Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
Encyclopedia
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (or FIFRA), (P.L. 75-717) et seq. is a United States federal law that set up the basic U.S. system of pesticide
regulation to protect applicators, consumers, and the environment
. It is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) and the appropriate environmental agencies of the respective states. The current version of FIFRA underwent a major revision in 1972 and superseded the Federal Insecticide Act of 1910 and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947. In 1988, it was amended to change pesticide registration laws and to require reregistration of certain pesticides that had been registered before 1984. The act was amended again in 1996 by the Food Quality Protection Act
. Distribution and use of pesticides is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
When FIFRA was first passed in 1947, it gave the United States Department of Agriculture
responsibility for regulating pesticides. In 1972, when FIFRA underwent a major revision, it transferred responsibility of pesticide regulation to the Environmental Protection Agency
and shifted emphasis to protection of the environment and public health. The 1972 version is largely still in place.
FIFRA established a set of pesticide regulations:
Pesticide
Pesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
regulation to protect applicators, consumers, and the environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
. It is administered by the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) and the appropriate environmental agencies of the respective states. The current version of FIFRA underwent a major revision in 1972 and superseded the Federal Insecticide Act of 1910 and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947. In 1988, it was amended to change pesticide registration laws and to require reregistration of certain pesticides that had been registered before 1984. The act was amended again in 1996 by the Food Quality Protection Act
Food Quality Protection Act
The Food Quality Protection Act , or H.R.1627, was passed unanimously by Congress in 1996 and was signed into law by former U.S. President Bill Clinton on August 3, 1996...
. Distribution and use of pesticides is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
When FIFRA was first passed in 1947, it gave the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
responsibility for regulating pesticides. In 1972, when FIFRA underwent a major revision, it transferred responsibility of pesticide regulation to the Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
and shifted emphasis to protection of the environment and public health. The 1972 version is largely still in place.
FIFRA established a set of pesticide regulations:
- FIFRA established registration for all pesticidePesticidePesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
s, which is only done after a period of data collection to determine the effectiveness for its intended use, appropriate dosage, and hazards of the particular material. When registered, a label is created to instruct the final user the proper usage of the material. If instructions are ignored, users are liable for any negative consequences.
Label directions are designed to maximize the effectiveness of the product, while protecting the applicator, consumers, and the environment. Critics of the process point out on the one hand that the research to produce the label is entirely done by the manufacturer and not much checking is done on its accuracy. On the other hand some consider the process too strict. It costs millions of dollars and often several years to register a pesticide, which limits production only to large players. Likewise many smaller or specialty uses are never registered, because the companies do not consider the potential sales sufficient to justify the investment. - Only a few pesticides are made available to the general public. Most pesticides are considered too hazardous for general use, and are restricted to certified applicators. FIFRA established a system of examination and certification both at the private level and at the commercial level for applicators who wish to purchase and use restricted use pesticides. The distribution of restricted pesticides is also monitored.
- The EPA has different review processes for three categories of pesticides: antimicrobialAntimicrobialAn anti-microbial is a substance that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoans. Antimicrobial drugs either kill microbes or prevent the growth of microbes...
s, biopesticideBiopesticideBiopesticides include "naturally occurring substances that control pests , microorganisms that control pests , and pesticidal substances produced by plants containing added genetic material or PIPs."Biopesticides are biochemical pesticides that are naturally occurring substances that control pests...
s, and conventional pesticides. The three categories have a similar application process, but have different data requirements and review policies. Depending on the category of pesticide, the review process can take several years. After a pesticide is registered with the EPA, there may be state registration requirements to consider.
See also
- Agriculture ministryAgriculture ministryAn agriculture ministry or department of agriculture is a ministry or other government agency charged with agriculture. The ministry is often headed by a minister for agriculture....
- PesticidePesticidePesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
- Pesticide misusePesticide misuseUnder United States laws, pesticide misuse is the use of a pesticide in a way that violates laws regulating their use or endangers humans or the environment; many of these regulations are laid out in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act...
- Restricted pesticides
External links
- EPA summary of FIFRA laws concerning pesticides
- EPA summary on regulating pesticides
- EPA Pesticide Product Label System
- Copies of the labels of most pesticides registered in the USA can be obtained at Crop Data Management Systems, Inc.
- Information on state registration requirements