Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
defoliants, and desiccants as pesticides. Since that time, poisons and repel-
lents used against all classes of animals (from invertebrates to mammals)
have been brought into the approval process.
FIFRA was further amended in 1972 as the Federal Environmental Pesti-
cide Control Act (FEPCA), making violations by growers, applicators, or
dealers subject to heavy fines and/or imprisonment. All pesticides had been
classified into either general-use or restricted-use categories by October 1977,
with anyone applying restricted pesticides required to be state-certified.
Pesticide manufacturing plants are to be registered and government-
inspected. All pesticide products must be registered whether shipped in
interstate or intrastate commerce. Other provisions are of various degrees of
importance to concerned persons or companies.
Additional modifications were made in FIFRA in 1989. The modifications
specifically will (1) accelerate re-registration of older pesticides (those reg-
istered prior to November 1984) and impose fees on chemical manufacturers
for re-registration; (2) essentially eliminate indemnification payments to
those holding inventories of suspended or canceled pesticides, except farmers
and certain end users; and (3) shift part of the burden for storage and disposal
of banned pesticides from the government to the manufacturer. The 1989
FIFRA also empowers the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to
change regulations on how applicators handle, rinse, and dispose of pesticide
containers. The Worker Protection Standard (WPS), passed in 1992, required
labels to carry re-entry intervals (REI) and personal protection equipment for
certain end-uses. Labels having both WPS and non-WPS uses are required to
have recommendation for PPE and REI for both categories.
In 1996, the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA)was passed, requiring
a 10 year review process of all currently registered pesticides based on a risk
cap of aggregate exposure, in other words all possible ways people, particu-
larly children, can come into contact with pesticides whether through residues
on food or backyard applications. Part of FQPA determined that an acceptable
level of risk is a reasonable certainty of no harm, essentially eliminating the
Delaney Clause from 1958. The FQPA also provided for accelerated regis-
trations of safer pesticides, such as biological control organisms or active
ingredients with the potential for minimal environmental impact.
The federal government considers these to be minimum pesticide regula-
tions. Any state may choose to establish more rigid pesticide regulations
within its boundaries than those legislated by the federal government, and
some have done so. Some states require notification to be posted prior to
commercial pesticide application including chemicals used. Thus, pesticide
applicators must be familiar with individual state pesticide regulations as well
as federal pesticide regulations.
Consumers, therefore, are well protected against fraud, but they must
be willing to read the fine print on labels if they are to choose intelligently
from the bewildering array of proprietary compounds on dealers' shelves. In
the following pages there are lists of available products, cross-referenced
by product name and the common name of active ingredients. In many
cases, several product names may exist for the same active ingredient; those
readily available to consumers may not be listed so pay particular attention to
