Program Highlights

Current as of June 10, 2008

Overview of the Registration Review Program

Registration review is replacing EPA's pesticide reregistration and tolerance reassessment programs as those programs are being completed. Unlike earlier review programs, registration review operates continuously, encompassing all registered pesticides.

Through registration review, EPA is reviewing each registered pesticide every 15 years to determine whether it still meets the FIFRA standard for registration. In this way, the Agency is ensuring that all registered pesticides do not cause unreasonable risks to human health, workers, or the environment when used as directed on product labeling. The scope and depth of the Agency's reviews are tailored to the circumstances, so registration reviews are commensurate with the complexity of issues currently associated with each pesticide.

By law, the Agency must complete the first 15-year cycle of registration review by October 1, 2022. To meet this requirement, EPA will begin opening about 70 dockets annually beginning in fiscal year 2009 and continuing through 2017, so that almost all currently-registered pesticides will have dockets opened by 2017. As of fiscal year 2008, EPA expects 722 pesticide cases comprising 1,135 active ingredients to undergo registration review. Newly registered pesticides will be folded in each year. The Agency must complete the registration review of each new pesticide active ingredient within 15 years of its initial registration. See Registration Review Schedule for Beginning Reviews, 2008 to 2011.

Current Status of Docket Openings

42 registration review cases have had dockets opened for comment
5 additional cases were determined not to require dockets since no federal registrations remain
24 cases for which dockets were opened have Final Work Plans

The Docket for each pesticide case beginning registration review includes a Preliminary Work Plan, explaining what the Agency knows about the pesticide and our thought process for determining the anticipated data and assessment needs. After considering public comment, the Agency issues a Final Work Plan for each case which responds to comments received, explains the Agency's risk assessment and data needs, and presents an expected time line for the registration review. See Pesticide Registration Review Status.

Groups of Related Pesticides Beginning Registration Review

In conducting the registration review program, EPA generally will review pesticides in chronological order according to their baseline dates; that is, older cases will be reviewed first. Within this structure, however, the Agency also plans to review certain related pesticides at the same time. Pesticide cases may be related by chemical class or structure, mode of action, use, or for other reasons.

During reregistration, the Agency gained experience and efficiencies in simultaneously reviewing related pesticides in groups like the organophosphates, N-methyl carbamates, triazines, and chloroacetanilides, as well as the rodenticides and soil fumigants. Similarly, EPA expects to increase program efficiencies and promote other benefits by continuing the practice of grouping related pesticides during registration review. For example:

Technical and regulatory issues may be resolved more easily looking across an entire chemical class or group;
Resources can be maximized within EPA, among stakeholders, and within other federal agencies;
New research findings may be facilitated;
In developing decisions, a "level playing field" among chemicals in the group may be assured.

EPA has started work on the following groups of related pesticides that are scheduled to begin registration review from 2009 to 2011. See Registration Review Schedule for Beginning Reviews, 2008 to 2011.

Organophosphates (OP) and N-methyl Carbamates

EPA completed cumulative risk assessments and risk management decisions for the organophosphate (OP) pesticides in August 2006 and the N-methyl carbamate pesticides in September 2007. Further consideration is needed regarding these pesticides' effects on endangered species. In recent years, EPA and stakeholders have invested significant resources in gaining a better understanding of these classes of pesticides. Addressing endangered species effects early in registration review will ensure that this investment is not lost or eroded over time. The registration review of the OPs is scheduled to begin in 2008, and the N-methyl carbamate review will begin in 2009.

Pesticide Registration Review Status will provide information on individual OP and N-methyl carbamate pesticides in registration review as dockets open for these pesticides.
Assessing Pesticide Cumulative Risk provides information about EPA's cumulative risk assessments for the OPs, N-methyl carbamate, and other groups of pesticides that share common mechanisms of toxicity.
Pesticide Reregistration Status provides information about the status of individual OP, N-methyl carbamate, and other pesticides in the reregistration process.

Pyrethroids, Pyrethrins and Synergists (PPS)

During 2008, EPA is completing reregistration eligibility decisions (REDs) for the last individual pyrethroids, pyrethrins and synergists (PPS) that are subject to reregistration. Meanwhile, other PPS are not subject to reregistration; they are new active ingredients first registered after November 1, 1984. The PPS pesticides have similar uses and issues but have never before been considered together. Many have residential uses that may result in urban runoff, potentially contaminating surface water and sediment, and posing ecological risks. Most of these pesticides require endangered species risk assessments. Further, the Agency is considering whether the PPS share a common mechanism of toxicity and need a cumulative risk assessment. Because the PPS pesticides may be used as alternatives for one another, it makes sense to consider them together and assess and manage their risks within a similar timeframe. EPA, therefore, plans to consider the PPS as a group during registration review, starting in 2010.

EPA has established a PPS Special Docket to provide access to documents pertaining to the Agency's review of the PPS pesticides as a group. This docket, EPA-HQ-OPP-2008-0331, is available in Regulations.gov. Dockets will also be opened for individual PPS as they begin the registration review process.

Sulfonylureas (SU)

To increase efficiencies, EPA also plans to review the sulfonylurea herbicides (SUs) as a group during registration review, starting in FY 2011. SUs are herbicides that control weeds through inhibition of the enzyme acetolactate synthase. SUs are used as pre- and post-emergent herbicides to control a variety of weeds on cereal grains, pasture and rangeland, industrial sites, and turf grass.

Many of the constituent herbicides of this chemical class were first registered in the 1980s or later and so have not undergone reregistration. Consequently, the oldest group of these chemicals is scheduled to begin registration review in 2011, and two subsequent groups of more recently registered SUs are scheduled to have dockets opened in 2012 and 2013.

Registration Review of the sulfonylureas will include an evaluation of the need for endangered species risk assessments and an examination of the potential for adverse reproductive effects of sulfonylureas on off-site non-target plant species, such as may result from spray drift.

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