U.S. EPA extends flexibilities to minimize supply-chain disruptions facing the pesticide industry

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended supply chain flexibilities for registrants of certain conventional and bio-pesticide products to alleviate a supply chain issue facing the pesticide industry.

On July 1, 2021, EPA implemented supply chain flexibilities that allowed registrants to substitute a combination of pre-approved alternate inert ingredients for inert ingredients derived from propylene oxide (PO) feedstocks. This was intended to address the limited supply of PO feedstocks due to weather events that occurred in the U.S. Gulf Coast in February 2021.

Although this action was originally set to expire on Dec. 31, 2021, EPA has extended these supply chain flexibilities until Dec. 31, 2022, due to continued disruptions to production.

The pre-approved alternates for propylene glycol, a derivative of PO feedstocks, include: glycerin (CAS Reg. No. 56-81-5), diethylene glycol (CAS Reg. No. 111-46-6), ethylene glycol (CAS Reg No. 107-21-1); and/or 1,3-propanediol (CAS Reg. No. 504-63-2). These substitutions can be added to a product formulation or a brand-name mixture.

Registrants must self-certify that the substitute inert ingredients will:

• Serve the same function in the product as propylene glycol;

• Maintain the validity of product-specific data submitted in support of the registration;

• Maintain the product’s acute toxicity category and physical/chemical characteristics such that no label modifications are required; and

• Maintain the product’s fitness for its intended purposes in terms of efficacy, phytotoxicity, and any other factor.

Any registrants who would like to make the substitution permanent will have to go through the standard amendment process outlined in PRN 98-10.

Learn more about “Phase 1 and 2 Extension” on EPA’s Guidance Documents for Inert Ingredients webpage.