CA President Darren Praznik was invited by PCPC to participate in their annual Legal & Regulatory Conference which they recently held in Quebec City.
Addressing the gathering, Darren outlined the unified approach of our Canadian, US, and Mexican industry associations in the CUSMA/USMCA trade negotiations and the significant benefits which our joint negotiating “team” were able to achieve in the final agreement. In addition to demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach-and its lessons for industry in future trade negotiations – he identified several new provisions in the “Cosmetics Annex” which should provide some new and unique tools in pushing back on unnecessary duplication in regulation, the use of non-risk based approaches, and the creation of regulations that could “inhibit the efficacy” of ensuring safety or lead to “substantial delays” in a product coming to market.
More specifically, Darren noted that with these new provisions in this trade agreement, industry has an opportunity to use our inter-association relationship to make full use of these tools in pushing back on various national regulatory practices that do not meet CUSMA/USMAC requirements. “These tools are of little value if we don’t work together between associations to make full use of them”, said Darren Praznik, as he challenged the group to explore innovative ways to make the best use of them.
In addition to his presentation, Darren also participated in an environmental issues panel where he shared our recent challenge in Canada with the dual regulatory process being created by Environment Canada including specific inspections by ECCC inspectors (complete with body armor and bear spray!).
At the request of PCPC and as an amateur historian and tour guide, Darren provided a walking tour of historic old Quebec which was attended by some 60 participants in the conference. The tour seemed to be enjoyed by all and he was very honoured to have been asked to undertake the tour!
