LAW

In Streamlining and Risk Reduction Effort, EPA Issues New
Guidance for 24(c) State Pesticide Registrations

EPA has developed new guidance and process improvements for use
by state pesticide lead agencies in issuing 24(c) pesticide
registrations under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act(FIFRA). The Agency's action is expected to enable
the states and EPA to process 24(c) registrations faster with
fewer resources and to promote EPA's goals of risk reduction and
pollution prevention. Under FIFRA, 24(c), states are authorized
to register an additional use of a federally registered pesticide
product to meet special local needs. EPA reviews all 24(c)
registrations to determine if they meet all necessary
requirements for registration. The guidance document is intended
to empower the states to operate as independently as possible, to
reduce the resources EPA uses to review 24(c) applications, and
to assure the public that no unreasonable adverse effects are
expected to occur from these registrations. The new guidance
culminates the efforts of an internal EPA working group formed in
l991 to identify problems, propose solutions and update policies
and procedures relating to 24(c) registrations. The efforts
included a workshop with states to address issues of concern. 

(EPA RELEASE: MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1996 via ag-health, the Newsgroup
of the UC Agricultural Health and Safety Center at Davis.)