Regulatory oversight of biochemical pesticides by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: health effects considerations.
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) enables the Office of Pesticide Programs (OPP) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that pesticide use in commerce will not result in unreasonable adverse effects to humans and the environment. Currently, two classes of pesticides are recognized: conventional chemical pesticides and biological pesticides. The latter group is divided into biochemical and microbial pesticides. The recent resurgence of biochemical pesticides as effective pest control agents has increased the number of applications for experimental use permits and for product registration. The fundamental information and data necessary to evaluate such products by the Health Effects Division (HED) of OPP are discussed, as well as the criteria for the classification of a pesticide as a biochemical versus a conventional chemical pesticide. In accordance with the Agency's effort to encourage the development of pesticides less toxic to humans and the environment, the scientific basis for providing future regulatory relief and reduced data requirements for biochemical pesticides is discussed.
McClintock
J T
JT
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington, DC 20460.
Kough
J L
JL
Sjoblad
R D
RD
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007301:Insect Hormones / Q000592:standards; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000592:standards*; D010675:Pheromones / Q000592:standards; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators / Q000592:standards; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
D007301:Insect Hormones; D010575:Pesticides; D010675:Pheromones; D010937:Plant Growth Regulators