Aug. 4, 2021, was a significant day for farmers and people who work in the crop protection industry.
On that day, the federal ministers of health, agriculture and environment came together for a news conference — about seven weeks before the federal election.
They announced a “pause” on proposed increases for maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pesticides. The pause was necessary, they said, because the government was revamping the pesticide review process and creating a scientific panel to make it more “transparent.”
The Aug. 4 announcement was likely in response to a controversial decision by Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency.