Health Canada Pesticides Committee | The resignation of a scientist worries Minister Lamontagne

Quebec Agriculture Minister André Lamontagne is concerned about the resignation of the co-chair of Health Canada’s independent scientific committee on pesticides^⁠1.

“False sense of security”, “obsolete regulatory system”, “obstructed transparency”: the D^r Bruce Lanphear slammed the door of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products, harshly criticizing the federal agency that oversees the approval of these chemicals.

” What happened [lundi]the resignation of the co-president, of course, that still raises a lot of questions, because what he calls into question is transparency,” Minister André Lamontagne explained in a telephone interview with The Press.

The minister reveals that he raised the issue with his federal counterpart, Marie-Claude Bibeau, during a meeting on Tuesday morning.

“When you identify places where trust can be undermined, you have to act,” he told her.

A professor of health sciences at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Dr.^r Bruce Lanphear was appointed to lead Health Canada’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products in June 2022.

This committee of nine independent experts was created in the wake of a controversy that made headlines in 2021.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) then proposed – following a request from pesticide manufacturer Monsanto Bayer – to raise the maximum residue limit for the herbicide glyphosate on beans and peas. . It also proposed to allow more traces of the fungicide metalaxyl on blueberries following a request made by the multinational Syngenta.

“Antinomic”

Mr. Lamontagne recalls that as of 2021, Quebec has come out against the increase in the quantities of pesticide residues allowed on foodstuffs.

“This project, it certainly generates an ambiguity in relation to what we are trying to accomplish,” he underlines.

Because Quebec and Canada both have “great ambitions in agri-environment”, maintains the minister.

Adopted during Minister Lamontagne’s first mandate, the 2020-2030 Sustainable Agriculture Plan aims to reduce the volume of pesticides sold across the province by 15% and the index that quantifies the risks of pesticides by 40%. on health and the environment.

During the 15^e United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (COP15), which took place in Montreal in December, Canada has also committed to reducing the risks associated with pesticides by at least 50% by 2030.

The file of the increase in pesticide residues in food had caused an outcry in Quebec. A few weeks before the federal election was called in 2021, the Trudeau government had suspended plans for a hike. This suspension was partially lifted on June 20.

“Here, we arrive with this kind of construction site, which is a bit contradictory, both on the federal side and in Quebec, to what we are determined to accomplish and to do. Whereas to have the resignation of the co-president who is also a scientist who is well, well recognized, it is certain that me, when I read that, personally, I was surprised. I said to myself: “oh boy, it’s nothing for trust, it’s nothing for transparency”. »

“Biased by the industry”

The Press contacted the other eight members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products. Four responded.

A professor in the department of toxicology at the University of Saskatchewan, Christy Morrissey wrote in an email written in English that she “tremendously respects” the D^r Lanphear and his decision to leave.

“These issues have resulted in regulatory delays, the continued use of pesticides that have been scientifically proven to be harmful, and a historical trend of increasing reliance on pesticides in Canada,” she continues. . However, she does not intend to resign.

“The PMRA has indicated that it is committed to reform and I remain hopeful that change will come, in part based on the advice we independent and respected scientists can provide through the Scientific advisory committee recently created. »

His hope is shared by his colleague Xianming Zhang, assistant professor in the department of chemistry and biochemistry at Concordia University.

“Some positive changes in decision-making processes related to agrochemicals are taking place through the efforts of the committee,” he also said in an email written in English.

Sean Prager, an entomology researcher from the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Agriculture and Bioresources, said PMRA’s process “probably needs some overhauling.”

“It is important that it be as modern, science-based and efficient as possible to protect the health of Canadians, the health of the environment and also to ensure that agricultural producers in Canada can operate efficiently. This should be done as transparently as possible. As a scientist on the scientific committee, I hope to achieve this,” he wrote to us.

A new co-chair

Late Tuesday, Health Canada announced the appointment of a new co-chair. This is Eric Liberda, a professor in the School of Occupational and Public Health at Metropolitan University of Toronto.

“The PMRA will take advantage of this leadership change to meet with the External Scientific Advisory Committee on Pest Control Products as soon as possible to review the committee’s terms of reference. The PMRA has already committed to consulting the members of the committee on the scientific questions they would like to include on their agenda,” said Health Canada spokesperson Marie-Pier Burelle.

Eric Liberda also indicated that he “respects the choice” of D^r Lanphear.

“I understand his point of view and the issues he has raised, and I am hopeful that the committee can address them while ensuring that the safety of Canadians remains our priority. I have no intention of resigning; I am hopeful that these and any other future concerns can be addressed constructively,” he said in an English-language email he sent to us.

The Federal Minister of Agriculture, Marie-Claude Bibeau, and the Federal Minister of Health, Jean-Yves Duclos, did not wish to react on Tuesday.