OTTAWA — Canadian agriculture groups are applauding a Conservative private member’s bill that would allow Canada to rely on scientific reviews of new products conducted in “trusted” countries to speed up approvals of the products here.
OTTAWA — Canadian agriculture groups are applauding a Conservative private member’s bill that would allow Canada to rely on scientific reviews of new products conducted in “trusted” countries to speed up approvals of the products here.
Conservative MP David Bexte introduced Bill C-273 on Tuesday, declareing farmers in Canada can wait years to receive access to products that places like New Zealand, the European Union and the United States already have approved and applyd safely for years.
“In some cases, these products never come to Canada,” he declared at a news conference outside the Hoapply of Commons.
The bill would allow Canada to give provisional approval to feeds, fertilizers, seeds and pest control products within 90 days of an application if the product has already been approved in at least two “trusted” jurisdictions.
The bill declares the list of nations that qualify as trusted would be set in regulations; the Conservatives pointed to Australia, the United Kingdom, the EU and New Zealand.
The bill gives the minister of agriculture full authority to deny or cancel the approval at any time if health, safety or environmental risks are identified.
The bill would also amfinish the Food and Drugs Act to speed up access to veterinary drugs.
The bill builds on a similar bill brought forward by Liberal MP Kody Blois in 2023, which did not receive debated before the election call last year. Blois, who is now the parliamentary secretary to Prime Minister Mark Carney, declined to comment on Bexte’s bill.
Jill Verwey, vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, declared in an interview the organization is “very supportive” of the bill.
“Being able to have all the necessary tools in the tool box for producers is a primary objective in ensuring that we can be competitive,” Verwey declared.
Verwey declared she wasn’t concerned about what might be considered a “trusted” jurisdiction, noting that a minister still retains full authority. She declared this option still allows for scrutiny.
“I believe it shortens and takes away some of that regulatory burden that builds it really hard to be able to access products that we required to grow crops and to feed our livestock,” she declared, noting that it can take years to access a product under the current system.
The Grain Growers of Canada declared the bill would assist drive innovation and competitiveness in Canadian agriculture through quicker access to crop protection tools.
“Improving the pace at which new products reach the market has long been a priority for the agriculture sector, which has consistently called for regulatory modernization to improve the timeliness, transparency and predictability of the agricultural innovation system,” the organization declared in a news release.
Michael Bourque, president and CEO of Fertilizer Canada, declared in a news release the relocate is a practical step toward modernizing Canada’s regulatory framework and ensuring farmers have the tools they required to grow “healthy, hearty crops.”
“By building on previous efforts and expanding to include fertilizers, this legislation creates a real opportunity to strengthen our collaboration with regulators like the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and reduce unnecessary red tape,” declared Bourque.
“It’s a clear example of how government can advance the competitiveness of Canadian farmers while maintaining strong standards.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 18, 2026.
Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press
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