9.3 Sound Science & Harmonization

Pesticide regulation must be based on sound science. The international harmonization of data requirements, the presentation of data and its interpretation, and risk assessment methodologies is a positive goal. The mutual recognition among states, regions, and nations of each other’s standards of testing is important when the standards are equivalent. In working toward international harmonization, the increasing costs of conducting scientific studies that support pesticide registrations must be considered so that unnecessary and duplicative studies are reduced. Harmonization efforts should not jeopardize U.S. agricultural exports, nor should they permit agricultural imports from other countries that cannot meet U.S. health and safety standards. Harmonization must occur at the highest levels of government to maintain the safety, quality, and integrity of our food supply.

U.S./Canada Harmonization

The EPA should increase resources and efforts of the U.S./Canada Technical Working Group (TWG) to harmonize pesticide regulations in the two countries. Current efforts of the TWG have focused on new pesticide chemistry. Current imports of Canadian commodities should be disallowed unless adequate progress is made by the TWG to obtain registrations in the U.S. of Canadian-registered pesticides. The EPA must also make a greater effort to accept registration data currently accepted by Canadian officials in support of Canadian registrations. EPA should work with the Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) to develop mutually-acceptable joint EPA/PMRA labeling procedures for identical or substantially similar pesticides registered in both countries. More effort needs to be focused on establishing harmonized tolerances for pesticides used in either country on exported commodities. Pesticides that are registered in one country and are found moving illegally across international borders for use should be registered in both countries.