Alberta Conservative MP David Bexte has introduced a private member’s bill aimed at speeding up access to agricultural products already approved in other major developed countries.
Bexte, the member for Bow River, tabled Bill C-273, known as the Facilitating Agricultural Regulatory Modernization Act (FARM Act), on Tuesday in Ottawa. The proposed legislation would require provisional approval within 90 days for feed, fertilizer, seed and pest control products that have already been cleared in at least two trusted jurisdictions, while veterinary drugs would be eligible for faster access under an expanded Food and Drugs Act framework.
The bill is intended to address what Bexte described as years of excessive red tape and duplicated regulatory reviews that have delayed Canadian farmers’ access to products already widely used in places such as the U.S., EU, Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Those delays have increased costs for producers, weakened rural economies, and contributed to higher food prices for consumers, Bexte said in a release.
Under the proposal, Canada would be able to rely in part on scientific reviews already conducted by trusted foreign regulators, while still maintaining domestic oversight. The federal minister would retain full authority to deny, cancel, or halt approvals if health, safety, or environmental concerns arise.
Bexte also pointed to broader competitiveness concerns, saying Canada continues to rank poorly among OECD countries for regulatory burden on business. He said faster approvals would help farmers gain earlier access to new seed genetics, fertilizers, crop protection products and veterinary drugs, improving productivity, reducing losses and strengthening farm profitability.
The bill builds on earlier reform efforts and recommendations from a House of Commons agriculture committee report, while expanding the scope to include fertilizer and veterinary products.
