Peace River—Westlock MP Arnold Viersen has added his name as a joint seconder to Bill C-273, the Facilitating Agricultural Regulatory Modernization (FARM) Act.
The proponent, Bow River MP David Bexte, said Canadian farmers are at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing new products and technologies in the industry due to red tape.
The FARM Act intends to address these regulatory challenges by ensuring:
- Feeds, fertilizers, seeds and pest control products approved in at least two trusted jurisdictions would receive provisional approval within 90 days of a complete application.
- This “trusted jurisdiction” framework would allow Canada to rely on rigorous scientific reviews already completed by countries such as the United States, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand, while still maintaining Canadian oversight.
- The minister would retain full authority to deny or cancel approvals at any time if health, safety or environmental risks are identified
- The Food and Drugs Act is expanded to allow faster access to veterinary drugs, addressing the growing shortage of animal health products in Canada.
“The economic upside of the FARM Act is significant,” commented Viersen. “Faster access to modern agricultural inputs will boost productivity, reduce crop losses, improve farm incomes, strengthen rural communities, ease pressure on government support programs and help lower costs at the grocery store for Canadian families.”
