Contributions of Chemistry to Sustainable
Food Production
Freie Universitat Berlin, August 1999
Thursday August 12, 9:00 - 13:00
Inorganic Chemistry Lecture Hall
Development and Registration of Reduced Risk Pesticides
Kenneth D. Racke, Dow AgroSciences, 9330 Zionsville Road, Bldg
308/2E, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268 ,USA, Email: [email protected]
Abstract
During the past several years a reduced risk pesticide registration
program has been in operation in the United States. The primary objective
of this program is to give registration priority and accelerated approval
to products with more favorable regulatory characteristics than currently
available alternatives. Since 1994 a total of 13 such reduced risk
insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides have been approved within
shortened regulatory review periods of 14 to 18 months versus the
traditional 24 to 30 months. The EPA, which administers the program,
defines a reduced risk pesticide as one that reduces pesticide risks
to human health and non-target organisms, reduces the potential for
contamination of valued environmental resources, and broadens adoption
or increases effectiveness of integrated pest management approaches.
The reduced risk program has been supported by both industry and environmental
organizations alike, and offers a more proactive, positive approach
to pesticide regulation than other government initiatives (e.g., reduced
use, reregistration) which focus more heavily on evaluation and development
of restrictions for older products. This presentation will review
the operational aspects and history of the reduced risk pesticide
registration program, and will include discussion of several case
studies which highlight development and registration factors. Benefits
and issues associated with implementation of the program, and questions
regarding the potential for broader adoption of such an approach by
national and regional regulatory bodies will also be discussed.
