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Pesticide Program Updates: December 18, 2001Pesticide Program Update from EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, December 18, 2001 IN THIS UPDATE:
New Proposed Fast Track Program for Reviewing Certain Experimental Use Permits (EUPs) Being Announced for Public CommentThe Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) is issuing a draft Pesticide Registration Notice (PRN) that proposes guidelines for the expedited review of experimental use permits (EUPs) for certain conventional pesticides. The objective of this expedited EUP program is to bring to the Agency's attention those EUPs that could be approved based on existing hazard characterizations and exposure assessments without the need for substantial additional review. Availability of this draft PRN will be announced in the Federal Register (FR) of December 19, 2001, and the public will have sixty days to comment. To access the FR announcement, please visit the Web site.These guidelines will enable requests for EUPs that may meet certain criteria to be evaluated in a more expedited way. In order to aid growers' transition to newer alternatives, EPA believes in the importance of adequately testing new uses, such as uses of methyl bromide alternatives, conventional "reduced-risk" pesticides and alternatives for the organophosphates (OPs). The PR Notice outlines criteria that, if met, will allow companies to apply for EUPs without forfeiting a registration priority slot. The proposed expedited EUP process is designed to require fewer resources for review of the application, thereby encouraging companies to seek EUPs for new uses. EUPs can be extremely useful because they allow a better understanding of new and emerging pesticide technologies, prior to full market introduction, and provide an opportunity to refine a product's use. Federal law requires EPA to determine, prior to issuing an EUP, that experimental use, under the conditions proposed in the EUP application, will not result in unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment. If the intended EUP is for treatment of food commodities, those commodities may not enter the channels of commerce unless EPA determines that there is certainty of no harm from aggregate exposures (i.e., exposure to one pesticide from multiple sources), including exposures resulting from use under the EUP. EPA must also establish a temporary tolerance. The stringent criteria outlined in this Notice will ensure that the proposed experimental use will meet these safety standards. 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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