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PA RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR PLANT PESTICIDES

Release Date: 2/28/97
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PA RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR PLANT PESTICIDES

FOR RELEASE: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1997

EPA ANNOUNCES PUBLIC MEETING TO SOLICIT COMMENTS ON RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR PLANT-PESTICIDES

EPA will hold a public meeting at EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C. on March 21, to obtain comments on the management of resistance for plant-pesticides, particularly plant-pesticides with the insecticidal proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The Agency recognizes the value of Bt as a safer pesticide and has determined that it is necessary to conserve this resource by requiring resistance management plans. To date, EPA has registered three plant-pesticides: Bt corn, Bt cotton and Bt potato. The plant-pesticides produce the pesticidal active ingredient throughout the growing season, which increases the possibility of pest resistance, both to the target pests as well as other susceptible insects. The specific issues EPA is seeking comment include the necessity for resistance management plans, the critical elements of such plans and the requirements for successful implementation. A second public meeting on plantpesticides resistance management will be held this spring in Texas. The place and date have not yet been determined. The Washington, D.C. meeting will be held in the EPA auditorium at 40l M St., S.W., on March 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Persons who wish to make a presentation are urged to register in advance by submitting a brief written request and abstract before March l4 to: Public Response and Program Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. EPA, 40l M St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. All correspondence concerning this issue should be identified with EPA's docket control number OPP-004700. Interested parties who cannot attend the meeting may submit written comments to the address above. Comments and data may also be submitted electronically (e-mail): epadocket @epamail.epa.gov. All comments must be received by March 21. Further details on the meeting can be found in the Feb. 24 issue of the Federal Register (http://www.epa.gov).

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