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US Office of Pesticide Programs announces new Policy and Interpretation of Regulation and for Nanomaterials
Published: Sunday 2 May 2010
On the 29th and 30th April 2010, the Pesticides Program Dialogue Committee (PPDC) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discussed the use of nanomaterials by the pesticides industry, as well as the related policy considerations:
According to the online meeting agenda, the presentations delivered during the meeting were expected to describe the recent consultation with the Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) and other ongoing regulatory activity, as well as future actions OPP [Office of Pesticide Programs] is planning to take.‘
William Jordan, Senior Policy Adviser at the Office of Pesticide Programs, introduced OPP’s working definition:
- ‘Nanoscale material: An ingredient that contains particles that have been intentionally produced to have at least one dimension that measures between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers.’
He referred to the EPA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) Meeting on the topic ‘Evaluation of Hazard and Exposure Associated with Nanosilver and Other Nanometal Oxide Pesticide Products’ (held in Arlington VA, on the 3rd to the 5th November 2009), summarised its main recommendations, and concluded by outlining the next steps planned by OPP:
Future Federal Register Notice
- OPP is preparing a Federal Register Notice on nanomaterials and pesticide products [expected to be issued in June]
- Announces a new interpretation of FIFRA/regulations and proposes a new policy:
New Interpretation:
- The presence of a nanoscale material in a pesticide product is reportable under FIFRA section 6(a)(2)
- Applies to already registered products as well as products pending registration
- This constitutes an interpretation of FIFRA and elaboration on the regulations governing reporting of unreasonable adverse effects
Proposed New Policy:
- An active or inert ingredient would be considered “new”if it is a nanoscale material (FIFRA and PRIA)
- Would apply even when a non-nanoscale form of that same active or inert is already in a registered product
Follow these links to find out more about the PPDC Meeting, to download the full presentation delivered by William Jordan, or to download the Topical Briefing paper for further insight on this issue, kindly provided by Bergeson&Campbell P.C..
Related Links:
The US Environmental Protection Agency has released the minutes of its recent EPA Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP) Meeting on the topic ‘Evaluation of Hazard and Exposure Associated with Nanosilver and Other Nanometal Oxide Pesticide Products’ (held in Arlington VA, on the 3rd to the 5th November 2009). (6th February 2010)
The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment has published a report entitled Nanomaterials under REACH – Nanosilver as a case study; according to the report’s preface, it describes ‘a hypothetical registration of nanosilver under the new EU REACH regulation on chemicals, taking into account the ongoing discussions within the REACH Competent Authorities and its Subgroup on Nanomaterials on how REACH applies to nanomaterials [...]. (15th December 2009)
The Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA) has submitted Comments to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the ‘Petition for Rulemaking Requesting EPA Regulate Nanoscale Silver Products as Pesticides’. (20th March 2009)