RISE joins support of current FIFRA pesticide regulation

RISE, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, joined more than 400 organizations to send a letter to all members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives voicing support for the current regulatory framework in place under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

The letter is in direct response to recently introduced legislation (S. 269) focused on the current regulatory system that guides the nation’s pesticide laws. This marks the third time related legislation has been introduced and the third response to Congress by hundreds of organizations expressing concern over the ability to manage public health risks if access to pesticide products were to be limited.

“Our members’ role is to protect public health and safety, infrastructure and the environment,” RISE president Megan Provost said. “To do this successfully requires a robust science-based regulatory system.

“This bill rejects 50 years of established federal regulatory processes under FIFRA and would repeal decades of work and scientific advancements made by EPA’s scientific experts,” Provost continued. “We want the industry to be subject to a science-based regulatory framework that evolves as science evolves to keep our products safe and accessible. Unfortunately, S. 269 lacks that scientific foundation and would jeopardize the tools necessary for protecting our families, homes, environment and infrastructure.”

FIFRA has been amended by Congress several times to strengthen the regulatory standard for safety — most recently through the Food Quality Protection Act that added specific protections for children and sensitive populations. Under existing law, pesticides that are approved for use by the EPA are subject to review to ensure they meet the most current scientific standards.