Overview
Title
Extension of Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions; Multiple Chemicals
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The EPA is letting some special bug-killing chemicals be used on certain plants until the end of 2023 because they think it's really important. They're also updating some words in their rules and stopping the use of another chemical on prickly pear plants.
Summary AI
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending time-limited tolerances for certain pesticides, including clothianidin, methyl bromide, and triclopyr, allowing their use on specific crops until December 31, 2023. These extensions are granted under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) due to emergency conditions. Additionally, the EPA is updating certain terminologies in its regulations to ensure consistency, and it is removing tolerances for flonicamid on prickly pear because the exemption is not renewed. The rule also aligns some U.S. tolerances with international standards and makes administrative revisions to existing regulations.
Abstract
This regulation extends time-limited tolerances for residues of the pesticides clothianidin, methyl bromide, and triclopyr in or on various commodities, as identified in this document. These actions are in response to EPA's granting of emergency exemptions under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) authorizing use of these pesticides. In addition, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) requires EPA to establish a time-limited tolerance or exemption from the requirement for a tolerance for pesticide chemical residues in food that will result from the use of a pesticide under an emergency exemption granted by EPA. Additionally, EPA is removing time-limited tolerances for flonicamid on prickly pear, fruit and pads at 1.5 ppm because this exemption will not be renewed, and the tolerances will expire by the effective date of this rule. EPA is also making non- substantive administrative revisions to the tolerance listings for methyl bromide to update the commodity terminology.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document featured in the Federal Register primarily addresses the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s decision to extend time-limited tolerances for various pesticides, specifically clothianidin, methyl bromide, and triclopyr, on designated crops until December 31, 2023. The extensions are a response to emergency exemptions authorized under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Additionally, the EPA updates some terminology for consistency and discontinues certain tolerances, notably for flonicamid on prickly pear, due to non-renewal of its exemption.
General Summary
This regulation aims to manage and extend the use of specific pesticides on certain crops by setting time-limited tolerances. It also updates regulatory frameworks to ensure clarity and consistency while aligning some U.S. pesticide tolerances with international standards as set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. The rule's administrative nature includes some non-substantive revisions to the existing regulations and the removal of outdated tolerances.
Significant Issues and Concerns
This document raises some noteworthy concerns:
Complexity of Language: The highly technical and legalistic language used may pose challenges for individuals without legal or regulatory expertise, potentially limiting its accessibility and comprehensibility.
Reference to External Documents: The text frequently cites external regulations and past entries from the Federal Register. This necessitates cross-referencing which might complicate the reader's understanding of the complete regulatory picture.
Use of Acronyms: Numerous acronyms are used throughout the text without always providing immediate explanations or context, possibly leading to confusion among general readers.
Broad Public Impact
For the wider public, this regulatory update is crucial to ensuring that the application of certain pesticides remains within legal safety standards, protecting consumers from potential pesticide residue in their food. By extending these tolerances, EPA seeks to address agricultural needs under emergency circumstances, thus helping maintain supply chains for certain crops.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Agricultural Producers: Farmers and agricultural businesses potentially benefit from the continued use of these pesticides, especially those dealing with the pests targeted under the FIFRA emergency exemptions. This regulatory update may allow them to effectively protect their crops from significant pest-related damages.
Food Manufacturers: Entities involved in processing and distributing food products might find a stable supply of raw agricultural commodities due to these temporary allowances.
Environmental and Health Advocates: On a less positive note, there may be concerns among environmental and public health advocates about the extended use of these chemicals, as they might question potential impacts on ecosystems and human health.
Regulatory Professionals: Individuals and businesses in the regulatory compliance sector will need to pay attention to these updates to maintain adherence to current regulations.
Conclusion
While these regulations provide essential temporary measures addressing agricultural exigencies, they also bring attention to the importance of effective communication in regulatory documentation. For smoother public engagement and compliance, simplifying regulatory language and offering clear context can be as crucial as the regulatory content itself.
Issues
• The document does not outline specific costs or funding mechanisms for the extension of time-limited tolerances for pesticides, making it difficult to assess potential for wasteful spending.
• The language used to describe the legal and regulatory framework is complex, which may limit accessibility for individuals without a legal or regulatory background.
• The document heavily references external regulations and past Federal Register entries, which may require readers to cross-reference multiple documents to fully understand the changes.
• The document contains multiple acronyms (e.g., FIFRA, FFDCA, OPP, CFR) without always providing immediate context or explanations, potentially making the text hard to understand for a general audience.