Close Window
PESTICIDE ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS, ANIMAL TESTING AND NANOTECHNOLOGY ISSUES INCH FORWARD AT EPA --- After ten years, EPA's effort to develop screens for pesticide active ingredients and inerts that may mimic human hormones is finally approaching "prime time." Efforts to replace acute toxicity tests with non-animal methods also are moving forward. In addition, the Agency has created an internal workgroup on regulating emerging pesticide nanotechnologies.
EPA BRIEFS STAKEHOLDERS ON NUMEROUS FRONT-BURNER ISSUES --- Hot topics from EPA's recent Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee include the new registration review program, a recent court ruling on the new Endangered Species Act regulations, biomonitoring, performance measures, new Part 158 data requirements, mandatory recycling and enforcement.
PESTICIDE WORKER PROTECTION OVERHAUL EXTENDED AS KNOTTY ISSUES EMERGE --- Unanticipated complexities have extended EPA's timetable for publishing proposed changes to its worker protection and applicator certification regulations. Further issues include medical monitoring of pesticide handlers, foreign language labels, right-to-know booklets, and expanding the regulations to cover antimicrobial, livestock, dairy, poultry and landscape workers.
STATE REGULATORS PUSH PESTICIDE WATER QUALITY ISSUES --- As concerns mount over pesticide impacts to water quality, state regulators want EPA to develop surface water quality standards for an initial "Top 10" list of pesticide-related compounds, with more to follow. Despite a White House decision to pull water monitoring resources from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, grant funding to the states has not changed -- but their costs are going up, and it remains to be seen if future OPP expectations will be scaled back.
SPRAY DRIFT WORKGROUP AGREES ON NEED TO CHANGE PESTICIDE LABELS ---- Environmentalists and industry reached consensus at a recent meeting that fundamental changes are needed on pesticide product labels to protect against spray drift. While deep differences remain on other issues, they seem to agree that stringent applicator training requirements and strengthened enforcement are also needed.
Email: mail@pesticide.net
http://www.pesticide.net