CropLife rejects allegations the pesticide sector acts nefariously.Ottawa-CropLife Canada is pushing back against critical comments from the former co-chair of the Pest Management Regulatory Agency's Scientific Advisory Committee over concerns about a lack of transparency and scientific oversight in pesticide management.Bruce Lanphear, a health sciences professor at Simon Fraser University, quit as the committee because he said it provides a false sense of security when it comes to protecting Canadians from toxic pesticides.The committee of scientists has a more limited role and scope of work than the Agency's other advisory board, which includes members of the pesticide industry, he said.Pierre Petelle, President and CEO, CropLife Canada, it was disappointing to hear Lanphear “making unfounded allegations about industry influence on the regulation of pesticides in Canada. As an industry, we hold ourselves to the highest standards when it comes to the integrity of scientific data we provide to regulators around the world.“As with any regulated party it is standard practice – and in fact critical to the regulatory process – to engage in various ways with the regulator,” he said. “To imply that a regulated party engaging with the regulator is in any way nefarious suggests at best a gross misunderstanding of the process and at worst a deliberate attempt to undermine trust in the regulatory system.“Canada has one of the most robust, science-based regulatory systems for pesticides in the world. Other countries hold up Canada's approach to pesticide regulation as the gold standard. Canadians, who are being pressed by rising food costs, can and should have confidence that the food they are buying is safe for them and their families.”In announcing a new co-chair, the Agency said the scientific committee is an ongoing transformation that it is evaluating and will meet the committee soon to discuss the issue. Dr. Eric Liberda, a Professor at the School of Occupational and Public Health at the Toronto Metropolitan University is the new co-chair.The Agency said its pesticide review process is fully rooted in science, which includes taking from various sources including its two advisory committees.The Agency launched a transformation agenda in 3021 that focuses on improving transparency for better public participation in pesticide decision-making. That will include strengthening its pesticide review process.It has proposed amendments to the Pest Control Products Regulations to strengthen the oversight and protection of human health and the environment when it comes to pesticides.