The intent of this network is to inform interested parties ofrecent or impending pesticide use cancellations, tolerance revocations, andsimilar items of agricultural interest. We recommend that you express any concerns or questions you have to the contact mentioned below or toyour NAPIAP State Liaison Representative. If you wish to contact us at USDA, our phone number is 301-504-8846, our fax number is 301-504-8063, and our email address is ksmith@asrr.arsusda.gov.

PESTICIDE TOLERANCE REASSESSMENT UNDER FQPA

The USEPA has announced its schedule for reassessing tolerances for pesticide residues in or on raw and processed foods as required by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). Under this new law (enacted 8/3/96), the USEPA is required to reassess all existing tolerances and exemptions from tolerances (almost 10,000) for both active and inert ingredients.

In reassessing tolerances, the USEPA must consider the aggregate exposure to the pesticide; cumulative effects from other pesticides with a common mode of toxicity; whether there is an increased susceptibility from exposure to the pesticide to infants and children; and whether the pesticide produces an effect in humans similar to an effect produced by a naturally occurring estrogen or other endocrine effects.

In its review of these tolerances and exemptions, the USEPA must meet the following time table: 33 percent of applicable tolerances and exemptions must be reviewed by August 1999, 66 percent by August 2002, and 100 percent by August 2006. FQPA also requires that by 8/3/97, the USEPA publish a schedule of its reassessment of these tolerances and exemptions. The notice described here satisfies that requirement.

The list is too voluminous for publication here, but it can be reviewed by consulting the Federal Register (reference below), EPA's web site at www.epa.gov, or by requesting a copy from Jeff Morris at EPA or this office at USDA. Additional materials on tolerance reassessment may also be found on EPA's web site. In all, there are a total of 469 pesticides or EPA classified high-hazard inert ingredients with food use tolerances scheduled for reassessment. Also, an additional 823 inert ingredient exemptions will be dealt with toward the end of the reassessment of tolerances.

The list has been broken into three groups. In general, tolerances and exemptions for Group 1 pesticides will be subject to reassessment first, followed by Groups 2 and 3. This grouping reflects the overall scheduling priorities for tolerance reassessment, although these three groups may not correspond directly with the three FQPA deadlines mentioned above. Group 1 is made up of chemicals in pesticide products that appear to pose the highest risk. It includes the organophosphate, carbamate, and organochlorine classes, and probable and some possible human carcinogens. Also included are EPA classified high-hazard inert ingredients, any pesticides that exceed their reference dose, and any tolerance that is being proposed for revocation. Group 2 is comprised of possible human carcinogens not included in Group 1, all remaining pesticides subject to reregistration, and others based on scheduling considerations. Group 3 contains biological pesticides, those inert ingredients not dealt with in Group 1, and those post-1984 pesticides with tolerances or exemptions not yet reassessed under FQPA.

The USEPA welcomes responses to this schedule from interested parties and the general public. Although it became effective on publication in the Federal Register, this list may change as conditions warrant. The USEPA intends to provide periodic updates of its progress on tolerance reassessment. Currently, they are especially interested in: (1) if respondents believe there are pesticides that should appear on the list but are omitted from it, or (2) if respondents believe there are pesticides that should be dropped from the list. Written comments to this notice, containing the docket control number OPP-300523, should be sent to both Jeff Morris and the Public Information Branch of EPA.

For additional information:
Mr. Jeff Morris
EPA, Special Review Branch
Phone 703-308-8029
Fax 703-308-8041
morris.jeffrey@epamail.epa.gov

Send comments to Jeff Morris and:
Public Information Branch (7506C)
EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
opp-docket@epamail.epa.gov

Source: Federal Register 62:42019-42030 8/4/97

The Reregistration Notification Network is a cooperative effort of USDA- NAPIAP, Interregional Project No. 4 (IR-4), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and the American Crop Protection Association (ACPA).
Last Modified February 4, 1998