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EPA Pesticide Program Updates: October 9, 2001Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, October 9, 2001 IN THIS UPDATE:
EPA Releases Report on Minor Use Pesticides and New Web PageThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a Report on the Minor Uses of Pesticides, mandated by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) as amended by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996.The report describes actions taken by EPA to increase communication with minor use stakeholders and to expedite registrations for minor use pesticides. For example, EPA has designated a minor crop advisor and a public health coordinator to increase responsiveness to minor use concerns. The report also describes the coordinated approach between EPA, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) for dealing with minor use issues during FQPA implementation. EPA in partnership with USDA's Interregional Research Project 4 (IR-4) has aggressively sought to increase pesticide registrations for minor uses, registering 814 new uses in 1999 and 901 in 2000. Over 80% of the new use registrations have been for reduced-risk pesticides. Minor use priorities for reregistration and tolerance reassessment have been guided by recommendations from the EPA/USDA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC) and the Committee to Advise on Reassessment and Transition (CARAT), both established to provide EPA and USDA advice on strategic approaches for pest management planning and tolerance reassessment while implementing FQPA. EPA has also created a new minor use web page, which provides links to the report and related information on the Agency's minor use activities and partnerships with other agencies. Copies of the Report on Minor Use Pesticides may be obtained on the new minor use web site or by calling 1-800-490-9198. Minor uses of pesticides are those for which the total United States production for a crop is fewer than 300,000 acres, or those uses which do not provide sufficient economic incentive for a registrant to support initial or continuing pesticide registrations. Minor uses of pesticides occur on fruits and vegetables and for control of disease vectors, such as mosquitos, ticks, cockroaches, rodents and disease-causing organisms. Note: For general questions on pesticides and pesticide poisoning prevention, contact the National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (NPTN), toll-free, at: 1-800-858-7378, by e-mail at nptn@ace.orst.edu, or by visiting their Web site. For information about ongoing activities in the Office of Pesticide Programs, visit OPPs home page. Or call or write OPP directly at: Communication Services Branch |
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 Western Integrated Pest Management Center Pest Management Centers are sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture, Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service |
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