EPA Extends the OPP/DfE Antimicrobial Pesticide Pilot Project

Upon consultation with the Pesticide Program Dialogue Committee, the EPA has extended the Office of Pesticide Programs Design for the Environment Antimicrobial Pesticide Pilot Project for an additional 2 years, until May 3, 2015.

This 2-year extension permits the continued use of the OPP/DfE logo for those products currently under the Pilot and for OPP to examine the possible expansion of the chemicals/products to sectors beyond the antimicrobial universe.  Currently, the Pilot Project permits the use of an OPP/DfE logo on qualifying antimicrobial pesticide labels. A product is only allowed to carry the OPP/DfE logo if each ingredient is among the safest in its ingredient class. Additionally, the product as a whole has to meet safety criteria.

Pesticide registrants wishing to take part in this program should follow the instructions to apply for the DfE Logo on Antimicrobial pesticide labels. In addition, you will need to provide test results demonstrating effectiveness on hard, nonporous surfaces against microorganisms that pose a threat to human health for which the product has label claims.

By their very nature, most pesticides have the potential to pose hazards to human health or the environment. This is particularly the case if the label instructions are not followed precisely. Because of this, we cannot say that any registered pesticide is safe under all circumstances. 

However, if you see the DfE logo on an EPA-authorized antimicrobial pesticide label, you can be assured that the product is in the least-hazardous classes; is unlikely to have carcinogenic or endocrine disruptor properties; is unlikely to cause developmental, reproductive, mutagenic, or neurotoxicity issues; has no outstanding "conditional registration” data issues; EPA has reviewed and accepted mixtures, including inert ingredients; does not require the use of Agency-mandated personal protective equipment; has no unresolved or unreasonable adverse effects reported; has no unresolved efficacy failures (associated with the Antimicrobial Testing Program or otherwise); has no unresolved compliance or enforcement actions associated with it; and has the identical formulation as the one identified in the DfE application reviewed by EPA.