Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Issue 8 - Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Reports of the Committee
Thursday, December 5, 2002
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to present its
FIFTH REPORT
Your Committee, to which was referred Bill C-11, An Act to amend the Copyright Act, in obedience to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, October 30, 2002, has examined the said Bill and now reports the same without amendment.
Respectfully submitted,
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to present its
SIXTH REPORT
Your Committee, to which was referred Bill C-8, An Act to protect human health and safety and the environment by regulating products used for the control of pests, in obedience to the Order of Reference of Wednesday, October 23, 2002, has examined the said Bill and now reports the same without amendment.
Attached as an appendix to this Report are the observations of your Committee on Bill C-8.
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL KIRBY
Chair
APPENDIX
Bill C-8, An Act to protect human health and safety and the environment by regulating products used for the control of pests
Observations of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
OBSERVATIONS
During its hearings on Bill C-8, the Committee heard from a broad range individuals and organizations with varying opinions on the bill. A common thread among them all, however, was the need to protect human health and the environment by ensuring the safety of the pest control products approved for use in this country.
One of the major concerns raised by the witnesses who appeared before the Committee was the lack of comprehensive and independent research on the harmful effects of pesticides. Although some believe that pesticides play, or are suspected of playing, a role in many serious diseases and conditions, there is little scientific proof of this.
Clearly, more research must be conducted to provide that degree of scientific certainty that is needed to ensure that only safe products are registered for use in this country and that already registered products found to be harmful are immediately pulled off the market. The Committee therefore believes that Health Canada should be provided with additional resources to conduct scientific research into the health effects of pesticides.
Witnesses were particularly concerned about protecting children from the harmful effects of pesticides. Because of their smaller size, diet and play habits, children are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides than are adults. Bill C-8 recognizes the special vulnerability of children by calling for the application of an additional ten-fold safety margin in evaluating a product's health risks. This additional safety margin, however, could be adjusted upward or downward on the basis of reliable scientific data, where appropriate.
The Committee shares the witnesses' concerns about the particular vulnerability of children. In our opinion, the additional ten-fold safety factor should be applied to the maximum extent possible to protect children from risks posed by pesticides and that a greater safety factor should be used whenever appropriate.
A final observation concerns the need for information on pesticide use. Clause 8(5) of the bill will require registrants to provide sales data on their registered products. Although witnesses were generally supportive of this clause, some of them felt that data on pesticide use, as opposed to sales, would be more helpful in making the connection between exposure and harm.
While a database on pesticide use might be more useful, the Committee understands that some pesticide use data is being collected at the provincial level. All things considered, the Committee is satisfied that the database on pesticides sales contemplated by the bill should be supported at this time. We wish to add, however, that Health Canada should establish the national pesticide sales database as quickly as possible. The Department should also co-operate with the provinces and territories to compile information on pesticide use.
The Committee is concerned with inert substances. As it is worded in the bill, inert substances fall under the category of confidential business information and as such do not have to be disclosed. The Committee heard a number of witnesses testify that while an inert could simply be water, they may also be chemical substances to which some people experience sensitivity. The Committee feels that it is necessary for registrants to disclose inert substances as part of their confidential test data that could be viewed upon request.
The lack of clearly defined timelines in this bill was raised by a number of witnesses. While the bill calls for products to be re-evaluated every fifteen years, it does not offer a timeframe for re-evaluation. This means that a potentially harmful product could continue to be used. The Committee feels that it is necessary for re-evaluations to take place in a reasonable, timely manner.
Thursday, December 12, 2002
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology has the honour to table its
SEVENTH REPORT
Your Committee, which was authorized by the Senate on Tuesday, October 29, 2002 to examine and report on the document entitled Santé en français — Pour un meilleur accès à des services de santé en français now tables its final report.
Respectfully submitted,
MICHAEL KIRBY
Chair