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PA EPA PROPOSES APPLICANTS FOR PESTICIDE REGISTRATION

Release Date: 5/28/96
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PA EPA PROPOSES APPLICANTS FOR PESTICIDE REGISTRATION

FOR RELEASE: MONDAY, MAY 28, 1996

EPA PROPOSES APPLICANTS FOR PESTICIDE REGISTRATION SELF-CERTIFY RESULTS OF ACUTE TOXICITY STUDIES FOR CERTAIN PRODUCTS

EPA is soliciting comments on a proposal which would allow applicants for registration the option to "self-certify" results of acute toxicity studies for certain pesticide products containing active ingredients currently registered by the Agency. The new policy would allow applicants for registration to certify that acute toxicity studies submitted to the Agency in support of registration were conducted properly and that the reported toxicity category for each is accurate. EPA believes that this policy will allow the Agency to transfer scarce resources to program areas that have the potential to deliver greater overall public health protection, without sacrificing the accuracy of product hazard information. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act requires that all pesticide products be labeled to inform consumers of the acute hazards of the product. Applicants for registration of pesticide products are required to submit six acute toxicity studies: acute oral, acute dermal, acute inhalation, skin and eye irritation and a dermal sensitization test. The results of the first five tests are classified according to toxicity categories I through IV, category I being the most acutely hazardous or dangerous and category IV being the least hazardous. Self-certification would apply only to acute studies and would currently be limited to less hazardous and low risk products in toxicity categories III and IV. Under the new program, applicants would agree to unconditional suspension of their registrations if the certification is not valid. EPA will selectively audit submitted studies to determine whether the studies were conducted properly and yielded the toxicity category indicated. The self-certification program is one of EPA's regulatory reinvention projects, aimed at streamlining procedures and increasing efficiency and productivity, while maintaining needed health and environmental safeguards. Comments on the program are due by July 21 and should be sent to: Public Docket Section (7506C), Office of Pesticide Programs, U.S. EPA, 401 M St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

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