Regulatory Action Fact Sheets

These fact sheets discuss how EPA regulates certain chemicals or types of pesticides and other regulatory actions.

Antimicrobial Pesticide Products - Antimicrobials are used to destroy organisms such as bacteria or fungi on inanimate objects. Antimicrobials can be found in products such as disinfectants and antiseptics. This page provides a description of the usage and types of Antimicrobial products. It also discusses EPA's regulation of antimicrobials.

Applicability of the "Treated Articles Exemption" to Antimicrobial Pesticides - Pesticide Registration Notice 2000-1 concerns EPA's policy with respect to the applicability of the "treated articles exemption." The Notice discusses EPA's past and present on how treated articles and substances qualify for the exemption. It also discusses the distinction between public health and non-public health antimicrobial claims. This Questions & Answers document addresses what may be among the most commonly asked questions on this subject.

Atrazine Interim Regulatory Decision Q&A's - EPA has completed its interim reregistration eligibility decision for the pesticide atrazine. This Q&A document describes the basis for the decision on atrazine and how it will be implemented.

Azinphos-Methyl Risk Management Decision - EPA has accepted voluntary measures to reduce risks posed by azinphos-methyl to children, to agricultural workers, and to the environment.

Chlorfenapyr Review - After completing its review of the pesticide chlorfenapyr (Pirate) for use on cotton, EPA made the determination that chlorfenapyr did not meet the requirements for registration, and in response, American Cyanamid withdrew their Section 3 registration application. This Web site includes the human health and environmental risk assessments and the denial of registration decision memorandum.

Consumer Labeling Initiative (CLI) - CLI is a voluntary, cooperative effort designed to present clear, consistent, and useful environmental, safe use, and health information on household consumer product labels. Government and industry groups are working together to make it easier for consumers to find, read, and understand label information, thus enabling consumers to compare products and safely use the ones they select.

Consumer Products Treated with Pesticides - Many products, ranging from toothbrushes to children's toys, are treated with antimicrobial pesticides to get rid of bacteria. Before making public health pesticidal claims, such products must be approved and registered by EPA, or must be exempt from registration. There are products that have not been authorized to make health claims, which can mislead the consumer into thinking that the product is antibacterial.

EPA and FDA Streamline Food Packaging Regulation - Because of the practice of using pesticides within food packaging, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) responsibility of regulating food packaging would have overlapped with EPA's responsibility to regulate all pesticide products. However, a provision of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), as well as action that EPA has taken, eliminates the overlap between the two agencies.

The EPA and Food Security - This page discusses EPA's primary contributions to food safety and responsibility within the United States and also contributions throughout the world. Some ways in which EPA ensures food security are through regulating the use of pesticides and setting pesticide residue tolerances.

Laws Affecting EPA's Pesticide Programs - EPA gains the authority to regulate the sale and usage of pesticides from two main laws: the Federal Insecticide, Rodenticide, and Fungicide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). These two laws, as well as other statutes that affect the Agency's pesticide programs, are described.

Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemption (CUE) Process - This Questions and Answers document addresses concerns raised by prospective applicants for methyl bromide critical use exemptions.

Methyl Parathion and EPA's Actions - There have been incidents involving use of the highly toxic pesticide methyl parathion to get rid of insects in homes. Because of this illegal and hazardous use, EPA has taken steps to make methyl parathion more difficult obtain.

Methyl Parathion Risk Management Decision - EPA has accepted voluntary cancellation of methyl parathion's use on the crops, such as apples, which are eaten most by children. Because methyl parathion poses unacceptable risks to children, this step will help to reduce the pesticide risks to children through food.

NAFTA Guidance on Data Requirements for Pesticide Import Tolerances - On April 16, 2003, EPA published for public comment in the Federal Register a proposed detailed guidance on data requirements that meet NAFTA standards for establishing pesticide import tolerances in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S. and consistent with the goals of NAFTA. Comments must be received by June 16, 2003, and identified by docket control number OPP-2002-0281. After considering any comments, the NAFTA countries plan to issue a final version of the guidance document. Meanwhile, a U.S. Import Tolerance Guidance Document is in effect, and applies while a final version of the NAFTA guidance document is being completed.

New Data Will Help Ensure Protection of Children - In an effort to further increase protections for infants and children, EPA is requiring registrants of pesticides thought to have neurotoxic effects to conduct acute, subchronic, and developmental neurotoxicity studies and submit the results to EPA.

Protecting the Public from Pesticide Residues in Food - This page discusses EPA's process for protecting the public from health risks caused by eating foods that have been treated with pesticides.

Safety Precautions for Total Release Foggers - Total release foggers, also known as "bug bombs," are pesticide products containing aerosol propellants that release their contents at once to fumigate an area. These products are often used around the home to kill cockroaches, fleas, and other pests.

Setting Tolerances for Pesticide Residues in Foods - To ensure the safety of the food supply, EPA regulates the amount of each pesticide that may remain in and on foods. This fact sheet briefly describes how EPA sets limits, called tolerances, for pesticide residues in food.

Spray Drift of Pesticides - The drift of spray from pesticide applications can expose people, wildlife and the environment to pesticide residues that can cause health and environmental effects and property damage. This fact sheet provides EPA's position on spray drift issues and a summary of responsibilities and activities of EPA and others.

Wood Preservative Methyl Isothiocyanate (MITC) - MITC is a wood preservative used to control wood rot and fungi, and is used on larger structures such as utility poles. This page discusses the toxicity of MITC as well as EPA's regulatory actions.

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