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First Two Biopesticide Registration Review Dockets Now Open for Comment
For Release: April 13, 2007
EPA has established dockets for its first two biopesticides that are being reviewed under the Agency's Registration Review Program. Dockets are open for the biochemical Linalool and the microbial pesticide case, Trichoderma species. These will be the first biopesticides to go through the registration review program. Linalool, a naturally occurring flavor or fragrance, is used mostly indoors as a mosquito attractant and as a flea repellant.
The Trichoderma species case includes four ubiquitous fungal active ingredients registered by three separate companies:
- Trichoderma harzianum strains T-39 and T-22,
- Trichoderma polysporum strain T-75, and
- Trichoderma viride strain T-76.
Both strains T-39 and T-22 are food use pesticides with exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance on all food commodities. Strains T-75 and T-76 are non-food use fungicides in one product registered to control decay of tree stumps after pruning.
Each docket contains a Summary Document that includes the following:
- Preliminary Work Plan highlighting the current risk assessments for human health and ecological effects, as well as any potential data needs, and providing an anticipated timeline for completing the pesticide's review;
- Fact sheet summarizing the current status of the pesticide active ingredients; and
- Supplementary information about the pesticide active ingredients, where available.
These biopesticide cases are for active ingredients with low toxicity profiles and low exposure potential. At this time, the Agency does not foresee any harm to human health and the environment, including endangered species, if the pesticides are used as labeled. EPA’s revision and reassessment of the exemption from tolerance for T-22 will ensure that it meets the safety standards of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996.
Information about the two new registration review cases is available in EPA's April 11, 2007, Federal Register notice, in the dockets at www.regulations.gov, and on EPA's Pesticide Registration Review Status Web page.
Through Registration Review, EPA is reviewing all Agency-registered pesticides every 15 years to ensure that each pesticide performs its intended function without unreasonable adverse effects on human health or the environment. This program will ensure that as science, policies, and practices change, pesticide products in the marketplace meet current safety standards. By opening these two dockets, the Agency surpasses its goals for opening Registration Review cases at the end of the second quarter.