standards and any conditions (Feeds Act s.5(1)(b.2); Seeds Act s.4(1)(h.12); Pest Control Products Act s.7(9)(b)).
  • Fees for final feed registration may be set by regulation (Feeds Act s.5(1)(b)). Other fee details: Data unavailable.
• Local and Provincial Governments
  • No direct new duties in the bill text. Federal agencies (CFIA and Health Canada’s PMRA) handle registration and enforcement. Coordination details with provincial workplace safety systems will depend on regulations. Data unavailable.

Expenses#

• Estimated net cost: Data unavailable.

• Key points from the bill text:

  • No explicit appropriations are included.
  • Authority to prescribe fees for final registration of feeds (Feeds Act s.5(1)(b)).
  • New 90-day service standard for provisional decisions may require administrative capacity at CFIA and PMRA, but cost estimates are not provided. Data unavailable.
  • Implementation details (e.g., designating trusted jurisdictions, application processes) will be set by regulation; associated costs or revenues are not stated. Data unavailable.

Proponents' View#

• Faster access to innovation: A 90-day deadline for provisional approval/registration after two trusted jurisdictions have approved can shorten time-to-market for seeds, feeds, and pest control products (Feeds Act after s.4; Seeds Act after s.3.2; Pest Control Products Act after s.7).
• Less duplication, lower compliance burden: Regulators may rely on foreign reviews, reducing repeat studies and paperwork while still applying Canadian law (Feeds Act s.5(1)(b.2); Seeds Act s.4(1)(h.12); Pest Control Products Act s.7(9)(b)).
• Maintains safety: Provisional status is denied if Canadian requirements are not met, and final approval occurs only after evaluation confirms compliance (Feeds Act after s.4; Seeds Act after s.3.2; Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration(1), s.8).
• Worker protection: Mandatory safety data sheets for provisionally registered pest control products support safer workplaces (Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration(2)).
• Regulatory alignment: Letting certain feed products be deemed registered under the Pest Control Products Act streamlines overlapping approvals without removing safeguards (Feeds Act s.5(1)(h), amended).

Opponents' View#

• Safety and environmental risk: Relying on foreign approvals may overlook Canadian-specific conditions (climate, species, farming practices). The 90-day clock could compress review time and increase error risk (Feeds/Seeds provisional clauses; Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration(1)).
• Oversight concerns: “Trusted jurisdictions” will be set by regulation rather than statute, which could lower parliamentary scrutiny of which foreign standards Canada accepts (Feeds Act s.5(1)(a.1); Seeds Act s.4(1)(h.11); Pest Control Products Act s.67(1)(e.1)).
• Implementation capacity: Meeting a 90-day service standard may strain CFIA and PMRA resources. Without added funding or staffing, backlogs or superficial reviews could occur. Cost and staffing data: Data unavailable.
• Market and liability risk: Products sold under provisional status could later be denied final registration, creating recall, disposal, or liability issues for farmers, retailers, and applicators (Pest Control Products Act, new Provisional registration(3); Feeds/Seeds regulations on cancellation).
• Competitive effects: Firms already approved in multiple foreign markets may gain an advantage, potentially disadvantaging smaller domestic innovators that lack resources to secure approvals abroad. Quantitative impact: Data unavailable.