Meeting of the GHS Pest Control Products Sector Working Group (PSWG) : Acute Toxicity

May 27th, 2004, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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Members in attendance via teleconference:

• Lynn Ovenden, Co-Chair, PMRA
• Brenda Linke, Co-Chair, PMRA
• Lisa Woods, PMRA
• Zoe Gillespie, PMRA
• Peter MacLeod, CropLife
• Renee Bartz, CropLife
• Irwin Schmidt, CropLife
• Steve Rathlou, CCSPA
• Bob Whiting, CCOHS
• Jeff Kisiloski, CAAR

Observers:

Kim Headrick, Policy and Programme Services Office, Health Canada (PPSO)
Brenda Everson, PPSO
Lisa Wardell, Consumer Chemicals Sector Working Group (CCSWG)
Ken Loewen, CCSWG
Suranika Dias, Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System Division, Health Canada (WHMIS)
Mary Frances Lowe, United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
Bernadette Boutin-Muma, PMRA

Agenda

1. Welcome, Introductions of members and observers
2. Update on activities
3. Draft work plan - discussion
4. Acute toxicity - discussion
5. Wrap-up, next meetings

Meeting Notes:

• PMRA provided an update on HC's website page for GHS activities, the US Senate hearing in late March on safety data sheets, and the agreement under NAFTA TWG on Pesticides for US-EPA, Mexico CICOPLAFEST and PMRA to share info on GHS implementation activities. US-EPA intends to publish a proposal on GHS implementation this summer.
  ACTION: PMRA to notify members of the url when EPA's white paper is published.
• PMRA described the overview plan:
  2004 - coordinated technical consultations by each sector (consumer chemicals, workplace chemicals, pesticides and transport), with a General Issues Committee (GIC) and Ad Hoc Expert Groups to deal with overlapping issues. PSWG representatives to the GIC are Bob Whiting (CCOHS), Shannon Coombs (CCSPA), Peter MacLeod (CropLife), Brenda Linke and Lynn Ovenden(Jan.2005) Pierre Petelle (PMRA). Bob Sebastien (PMRA) will be part of the Ad Hoc Expert Group on environmental hazards.
  2005 - 2008 regulatory proposals and implementation.
  ACTION: PMRA to confirm dates for June teleconferences of PSWG.
  ACTION: members to consider nominations for the Ad Hoc Expert Group on environmental hazards (aquatic toxicity).
• Acute Toxicity: review of the prepared discussion guide
  Mixtures (all routes of exposure): explanation of mixtures formula, which is same as TDG formula.
  Oral Exposure: two options are to adopt GHS categories 1-4 OR adopt all 5 GHS categories.
  Dermal Exposure: two options are to adopt GHS categories 1-4 OR adopt all 5 GHS categories.
  Acute Inhalation:
  Gases & Vapours: PMRA has no criteria currently, case-by-case evaluation will continue.
  Dusts and Mists: two options are to adopt GHS categories 1-4 OR adopt all 5 GHS categories

  Comments

  • concern was expressed to ensure harmonization with EPA and with Consumer Chemicals, so there is similar labelling for pesticides and consumer products in North America. Pending news of US/EPA direction, some members' initial preference is to adopt GHS categories 1-4 only unless there is evidence that would necessitate labelling Category.5 products.
  • support for a harmonized approach in the North American market was expressed
  • issue was raised that the ! symbol for categories 4/5 may not be understood, user might pay more attention if the word POISON was retained.
  • question was raised "does any registration system currently require hazard labelling for Category.5 (low toxicity) products?" Suggestion was then made that perhaps Category.5 should only be applied in special situations (e.g. when low tox product is applied to skin or if sensitive sub-population would likely be exposed).
  • concern was expressed regarding the fact that 5 mg/L is such a high concentration to achieve in an inhalation study, maybe option 1 (categories 1-4 only) is more reasonable.
  • question was raised, "will all domestic class products need to be re-tested?" PMRA responded that re-testing will not be required for all domestic class products, however these products will pose challenges on how to classify under GHS.
    
    
• Members were asked to send comments and questions to both PSWG Co-Chairs by email.
  Members commented that the general approach to the teleconference was satisfactory but meeting documents should be provided well in advance so members can ask other association members for comment ahead of time.

Next Meeting: May 28, 2004