The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) - First Meeting of the GHS Pesticides Sectoral Working Group

Tuesday, February 17, 2004 10:00 - 10:45

Help on accessing alternative formats, such as Portable Document Format (PDF), Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (PPT) files, can be obtained in the alternate format help section.

Members in attendance via teleconference:

• Pierre Petelle, Co-Chair,
• PMRA Brenda Linke, Co-Chair,
• PMRA Peter MacLeod, CropLife
• Renee Bartz, CropLife
• Allan Brown, CropLife (alternate)
• Andrew Medryk, CCSPA
• Shannon Coombs, CCSPA
• Chris McCurdy, CCSPA
• Lorna Poff, Provincial Rep (Ontario)
• Sandra Bello, CCOHS
• Jeff Kisiloski, CAAR

Observers:

• Kim Headrick, Product Safety Programme
• Brenda Everson, Product Safety Programme

Other Gov't Reps:

• Lisa Woods, PMRA
• Zoe Gillespie, PMRA

Observers:

• Kim Headrick, Product Safety Programme
• Brenda Everson, Product Safety Programme

Agenda and Purpose:

1. To introduce membership.
2. To discuss and provide comments on the group's draft terms of reference.
3. To discuss and provide input for the development of a draft work plan.

Item	Topic	Time
1	Welcome, Member Introductions	15 minutes
2	Overview of GHS Implementation, Discussion of Process	10 minutes
3	Terms of Reference	30 minutes
4	Draft Work Plan - discussion	15 minutes
5	Wrap-up, Next meeting(s)	10 minutes

Members are asked to review the draft terms of reference and be prepared to provide comments and suggestions to the working group. Members are also asked to consider strategies and processes for the development of a work plan for the PSWG.

Members are asked to identify themselves as they provide comments and to listen when other members are speaking.

Meeting Notes:

• Background of GHS and other sectoral working group progress to date was provided.
• Participants of teleconference introduced themselves and their affiliation
• Agenda for the meeting was approved as is
• Terms of Reference (TOR) for the PSWG were reviewed and approved by all
• An overview of the GHS committee structures was presented; members were asked to consider participation on the GHS General Issues Committee; membership will likely be determined by the end of March
• Possible approaches to the PSWG workplan were presented and the following comments ensued:
  
  • A recommendation was made that an item on reports/updates regarding US and Mexico implementation activities be included on the workplan ;
  • The importance of synchronization among NAFTA partners with respect to implementation dates was noted;
  • It was asked if the U.S. EPA would be invited to join in on our PSWG meetings; likely defer this consideration until the work of the PSWG has progressed
  • One participant indicated the preference of looking at the same issues at the same time as the other sector working groups (similar workplans across sectors)
  • A request was made for the inclusion of issues that deal with downstream consequences/implications for farmers and other end-users due to federal and provincial regulatory changes resulting from GHS implementation.
  • A level of commitment from the other U.S. regulatory sectors comparable to that expressed by the US pesticides sector (EPA) would be desirable.
    
• Participants were encouraged to submit workplan suggestions (email/telephone/website) for consideration at the upcoming March 5th meeting of sector working group chairs
• Next PSWG meeting will be held before the end of March; preference was expressed for teleconferencing at this time; the need for a face-to-face meeting will be determined at a later time