Overview
Title
Beauveria Bassiana Strain BW149; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The EPA has decided that a special bug-fighting spray named Beauveria bassiana strain BW149 is safe for food and doesn't need strict rules about how much can be left on food. This is because when used properly, it won’t hurt people, including kids.
Summary AI
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a rule that exempts the microbial pesticide Beauveria bassiana strain BW149 from needing a tolerance level for residues on all food products. BioWorks, Inc. requested this exemption, arguing the pesticide is safe when used properly, with no harmful effects expected from exposure to humans, including children. The EPA determined that using this strain in agriculture following label directions does not pose health risks and thus does not require a specified permissible level for its residues. This rule is effective as of February 25, 2025.
Abstract
This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of Beauveria bassiana strain BW149 in or on all food commodities when used in accordance with label directions and good agricultural practices. BioWorks, Inc., submitted a petition to the EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of Beauveria bassiana strain BW149 under FFDCA when used in accordance with good agricultural practices.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presents a rule establishing an exemption for Beauveria bassiana strain BW149, a microbial pesticide, from needing a tolerance for residue levels on food. This change, driven by a petition from BioWorks, Inc., is based on the EPA's determination that the use of this pesticide in agriculture, when applied as instructed, poses no significant health risks to humans, including children.
General Summary
This regulation, effective February 25, 2025, means that producers using Beauveria bassiana strain BW149 on food crops will not need to ensure its residues remain below a specific maximum level, as traditionally required. The decision reflects the EPA's findings that exposure to this pesticide does not lead to toxicity, pathogenicity, or infectivity in humans under expected agricultural uses. The pesticide primarily breaks down when exposed to sunlight and is not approved for residential use.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are concerns about the complexity and legalistic nature of the document’s language, which might be challenging for a layperson to understand. The document refers to various legal frameworks and external regulations without offering clear explanations, possibly requiring readers to review other texts for clarity. This complexity might hinder comprehension among the general public, especially those unfamiliar with regulatory language.
Additionally, the document lacks a financial analysis or discussion of economic impacts, such as potential costs for producers to align with new guidelines, which could be significant for stakeholders.
Public Impact
Broadly, the exemption reflects an effort by EPA to streamline agricultural practices by reducing regulatory burdens under the right conditions. Consumers may not notice direct changes, as the decision ensures that food safety remains uncompromised.
Nevertheless, the complexity of the regulation might create confusion. Clarity on pesticide use and its safety could alleviate consumer concerns, though those less familiar with regulatory processes might not fully grasp the practicality behind such exemptions.
Stakeholder Impact
For agricultural producers and food manufacturers, this exemption reduces the regulatory hurdles they must navigate, potentially lowering compliance costs associated with monitoring pesticide residues. This may enhance operational efficiency and reduce administrative burdens.
Pesticide manufacturers, like BioWorks, Inc., benefit as the EPA’s rule could enhance market acceptance of Beauveria bassiana strain BW149, potentially increasing its use in agricultural products.
Environmental and health advocates may keep a watchful eye on the rule’s implementation to ensure that it does not unintentionally pose environmental risks or compromise safety standards.
In summary, while the rule aims to ease regulatory constraints and assure pesticide safety, better communication and simplification within the document could improve public understanding and acceptance.
Issues
• The document's language could be overly complex for a general audience, particularly in the sections explaining the legal justifications under various acts. Simplifying these parts could help improve comprehension.
• The document references multiple external sources and regulations (e.g., 40 CFR part 178, 40 CFR part 180) without providing a direct explanation in the text, potentially requiring readers to consult multiple documents to fully understand the rule.
• The potential impacts or risks associated with Beauveria bassiana strain BW149 are described, but the document might benefit from a summary or table encapsulating the key findings of the EPA's risk assessment for ease of understanding.
• While the document mentions that the exemption will not affect residential settings and focuses on agricultural application, it might be helpful to provide more specific examples or scenarios illustrating potential exposure to non-agricultural users or consumers.
• There is a lack of financial analysis or mention of any economic impact on stakeholders, such as costs associated with changing practices to comply with new labeling guidelines, which would be useful for understanding the broader implications of the rule.
• The document frequently uses citations to parts of the FFDCA and other regulatory texts, potentially overwhelming readers who are not familiar with legal references.