EPA Pesticide Program Update
from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 10/02/01
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
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IN THIS UPDATE:
1) CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION OF BT COTTON
REAFFIRMED
2) LATEST UPDATE OF PESTICIDE DATA
SUBMITTERS LIST NOW AVAILABLE
3) NEW WEB SITES ON EPA PARTNERSHIPS TO
ADVANCE PESTICIDE RISK REDUCTION AND IPM
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1) CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION OF BT COTTON
REAFFIRMED
Following a comprehensive and exhaustive review, the
conditional registration of cotton containing a gene from a
common soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
has been extended for 5 years, but with some limitations.
As part of the continued conditional registration of Bt
cotton, EPA is requiring additional measures to ensure that
use of the product does not pose any unreasonable risks to
human health or to the environment. Bacillus thuringiensis
(Bt) is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that produces a
protein that is toxic to certain insects, but not to humans or
other species. The genetic material from Bt was implanted
into the cotton plants, which enables the plants to produce
the toxin that controls some insect pests.
"As a condition of EPA's approval of the Bt cotton
registration, we have adopted several provisions to
strengthen insect resistance management, improve grower
awareness and stewardship, and prevent gene flow from Bt
cotton to weedy relatives," said Stephen L. Johnson,
Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Prevention,
Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "There has been
extensive public input in this review process, and the
outcome is a registration that safeguards important
environmental concerns while providing cotton growers
with a significant option to meet their pest-control needs,"
Johnson continued.
After a thorough review process, EPA determined that there
is reasonable certainty that Bt cotton will not pose
unreasonable risks to human health or to the environment.
In order to reduce the possibility of insects developing
resistance to Bt, the amended registration requires that
some acres be set aside where non-Bt cotton will be grown
to serve as a "refuge." These refuge fields will support
populations of insects not exposed to the Bt toxin. The
insect populations in the refuges will help prevent
resistance development when they cross-breed with insects
in the Bt fields. Four distinct refuge designs have been
developed and are available for growers to implement to
limit potential development of insect resistance. One,
called the "external, unsprayed refuge option" (also known
as the 95:5 refuge) has a 3-year expiration date. By
September 2004, EPA will review data on the value of
other crops and weed plants as providing additional refuge
and will consider whether or not to maintain this option.
Other provisions to maximize protection of the public and
environment include an EPA requirement that the company
developing this product, Monsanto, will conduct
monitoring of any potential impacts from its continued use.
The registrant must also educate growers about the best
methods of planting Bt cotton to minimize any potential
development of insect resistance or gene transfer to other
plants.
Before reaching this decision, EPA undertook an extensive
evaluation of the previous time-limited registration for this
plant-incorporated protectant. The Agency consulted with
an independent panel of scientific experts from the
academic and medical communities, which conducted
scientific peer review on key issues. Adhering to a process
that emphasized up-to-date scientific data and
methodologies, numerous opportunities for public
involvement, and balanced decisionmaking, EPA
maintained a transparent review process to ensure that the
decision was based on sound science.
EPA remains committed to ensuring that use of Bt cotton
does not lead to unreasonable adverse effects to human
health or to the environment. The Agency will continue to
collect data and monitor any potential environmental or
health effects of this product. Further, to ensure
compliance with the Agency's registration guidelines for Bt
cotton, an independent, third-party compliance survey will
be conducted annually for the duration of this registration.
Detailed information on EPA's decision will be available
at: www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ .
2) LATEST UPDATE OF PESTICIDE DATA
SUBMITTERS LIST NOW AVAILABLE
EPA is announcing the availability of the October 1, 2001,
edition of the Pesticide Data Submitters List on the OPP
Web site. The Pesticide Data Submitters List is a
compilation of names and addresses of registrants who
wish to be notified and offered compensation for use of
their data. It was developed to assist pesticide applicants in
fulfilling their obligation as required by the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and
40 CFR Part 152, subpart E, regarding ownership of data
used to support registration.
All pesticides sold or distributed in the United States must
be registered by EPA, based on scientific studies showing
that they can be used without posing unreasonable risks to
people or the environment. When applying for registration
of a pesticide product, a registrant may develop and submit
the required data, cite all previously submitted data, or cite
selected data. When an applicant cites data previously
submitted by another pesticide registrant, the applicant
must make a valid offer to pay compensation to the owner
of that data. The Data Submitters List contains the names
and addresses of companies who submitted data relating to
certain pesticide chemicals who wish to receive such offers.
The Pesticide Data Submitters list is updated semi-annually
at the end of September and the end of March each year,
and may be accessed at the following Internet address:
http://www.epa.gov/opppmsd1/DataSubmittersList/. For
additional information, contact John Jamula at 703-305-6426;
e-mail: Jamula.John@epa.gov
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3) NEW WEB SITES ON EPA PARTNERSHIPS TO
ADVANCE PESTICIDE RISK REDUCTION AND IPM
The Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) has posted two
new Web sites to inform our stakeholders and the public of
how EPA and our partners are promoting safer pesticide
use and the adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
The Web sites also instruct pesticide users and
organizations with an interest in safer pesticide use on how
they can partner with EPA and/or adopt IPM practices. The
first site, Partnerships for Reducing Pesticide Risk,
highlights the achievements of some of our partnership
programs, such as the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship
Program (PESP), and contains links to partner Web sites
and other valuable sources of information. The second site,
Integrated Pest Management, explains EPA's approach to
IPM for both those who are experienced with IPM and
those who are not familiar with IPM but want to learn more
about safer forms of pest control. It contains links to other
sources of information, such as how to practice IPM for
specific agricultural uses, in schools, or even around the
home. To access these new Web sites, please go to:
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/partnerships/
http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/ipm/
If you have any questions related to these Web sites, please
contact Michael Glikes, Biopesticides and Pollution
Prevention Divsion (BPPD), at (703) 305-6231;
glikes.michael@epa.gov.
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EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external
stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest
in OPP activities and decisions.
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 at:
http://ace.orst.edu/info/nptn/
For information about ongoing activities in the
Office of Pesticide Programs, visit our homepage
at: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
Or call or write us directly at:
Communication Services Branch
Office of Pesticide Programs (7506C)
US Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004-2403
703-305-5017