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what is FIFRA?

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizes the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to review and register agrochemicals for specified uses and grants USEPA the authority to suspend or cancel registrations if it is shown that continued use would pose unreasonable risk to human health or the environment.

FIFRA provides a comprehensive framework for agrochemical regulation in the US. Key provisions of FIFRA include the following:

• Producers of agrochemicals must obtain a USEPA registration before the manufacture, transport, and sale within the borders of the US.
• FIFRA is a risk/benefit statute and registration is based on a risk/benefit standard.
• Strong legal authority is provided to USEPA to require data from agrochemical producers.
• Agrochemical use can be regulated through labeling, packaging, formulation, and disposal requirements.
• USEPA has the ability to suspend or cancel an agrochemical’s registration but not without an appeals process for registrants (manufacturers) and an adjudicatory function as required.

FIFRA was established to provide registration for all agrochemicals used for crop protection. Registration can only be done after extensive data collection to determine the effectiveness for the intended use of the chemical, which includes appropriate dosage and hazards of the particular material. When registered, a label is created to instruct the final user of the proper usage of the material. Label instructions are developed to increase the effectiveness of the product while protecting the applicator, consumers, and the environment.

Only a few agrochemicals are available to the general public, and they can be used by anyone who follows label directions. FIFRA established a system of examination and certification both at the private level and at the commercial level for applicators who wish to purchase and use restricted-use chemicals.

The USEPA has different review processes for three categories of agrochemicals: antimicrobials, biopesticides, and conventional agrochemicals. These three categories have a similar application process, but have different data requirements and review policies. Depending on the category of agrochemical, the review process can take several years. After a agrochemical is registered with the USEPA, there may be state registration requirements to fulfill.