I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 79 of the Standing Committee on International Trade. Today’s meeting is taking place in a hybrid format, pursuant to the Standing Orders. Therefore, members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.
I would like to make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and members. Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. For those online, please mute yourselves when you are not speaking. I will remind you that all comments should be addressed through the chair. Members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. Members online, please use the “raise hand” function.
For interpretation online, you have the choice, at the bottom of your screen, of floor, English or French. Those in the room can use the earpiece and select the desired channel. If interpretation is lost, please inform me immediately, and we will ensure that interpretation is properly restored before resuming the proceedings. I ask all participants to be careful when handling the earpieces in order to prevent feedback. Feedback can be extremely harmful to our interpreters and can cause serious injuries. I invite participants to speak into the same microphone that their earpiece is plugged into and to place earpieces away from the microphone when they are not in use.
I welcome all of our witnesses this morning, specifically Mr. Côté.
It's nice to see you here in person today.
Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motion adopted by the committee on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the committee is resuming its study of Canada’s proposed biocides regulation.
We have with us, from the Association pour le développement et l'innovation en chimie au Québec, André Côté, member, board of directors. From CropLife Canada, we have Gregory Kolz, vice-president, government affairs; and Émilie Bergeron, vice-president, chemistry. From Food, Health & Consumer Products of Canada, we have Gerry Harrington, senior vice-president, consumer health; and from Flexo Products Limited, we have Stephen Parker, president and chief executive officer.
Welcome, again, to all of you. We will start with opening remarks, and we will then proceed with questions from the committee members.
Monsieur Côté, I invite you to present for up to five minutes, please.