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T-4- 113 – Guidelines for safety assessments of fertilizers and supplements and for information to be submitted in demonstrating product safety

The purpose of this document is to provide applicants with guidance on safety assessments conducted on products regulated under the Fertilizers Act and on the type of information to be submitted in demonstrating product safety.

1. Product safety assessments conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The Fertilizer Safety Section of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducts safety assessments of fertilizers and supplements under the authority of the Fertilizers Act. These assessments address three main issues which are:

The specific issues to be addressed during the safety assessment of a particular product depend on the constituents of that product and its recommended pattern of use.

Product safety assessments normally include a preliminary stage and a follow-up stage. The preliminary assessment, based essentially on the identification, constituents, and intended use of a product, identifies which of the three issues (food, user and environment) must be addressed for that product. Also, in the absence of a complete data set (that is, sufficient information pertaining to all items in Appendix 1, discussed below) this preliminary review also identifies a smaller "screening level" package of "minimum data requirements". The follow-up assessment is conducted when either a complete information package or a "screening level" information package has been received by the CFIA.

2. Information to be submitted in demonstrating product safety – responsibility of the applicant

2.1 Administrative and technical information

Attached as Appendix 1 is a list of administrative and technical information which are considered for the purposes of conducting a product safety assessment. All existing information relating to items in this list, for formulated products, ingredients, and significant contaminants, must be submitted.

For compiling the necessary technical information, we recommend that several sources be consulted. These include suppliers and manufacturers of the products or their ingredients, the public literature, databases such as those available through the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Safety and Health, etc.

2.2 Technical information summary and references

A summary of the information compiled according to Section 2.1 is to be submitted to the Plant Production Division. In this summary, the information is presented in the order in which the items appear in Appendix 1.

All information in the summary must be properly referenced (including document name, date and page numbers, etc.); reference material is to be enclosed in the order in which the item to which it pertains appears in Appendix 1. A bibliography of the reference documents would be appreciated.

Where necessary and appropriate, in lieu of information pertaining to a particular ingredient, information pertaining to a similar substance may be submitted. This requires that a rationale for similarity between the substances and hence between their characteristics (be they physical, chemical, or toxicological) be provided.

Where technical information is not available, and there are reasonable scientific grounds for believing that it is neither necessary for nor applicable to the safety assessment of a product, a request for waiver of that information may be submitted. This request must be accompanied by a sound scientific rationale, and is incorporated into the summary document in proper sequence (see Appendix 1).

Please note that for the CFIA to consider technical information which is enclosed in the reference material, this technical information must be addressed in the summary document.

2.3 Product safety demonstration

For the purposes of demonstrating the safety of a product, the information provided under Section 2.2 is reviewed and conclusions are drawn in regard to food safety, worker protection, and the environment. Again, the particular issues to be addressed for a product depend on its recommended use patterns. This safety demonstration is provided by the applicant to the CFIA.

Remarks: Where appropriate preventative measures are used to mitigate worker exposure, and in drawing conclusions as to worker protection, the measures must be clearly identified.

3.0 Notes

We recommend that the assistance of a toxicologist be sought for compiling and reviewing the data and for preparing the information package to be sent to the CFIA.

Please note that this guideline and these data requirements may apply to formulated products, individual ingredients (for example, actives or formulants), break-down products, contaminants, etc.

Appendix 1

1.0 Identification and use of the product

2.0 Identification of ingredients including impurities

3. Physico-chemical data

4. Toxicity data

5. Human exposure data and exposure estimation

6. Food safety data

7. Environmental fate

8. Environmental effects

Note: Additional data may be required under certain circumstances.

9. Contact information

Fertilizer Safety Section
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Phone: 1-855-212-7695
Email: cfia.paso-bpdpm.acia@inspection.gc.ca

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