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P A N U P S
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Pesticide Action Network
North America
Updates Service
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U.S. EPA and USDA Sign Agreement to Develop Alternatives to
High Risk Pesticides
Sept 20, 1994
On August 15, 1994, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced
an agreement to coordinate regulatory actions against high
risk pesticides with their efforts to search for safer
alternatives. According to a joint EPA-USDA press release,
within six months of the agreement, EPA and USDA will
identify "those cases where producers will face a lack of
pest management tools due to pending regulatory action."
USDA will then work with both the agriculture and research
communities to identify and develop alternative pest control
methods.
To start the process, the EPA announced that it will list
pesticides that are likely to be restricted or taken off the
market, beginning with the list of pesticides affected by the
Delaney clause in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act,
which prohibits carcinogenic pesticides and other additives
in processed foods (see PANUPS 2/23/93 and 4/1/93). The EPA
list, initially containing 30-40 pesticides and updated
annually thereafter, will give notice to USDA to begin
research on safer alternatives, according to EPA
Administrator Browner. (The U.S. National Agricultural
Chemicals Association has criticized this procedure, calling
the EPA list a "hit list," and stating that registrants,
farmers and the public should be allowed to comment on
pesticides that are being considered for regulatory action
before the process begins.)
As needs for alternative control measures are identified,
USDA has agreed to collaborate with agricultural and research
groups to identify and develop alternative methods with
priority given to alternatives which significantly reduce
health and environmental risks. This will be done in part
through a competitive grants program within a research and
technology transfer program. USDA Secretary Espy stated that
in order to facilitate this research, the USDA hopes to
double the $14.5 million in their budget allocated to IPM and
sustainable development for the next fiscal year. The EPA-
USDA agreement itself contains no funding provisions, but
states that "it is understood that the ability of each party
to carry out its obligations under this agreement is subject
to the availability of appropriated funds."
As part of the agreement, EPA will give priority to review of
USDA-designated alternatives which may be alternate chemical
or non-chemical treatments. The agreement requires that EPA
work to ensure that applications are reviewed and decisions
made within the following time schedule:
Petition for a new food use of a registered
pesticide -- 6 months.
Registration of biological pesticides -- 8 months,
Registration of a new active ingredient as a reduced risk
pesticide -- 12 months.
Sources: USDA/EPA Environmental News, August 15, 1994;
Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News, August 17, 1994; Agrow,
August 19 and September 2, 1994.
Contact: Al Heier, U.S. EPA, (202) 260-4374; Tom Amontree,
USDA (202) 720-4623; PANNA.
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