Canada approved 12 new pesticide active ingredients in 2019–2020

According to ‘2019–2020 Annual Report’ published recently by the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), in 2019–2020, 12 new active ingredients (the substance with the pesticidal effect) were registered for use in Canada, resulting in the registration of 25 new related end-use products (different formulations of products containing the active ingredient). Of the 12 new active ingredients, seven were biopesticides (derived from natural sources such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, plants, animals and minerals) and five were conventional chemical pesticides.

Some examples of end-use products registered in 2019–2020 include:

• products to protect field food crops, specialty crops and turf

• products that have a new mode of action for nuisance pests (including bed bugs) in commercial, industrial and residential structures

• first pet products for dogs and puppies to protect against walking dandruff mites

• biopesticides to protect greenhouse and field crops, stored potatoes, trees and shrubs, outdoor and greenhouse ornamental crops and non-agricultural and industrial sites

• a biopesticide to control varroa mites in honeybee hives

In the last decade, the total number of active ingredients registered for use in Canada has increased from just over 500 at the end of 2009 to 610 at the end of 2019. In the same 10-year period, the number of registered products increased from approximately 5700 to 7600. A number of products were removed from the market, either at the manufacturer’s request or as a result of re-evaluation decisions.

PMRA continued to meet its performance targets on some pre-market evaluations, while for some categories of submissions, due to an increasingly complex workload, performance targets were not met. For category A and B, the target was missed mainly due to workload pressures related to re-evaluation and the writ period of the fall 2019 election. PMRA also responded to a high number of requests for pre-submission consultations or Subject to Regulation enquiries, including those for application of pesticides using drones and pesticides for use on cannabis or within cannabis production facilities.

Joint reviews

Joint reviews are pesticide assessments conducted in cooperation with other jurisdictions. In the last two decades, Canada has progressed from developing pilot pesticide joint review approaches with the United States, to conducting joint reviews as a primary course of business for pre-market reviews. Registrants must apply to register their product in each participating jurisdiction at the same time for a joint review to be conducted.

In 2019–2020, of the 12 active ingredients registered, four were joint reviews. PMRA is continuing to pilot new joint review approaches with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to increase efficiencies of the review process. The pilot approaches have been shared with international partners with the aim of increasing international interest in joint reviews, potentially leading to more global joint reviews in the future.

Generic registrations

When a new pesticide is developed, the innovator invests substantial funds into the studies required to show that the product works as intended, and poses no unacceptable health and environmental risks. The data supporting a new innovative product in Canada (that is, a new active ingredient) receives exclusive use protection for a period of time, to prevent it from being used for the benefit of a competitor without the innovator’s approval. Data subsequently used to amend or maintain a registration or register a new product are given compensable protection.

This practice allows the innovator the opportunity to recover their investment, but also encourages further innovation by allowing competition on the market after a period of time. Allowing timely introduction of equivalent products by generic manufacturers following the exclusive period can enhance market competition to the benefit of users, including growers. These regulations are important to innovators, generic companies and to growers.

In 2019–2020, the PMRA received 234 applications to register generic products. The number of generic applications received continues to remain higher than previously anticipated by the PMRA. There were 62 generic products (27 technical and 35 end-use products) registered in 2019–2020. The PMRA continues to seek ways to improve the data protection program for innovator and generic companies.

Minor uses

A minor use is a use of a pest control product for which the anticipated volume of sales is not sufficient to persuade a manufacturer to register and sell the product in Canada. The definition emphasizes that it is the projected sales of the pest control product that is minor and not necessarily the size of the crop. A minor use may be registered on a major crop because the use may be needed only occasionally or is limited to a small percentage of the total area of the crop.

To help resolve these pesticide access issues for Canadian growers, PMRA works with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pest Management Centre who provide regulatory advice that supports growers and grower associations in identifying priorities for new minor use registrations in Canada. PMRA also works directly with the provinces to assist in addressing regional minor use needs.

In 2019–2020, PMRA reviewed minor use submissions from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the provinces, and made 80 regulatory decisions, of which five were joint reviews or workshares with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Final label reviews resulted in the registration of 299 new minor uses.

Emergency registrations

A pest control product can be registered for up to one year for the emergency control of seriously detrimental pest infestations, for example, following the introduction of an invasive species. The product must have acceptable value and the human health and environmental risks must be acceptable.

The number of emergency registration submissions that the PMRA receives can vary from year to year, depending on pest outbreaks, environmental conditions, and the availability of alternative products and control methods. In 2019–2020, the PMRA granted seven emergency registrations.