Latest Pesticide News For Applicators 05/17/2024

Annual PRIA Report: Significant Findings

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the Fiscal Year 2023 annual report for the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA) for the first time since PRIA 5 was passed in 2022. The report exhibits EPA’s implementation of PRIA 5, tracking and status of pesticide registration actions, registration review cases, improvements in the review process and budget allocation for farmworker and health care provider training, partnership grants, and the pesticide safety education program.

EPA’s Funding and Budget Constraints

Close to one-third of the funding for EPA’s pesticide programs comes from PRIA, with the remainder funded through annual appropriations. However, the recent reduction in its budget by approximately $33 million below the minimum level specified in PRIA 5 has caused significant constraints. This cutback could lead to additional delays in processing pesticide registration applications and completing registration review cases, impacting pesticide safety drastically.

Despite the challenges, EPA has managed to make marked improvements in its regulatory processes in 2023, such as reducing the backlog of non-PRIA actions and making progress towards PRIA 5 milestones.

Addressing the Pesticide Safety Challenge

In the face of budget constraints, the EPA has taken bold steps in 2023 to improve its performance and safeguard pesticide safety. These include directing resources and making process improvements to reduce non-PRIA backlog, focusing on farmworker protection, health clinician training programs and bilingual pesticide labeling.

This underscores the pressing need for adequate resources for pesticide safety programs as they play a critical role in controlling pests that threaten public health, safety, and the environment.

For more information and to view the full report, visit EPA’s website.

Table: Key Figures from the PRIA 2023 Annual Report