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PA EPA AND USDA COORDINATE EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON MINOR USE PESTICIDES
Release Date: 09/12/97
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FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1997
EPA AND USDA COORDINATE EFFORTS TO FOCUS ON MINOR USE PESTICIDES
In compliance with the l996 Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are taking a new approach to “minor use” pesticides. In particular, the two agencies will work more closely with the minor-use grower organizations and the registrants of the minor-use pesticide products. Minor use pesticides are those products used on agricultural crops or sites, livestock, or for protection of public health where: the total acreage in the United States is less than 300,000 acres, or, the use does not provide sufficient economic incentive to the registrants to generate the data required by EPA to support initial or continuing registration. Approximately 70 percent of all pesticide products are for minor use crops. Under the new program, EPA has set up a team of representatives from each division in the pesticide program who reports to the Director. The minor use team has three primary goals: l) obtaining and using the best available data on the amount of residues of a pesticide product on a given crop, 2) working more closely with the minor use grower community early in the regulatory process, and 3) promoting the use of safer pesticides for minor uses by urging manufacturers to research and expediting registrations for these pesticides. At USDA, a new Office of Pest Management is being created. The new office will centralize all current activities for pest management at USDA including the National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program. The new office will be charged with integrating and coordinating pesticide issues across several existing Department programs including pesticide use surveys, minor use registration data development, pesticide residue data on food, food consumption surveys, the pest management activities program and integrated pest management. EPA’s minor use team will coordinate with the new USDA office to meet the objectives of the FQPA on minor use issues.
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