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EPA Pesticide Program Updates: January 17, 2002Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, January 17, 2002 IN THIS UPDATE:
Revised Guidance on Pesticide Cumulative Risk Assessment AvailableEPA has released "Guidance on Cumulative Risk Assessments of Pesticide Chemicals That Have a Common Mechanism of Toxicity." This guidance, a revised version of guidance published for public comment in June 2000, describes the methods EPA is using in conducting cumulative assessments. It takes into account the knowledge and methods available now for assessing cumulative risk and provides flexibility for completing risk assessments with various amounts and types of data.The guidance is informed by the experience of applying the principles of the draft guidance to actual data on pesticides that share a common mechanism of toxicity, as well as by the Agency's experience in applying actual data sets and consideration of comments from the public and an independent scientific expert review panel. Not all cumulative assessments need to be of the same depth and scope. In some cases, a screening level assessment using relatively conservative assumptions may be conducted, while in others a more comprehensive assessment may be appropriate, using more extensive data and producing a more refined estimate of exposures. EPA expects methods and knowledge to continue to evolve in this area and will update specific procedures with peer-reviewed supplementary technical documentation as needed. If extensive changes to this guidance become necessary, EPA will issue a revised version. The guidance is available on EPA's Web site. The Federal Register notice, published January 16, 2002, is also on the Web site. Tolerance Revocations Proposed for NicotineOn January 16, 2002, EPA published a proposed rule to revoke 66 specific tolerances for residues of the insecticide nicotine. This pesticide is in the second priority group for tolerance reassessment. The 66 tolerances are proposed for revocation because all registrations for these pesticide uses have been canceled. The only remaining food uses for nicotine are cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes. The notice proposing these revocations is available on EPA's Web site. It includes details about the registration status of nicotine and reasons for proposed revocation. (See status and other information on tolerance reassessment.)Comments on these proposed tolerance revocations will be accepted until March 18, 2002, and must be submitted as described in the Federal Register notice. If EPA receives a request to retain a tolerance, the Agency will publish a notice regarding data that must be submitted to demonstrate that the current safety standard is met and the schedule for submission of the data. Commodities containing pesticide residues not covered by a tolerance are considered to be adulterated and are subject to seizure. A tolerance must meet the current safety standard established under the Food Quality Protection Act if it is to be retained. 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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