US EPA proposes to codify certain pesticide product performance requirements to improve clarity and reduce burden

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Thursday proposed to codify product performance data requirements for products claiming efficacy against certain pests to increase the efficiency of the agency’s approval process and save registrants time and money.

Product performance standards make it easier for pesticide registrants to know the efficacy data that must be submitted to the Agency to prove their pesticide product works as claimed. Through the agency’s proposed rule, EPA satisfies a requirement of the 2018 Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act (PRIA 4). This action also officially incorporates the agency’s product performance standards requirements for certain invertebrate pests into the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

By adding these requirements into the CFR, EPA will help ensure submitted data meets the agency’s needs and scientific standards. If finalized, the proposed rule could save registrants approximately $17,000 per data package submitted to the Agency by reducing waste and unnecessary testing

This proposal applies to three categories of invertebrate pests:

- Those identified to be of significant public health importance (e.g., ticks, mosquitoes, cockroaches, etc.)

- Wood-destroying insects (e.g., termites)

- Certain invasive invertebrate species (e.g., Asian long-horned beetle)

Comments on the proposed rule are accepted in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0124 at www.regulations.gov for 60 days.