Need To Notify Foreign Nations of U.S. Pesticide Suspension and Cancellation Actions

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) compliance with section 17(b) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, which requires EPA to notify foreign governments and international agencies whenever registration, cancellation, or suspension of a pesticide becomes effective or ceases to be effective, was examined. Since 1972, when the act was amended to require foreign government notifications, EPA has cancelled, suspended, or significantly restricted use of 14 pesticides or pesticide ingredients. EPA and Department of State records indicate that foreign governments were notified concerning five pesticide actions. However, cognizant foreign officials indicated that few had actually received the notifications. EPA criteria for reporting suspension and cancellation actions limit foreign government notifications to actions determined to have national or international significance. Only EPA-initiated cancellations and suspensions of basic pesticide active ingredients registered for use in several products are considered actions of national or international significance; actions on individual pesticide products are not. Foreign countries have received little, if any, information through official channels regarding the regulatory status of pesticides. Those countries receiving information obtained it primarily through personal contacts. EPA should: (1) review all pesticide suspensions and cancellations to identify those of national and international significance; (2) compile information on these actions for distribution to appropriate foreign governments; and (3) develop a system with the State for timely and efficient dissemination of this information.