EPA is proposing changes to its pesticide testing program

[Guest guest]

Dear Colleagues:

In the Federal Register,EPA recently issued a proposal to change what's

required in terms of toxicity testing for registering a pesticide under

the Federal Insecticide Fundigicide and Rodentificide Act's regulations,

40 CFR Parts 152 and 158. Comments on the EPA proposal are due within 90

days, or by the end of May.

For example, under the proposal, EPA will use a weight of the evidence

determination in deciding whether developmental neurotoxicity testing

should be requested. This kind of vague, conditional requirement, is

extremely weak, in light of the fact that many pesticides are neurotoxic

and some have been shown to cause greater harm to infants and children

than to adults. There also is a proposal relative to immunotoxicity

testing...It should be noted the proposal specifically does not apply to

so-called inert ingredients, which may be toxic and in greater volume in

the pesticide product than are the " active " ingredients.

For the federal register notice, go to:

http://frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=6508618192+0+0+0\

& WAISaction=retrieve

If you have knowledge about toxicity testing, please comment.

These testing requirements are the principal way that EPA is able to get

any safety information from a company hoping to market a new pesticide

before people are exposed to that chemical. If the safety of a chemical

is reevaluated after it is marketed, the information at hand is often

compared to the Part 158 requirements to determine if prior safety

testing has been sufficient. Needless to say, any changes or proposed

changes to the requirements are very important.