Sustainable Pest Management
Sustainable pest management (SPM) is designed to meet society's current and future needs for the protection of human health and the environment for the production of food, feed and fibre, and for the use of natural resources. SPM combines a range of pest management practices, including the judicious use of pesticides, to ensure that our natural resources are utilized efficiently and conserved for future generations. Sustainable pest management programs must also address the economic viability of available and new pest control products and practices.
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Under the Pest Control Products Act Health Canada must protect human health and the environment by only registering products that meet strict safety standards. To ensure sustainability Health Canada also examines the value of pesticide uses by assessing their efficacy, and their potential social and economic impacts.
Health Canada collaborates with multiple stakeholders to move towards sustainable pest management. These stakeholders include but are not limited to:
- Canadian pesticide user groups;
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada;
- Federal/Provincial/Territorial Committee on Pest Management and Pesticides;
- Canadian Forest Service;
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency;
- Provincial governments;
- Canadian research companies;
- Canadian manufacturers of pesticides;
- Canadian Universities;
- United States, European and other international counterparts of the Canadian stakeholders.
To assist the various stakeholders in achieving their SPM goals, the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) has dedicated staff that keep the stakeholders informed, support discussions across different sectors, and ensure that regulatory needs are understood.