I call this meeting to order.
We haven't done this at committee before, but we've asked the veterinary drugs directorate to come before us. It is similar to what we do with PMRA, bringing it in as a Health Canada representative, but with regulatory power over the agriculture industry.
Many of us around the table who represent rural ridings and some of us who are livestock producers are always interested in what's happening in the approval process of animal health products as well as the whole issue of price parity and competitiveness with the international markets we deal with, including the United States.
We want to welcome to the table Dr. Siddika Mithani, who's joined us as the associate assistant deputy minister of the health products and food branch, and Bob Hills, who is the manager of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy at the veterinary drugs directorate of the health products and food branch at Health Canada.
I welcome both of you. I understand you're going to make an opening comment. I remind you to keep it under ten minutes.