Pesticides
USDA's Pesticides Residue Research Project Gao ID: T-RCED-92-38 March 11, 1992By 1997 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must assess and approve pesticides registered before November 1984. To meet this deadline, chemical companies are providing EPA with health and environmental data on these pesticides. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Interregional Research Project No. 4 (IR-4) supports this registration process by generating information on pesticides used on minor crops, which include vegetables, fruits, nuts, and ornamentals. This testimony provides a snapshot of (1) the status of IR-4 research supporting the pesticide registration process for minor crops, (2) how IR-4 currently uses its resources, and (3) GAO's observations on USDA's responsiveness to the availability of pesticides for use on minor crops.