Latest News
Join us for the CHC AGM 2010 Farm and Industry Tour on March 2
January 18, 2010
For more information, or to register, click ...– Read More


Hort Shorts
Hort Shorts Spring 2009
May 01, 2009


Home  ›  Projects and Programs  ›  Crop, Plant Protection and Environment

Crop, Plant Protection and Environment

About the Committee

2010

Chair: Gary Brown, NS

The Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee is a dedicated group of Canadian Horticultural Council members who possess expertise in the areas of crop protection, plant health and environmental issues, combined with hands-on experience as growers. The Committee meets once a year in March at the Annual General Meeting to deal with a wide range of business including crop protection tools, minor use product registrations, proposed regulatory changes, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) projects, trade irritants, and other concerns. The Chair is appointed on a yearly basis at the Annual General Meeting in March. To contact the Chair, call the National Office at: (613) 226-4880 or send an email.


Activities


Members of the Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee represent Council interests on several external committees and associations, including:

  • Economic Management Advisory Committee (EMAC), established in April 1997 to advise the Executive Director of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) on specific ways to improve efficiency and cost effectiveness without compromising health or environmental protection and while maintaining industry competitiveness.
  • Expert Committee on Integrated Pest Management (ECIPM), a group of federal and provincial research scientists with expertise on pesticide use in agriculture. Part of the committee's mandate is to promote IPM development and implementation.
  • Grower Requested Own Use (GROU) Program allows farmers to import the U.S. version of a crop protection product registered in Canada for their own use, should that product be available in the U.S. for a lower price than here at home.
  • Minor Crop Farmer Alliance (MCFA), a coalition of farm, food manufacturing and pest management organizations working on the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) implementation in the U.S. and evaluating the impact on industries in both countries;
  • MCFA Communication Team, responsible for developing a communication plan for media and consumers when crop protection tools are revoked or labels changed. Through participation on the MCFA, the CHC is also represented on the U.S. Committee to Advise on Reassessment and Transition (CARAT).
  • NAFTA Growers Network, providing input to the NAFTA Technical Working Group. The Network was put in place in November 1999 to facilitate communication on issues related to pesticide harmonization in North America and ensure that growers were kept informed of any issues that required their input; as well as to provide opportunities to grower groups to work together on potential trade irritants and to build business cases for alternative pest control products. The Chair of the Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee serves as Co-Chair of the Growers Network
  • NAFTA Technical Working Group Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the governments of Mexico, Canada and the United States formed the Technical Working Group on Pesticides (TWG) in 1996 to develop a coordinated pesticides regulatory framework among NAFTA partners to address trade irritants, build national regulatory/scientific capacity, share the review burden, and coordinate scientific and regulatory decisions on pesticides.
  • Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC), a multi-stakeholder group that fosters communication and dialogue among stakeholders and with the Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), and provides advice to the Minister of Health on policies and issues relating to the federal pest management regulatory system.


Crop Protection Advisory Committee

2010

Chair: Gary Brown, NS

A subcommittee of the Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee of the CHC, the Crop Protection Advisory Committee has as its goal to develop and advance crop protection management policies and programs that promote the economic viability and competitiveness of Canadian farmers within a sustainable development framework. Regional members are appointed at the AGM.

Mandate
  1. CPAC's main role is to advise the Board of Directors, through the Crop, Plant Protection and Environment Committee, on all pesticide related matters.
  2. CPAC is to provide representation to other committees and organizations, meetings, seminars, etc. to present the position of the horticulture community on crop protection issues.
  3. CPAC is to form a knowledge base on crop protection issues among CHC's members.
  4. CPAC is to pursue crop protection issues including:
  • environmentally sustainable and economically viable policies for crop protection;
  • promoting sustainable development within the agricultural industry;
  • the continuation and improvement of the minor use program;
  • the development of an effective and efficient registration system for crop protection products;
  • the development of a harmonized registration system with the United States as well as with other countries;
  • adaptation initiatives, both economically and environmentally sustainable, for crop production and protection;
  • work through CHC to develop an international role in terms of identifying areas of common interest with farmers in other countries, in particular the U.S., and working towards the resolution of Canadian issues through international channels, should this be appropriate.
  • Semi-annual meetings and conference calls
  • Semi-annual meetings with Executive Director, Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and Executive Director, Pest Management Centre (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada).

Fact Sheets


Links