FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1999-07-26

First two facilities recognized under Good Laboratory Practices initiative for pesticides

OTTAWA - The Standards Council of Canada and Health Canada's Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) today announced the first two facilities confirmed to be operating in compliance with the requirements of the Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) initiative for pesticides - an initiative that increases global harmonization of standards and facilitates international cooperation in regulating pesticides.

Vaughn Agricultural Research Services Ltd., of Branchton, Ontario, and Uniroyal Chemical Co. Research Laboratories, of Guelph, Ontario, are now recognized under the GLP initiative for conducting non-clinical studies of the effects of pest control products on human health and the environment.

Before a pesticide is considered for registration in Canada, it must undergo extensive testing to determine potential risks to human health and the environment as well as the pesticide's value. The manufacturer conducts these detailed scientific tests and studies and submits the data and results to the PMRA, the government agency that determines whether the product is acceptable for use in Canada.

Compliance with GLP principles helps ensure that studies of pesticides are carried out to the highest quality standards. The Standards Council of Canada is the federal Crown corporation that oversees the National Standards System. Its Program for the Accreditation of Laboratories - Canada administers the Canadian GLP compliance-monitoring program for pesticides.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) developed GLP guidelines to ensure that evaluations of chemicals - in this case pest control products - are based on data that are of high quality, rigour and reproducibility. The GLP principles address all aspects of conducting studies, from the planning stage to data archiving. They ensure that appropriate staff, facilities and equipment are in place and that documented standard procedures are followed through the studies. Recognition under the initiative also facilitates acceptance of studies in other OECD member countries.

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