EPA Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 08/17/01
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
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IN THIS UPDATE:
1) DRAFT PRN CONCERNING SPRAY AND DUST DRIFT
LABEL STATEMENTS FOR PESTICIDE PRODUCTS
2) EPA PROPOSES REVISIONS IN REGULATIONS
FOR CHEMICALS NOT REQUIRING A TOLERANCE
OR AN EXEMPTION FROM A TOLERANCE
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1) DRAFT PRN CONCERNING SPRAY AND DUST DRIFT
LABEL STATEMENTS FOR PESTICIDE PRODUCTS
EPA is issuing for public comment a draft Pesticide Registration
Notice (PRN) that would provide guidance to registrants on
product labeling statements for controlling spray (and dust) drift
from application sites. The PRN also describes OPP's policy on
spray drift and proposed plans for implementing these statements
on product labels. The purpose of the proposed new labeling
guidance is to provide pesticide registrants, applicators, and other
individuals responsible for pesticide applications with improved
and more consistent product label statements for controlling
pesticide drift to ensure protection of human health and the
environment. The PRN would not apply to certain types
of pesticide products and uses which raise special considerations
for appropriate labeling. Further, the Agency does not intend for
its new guidance to conflict with or supersede more stringent
restrictions by states or tribes or which are currently on product
labels. The draft PRN is available at www.epa.gov/pesticides.
Comments on the proposed PRN are due 90 days from the
publication date of the Federal Register notice.
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2) EPA PROPOSES REVISIONS IN REGULATIONS
FOR CHEMICALS NOT REQUIRING A TOLERANCE
OR AN EXEMPTION FROM A TOLERANCE
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a new
"subpart E" in 40 CFR part 180 to be entitled "Pesticide
Chemicals Not Requiring a Tolerance or an Exemption from a
Tolerance."Subpart E will contain a list of the pesticide chemicals
for which the Agency has determined that neither a tolerance nor
an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance is needed.
Subpart E will list pesticide chemicals that are actually used in or
on food crops, but that have been determined to not have a
reasonable likelihood of producing residues in
food. Examples of such uses would be dyes used as seed treat-
ments, or chemicals that qualify under the Threshold of Regula-
tion Policy. The proposed rule also seeks to revoke tolerance
exemptions for Rhodamine B as a dye for pesticide formulations
applied to growing crops, to raw agricultural commodities after
harvest, or to animals. EPA is proposing to establish in subpart E,
the use of Rhodamine B as a dye for seed treatmentonly, since
studies show no uptake of the dye.
Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as
amended by the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA),
the Agency regulates pesticide chemicals in food by establish-
ing tolerances or exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance.
A tolerance is the maximum permissible levels for pesticide
residues allowed in or on commodities for human food and animal
feed. Whenever a pesticide is registered for use on a food or
feed crop, EPA must establish a tolerance or exemption from the
requirement of a tolerance if the pesticide is used in a manner which
has a reasonable likelihood of producing residues in food.
Tolerances are enforced by theFood and Drug Administration and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
For more information on this proposed rule, read the Federal
Register Notice on EPA's web site at http://www.epa.gov/
fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2001/August/Day-02/p19327.htm
or visit the Federal Register web site:
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/aces/aces140.html.
EPA must receive comments by October 1, 2001, identified by
docket number OPP-301026. The Federal Register notice
includes information on how to submit comments.
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EPA distributes its Pesticide Program Updates to external
stakeholders and citizens who have expressed an interest
in O.P. activities and decisions. We have established
an electronic list serve for people who want to keep abreast of
pesticide issues and decisions. This update service is part
of EPA's continuing effort to improve public access to
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to our automatic mailing list, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/form/form.html
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 website 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