Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
December 1979
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency is charged by Congress under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to regulate the use of pesticides in the United States. Section 3 of FIFRA requires that all interstate pesticides be federally registered. In this process applicants must submit data to support registration of their products. These data encompass the safety, basic chemistry, environmental chemistry, human toxicity and fish and wildlife toxicity of the product. Admittedly, registration of pesticides can be both costly and time-consuming. The objective is to protect the environment, both plant and animal, from adverse effects. Pesticides may also be used,experimentally and in emergencies as specified in Sections 5 and 18 of FIFRA, respectively. State “special local need” registrations are provided for under Section 24(c) of the Act.