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EPA Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs 08/08/01
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides
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IN THIS UPDATE:
1) EPA ADDS NEW MEMBERS TO PESTICIDE
PROGRAM DIALOGUE COMMITTEE
2) EPA RELEASES RISK ASSESSMENT FOR
THIABENDAZOLE
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1) EPA ADDS NEW MEMBERS TO PESTICIDE
PROGRAM DIALOGUE COMMITTEE
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has sent invitations to key
stakeholders to join the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC).
Participants will have the opportunity to provide advice, information and
recommendations on pesticide regulatory development and reform
initiatives, evolving public policy and program implementation issues, and
scientific issues associated with evaluating and reducing risks from use of
pesticides. Chartered initially in 1995, the PPDC has been renewed every
two years since then in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee
Act. EPA intends to seek renewal of the PPDC Charter for another two-
year term in November 2001. Nominations of qualified candidates to the
PPDC were invited by EPA in December 2000 through a notice in the
Federal Register. Committee members will represent many sectors, includ-
ing pesticide user and grower groups, environmental and public interest
groups, farm-worker organizations, pesticide industry and trade
associations, academia, and public health organizations. The Committee
will
consist of approximately 40 members who will convene in public meetings
approximately two to three times per year. For more information about the
new Committee, please visit www.epa.gov/pesticides/ppdc
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2) EPA RELEASES RISK ASSESSMENT FOR
THIABENDAZOLE
On August 1, 2001, EPA released risk assessment documents for a
pesticide undergoing reregistration and tolerance reassessment:
thiabendazole. EPA will accept comments on this risk assessment until
October 1, 2001. Thiabendazole is a fungicide registered to control fruit
and vegetable diseases such as mold, rot, and stain. It also is used as a
post-harvest treatment on citrus and pome fruits, as well as on bananas,
carrots, potatoes, green beans, sugar beets, avocados, and mushrooms.
It is used before planting on several crop seeds. Other uses include
treatment of ornamental bulbs and corms and reconstituted tobacco.
Thiabendazole salt is used in paints, adhesives, paper products, textiles,
nylon, and carpeting. Uses for treatment of parasitic roundworms in
livestock and humans are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The risk assessment documents and brief summaries are available on
EPA's web site
(http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/reregistration/thiabendazole ).
The Federal Register notice announcing its availability is available on
EPA's web site: www.epa.gov/fedrgstr .
The risk assessment for this chemical was developed as part of the
Agency's process for making reregistration eligibility decisions and
tolerance reassessments for pesticides, consistent with provisions of
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Food
Quality Protection Act (FQPA). By allowing access and opportunity
for comment on the preliminary risk assessment, EPA is seeking to
strengthen stakeholder involvement and help ensure that our decisions
under FQPA are transparent and based on the best available information.
Next steps under the interim process will involve additional consultation
with stakeholders and the development of risk management as reflected in
a thiabendazole Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) this fall. When
the thiabendazole RED is completed, EPA will make it available for public
comment.
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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. We have established
an electronic listserve 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
Federal pesticide information.
To subscribe or unsubscribe
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