Evidence of meeting #78 for International Trade in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was product.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Those will be based on that.
One year from the date of posting is when the regulations come into effect. Is that enough time for Canadian manufacturers to meet the regulations?
October 31st, 2023 / 11:35 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
One year after posting, they would come into effect, but then there would be a transition period. We are looking at a transition period of four years for existing disinfectants and surface sanitizers and a bit more time—six years—for products that are used in food establishments.
11:35 a.m.
Conservative
Tony Baldinelli Conservative Niagara Falls, ON
Finally, have the consultations ceased? Have you finished all of your consultations, or are they continuing?
11:35 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
We carried out the CG I consultation process. We continued to have consultations up until very recently, and we continue to be open to receiving additional feedback as we work towards the CG II publication.
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Several times you mentioned that you trust and work closely with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. How much trust did you have with the EPA under the four years of President Trump?
11:35 a.m.
Chief Regulatory Officer, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
I'm actually not aware of that. I know that as regulators, we talk about the scientific standards—
11:35 a.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
I understand that. Let me come to that.
Based on the study research done by Harvard Law School and Columbia Law School, the New York Times did a thorough analysis and came out with a list of 100 environmental rules that were revised, removed or reversed. Specifically, let me say the Trump administration repealed a clean water rule and rewrote EPA's pollution control policies. When we have a foreign government agency that has done that over a period of four years, I'm a bit concerned that you 100% trust the same agency.
11:40 a.m.
Chief Regulatory Officer, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
To our knowledge, there was no effect on the disinfectant and sanitizer side. We detected no change in the standard. They still had the same standards and performed the same science we would be relying on.
It's worth saying that when COVID came along, we had to work very closely together, and it's probably a very good thing for product safety regulators to be that co-operative. It really did bring together a lot of scientific evidence.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
Thank you.
You did the consultation. How many people participated in the consultation process?
11:40 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
I'm looking through my notes to see if I have the data. I'll have to come back to that. I'll have to check my notes.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
11:40 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
Well, several associations provided comments. We received comments from definitely a number of different associations. It was quite robust.
11:40 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
I don't have the—
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
That's okay.
What percentage of those responses were from domestic manufacturers?
11:40 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
We had a lot of input from domestic manufacturers from different provinces in the country. We definitely had robust input from different manufacturers.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
But you don't have the percentage of the responses that were from domestic manufacturers.
11:40 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
In terms of the responses, I don't have the percentage from domestic manufacturers.
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
That's interesting. For me, the regulations you have are generating reasons to do that. It appears that more has been done to ease imports into Canada rather than to promote domestic manufacturing.
Is that so?
11:40 a.m.
Chief Regulatory Officer, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
The use of the foreign decisions pathway is one pathway. Really, the whole regime is meant to be tailored to these products. For many years, they've been regulated as drugs, which was not suitable, so there are efficiencies—
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
Chandra Arya Liberal Nepean, ON
I apologize. I have limited time. I have one minute left.
What is the size of the biocides market in Canada? How much of it is bought from Canadian domestic manufacturers, and how much through importation?
11:40 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Judy Sgro
Perhaps the witness could possibly get that information to the committee following today's meeting.
11:40 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Health Products and Food Branch, Department of Health
I can answer the question, Madam Chair.