Editing Pesticide (section)

===United States===
{{Main|Pesticide regulation in the United States}}
[[File:Monsanto's Lasso herbicide (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|Preparation for an [[pesticide application|application]] of hazardous herbicide in the US]]

In the [[United States]], the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) is responsible for regulating pesticides under the [[Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act]] (FIFRA) and the [[Food Quality Protection Act]] (FQPA).<ref name="epa.gov">{{cite web |title=Pesticides and Public Health |url=http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/public.htm#regulation |date=2015-08-20 |website=Pesticides: Health and Safety |publisher=[[Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114104958/http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/health/public.htm |archive-date=January 14, 2014 |access-date=Dec 10, 2018}}</ref>

Studies must be conducted to establish the conditions in which the material is safe to use and the effectiveness against the intended pest(s).<ref>{{cite web |title=Data Requirements for Pesticide Registration|date=2015-08-20|website=Pesticides: Regulating Pesticides |access-date=Dec 10, 2018 |url= http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/data_requirements.htm |publisher=[[Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401081851/http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/regulating/data_requirements.htm |archive-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref> The EPA regulates pesticides to ensure that these products do not pose adverse effects to humans or the environment, with an emphasis on the health and safety of children.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |first1=Susan |last1=Wayland |first2=Penelope |last2=Fenner-Crisp |date=April 2020 |url=http://www.epaalumni.org/hcp/pesticides.pdf |title=Reducing Pesticide Risks: A Half Century of Progress |publisher=EPA Alumni Association |orig-date=March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022222635/http://www.epaalumni.org/hcp/pesticides.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-22 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Pesticides produced before November 1984 continue to be reassessed in order to meet the current scientific and regulatory standards. All registered pesticides are reviewed every 15 years to ensure they meet the proper standards.<ref name="epa.gov"/> During the registration process, a label is created. The label contains directions for proper use of the material in addition to safety restrictions. Based on acute toxicity, pesticides are assigned to a [[Toxicity Class]]. Pesticides are the most thoroughly tested chemicals after drugs in the United States; those used on food require more than 100 tests to determine a range of potential impacts.<ref name=":5" />

Some pesticides are considered too hazardous for sale to the general public and are designated [[restricted use pesticide]]s. Only certified applicators, who have passed an exam, may purchase or supervise the application of restricted use pesticides.<ref name=":3" /> Records of sales and use are required to be maintained and may be audited by government agencies charged with the enforcement of pesticide regulations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Protocol for Conducting Environmental Compliance Audits under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) |date=2011 |website=epa.gov |publisher=[[Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]] |url=http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/incentives/auditing/apcol-fifra.pdf |access-date=Dec 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801031141/http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/policies/incentives/auditing/apcol-fifra.pdf|archive-date=August 1, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |chapter-url=https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-01/documents/fiframanual.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921202142/http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-01/documents/fiframanual.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-21 |url-status=live |title=Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Inspection Manual |publisher=[[Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]] |year=2013 |location=Washington |pages=11–1–11–4 |chapter=Ch. 11. Restricted-Use Pesticides: Dealer and Applicator Records Inspections}}</ref> These records must be made available to employees and state or territorial environmental regulatory agencies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chemical Hazard Communication |date=1998 |url=https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3084.html |publisher=United States Department of Labor; [[Occupational Safety and Health Administration|OSHA]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.epa.gov/epcra |title=Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) |date=Jul 24, 2013 |publisher=[[Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]] |access-date=Dec 10, 2018}}</ref>

In addition to the EPA, the [[United States Department of Agriculture]] (USDA) and the United States [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) set standards for the level of pesticide residue that is allowed on or in crops.<ref name="Regulations">{{cite web |url=http://ipm.ncsu.edu/safety/factsheets/laws.pdf |title=Federal Pesticide Laws and Regulations |date=Mar 1996 |publisher=North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403092424/http://ipm.ncsu.edu/safety/factsheets/laws.pdf |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |access-date=Dec 10, 2018 |last=Toth |first=Stephen J. Jr.}}</ref> The EPA looks at what the potential human health and environmental effects might be associated with the use of the pesticide.<ref name="EPA">{{cite web |title=Pesticide Registration Program |url=http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/registration.htm |date=2010 |website=Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets |publisher=[[Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212233949/http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/registration.htm |archive-date=February 12, 2011 |access-date=February 25, 2011}}</ref>

In addition, the U.S. EPA uses the National Research Council's four-step process for human health risk assessment: (1) Hazard Identification, (2) Dose-Response Assessment, (3) Exposure Assessment, and (4) Risk Characterization.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm|title=Assessing Health Risks from Pesticides|date=Apr 5, 2007 |website=Pesticides: Topical & Chemical Fact Sheets|publisher=[[Environmental Protection Agency|US EPA]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401031231/http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/factsheets/riskassess.htm|archive-date=April 1, 2014 |access-date=Dec 10, 2018}}</ref>

In 2013 Kaua'i County (Hawai'i) passed Bill No. 2491 to add an article to Chapter 22 of the county's code relating to pesticides and GMOs. The bill strengthens protections of local communities in Kaua'i where many large pesticide companies test their products.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.wix.com/ugd/5f73cf_56e4e700de9ae57e7b709740824bbed4.pdf |title=Bill No. 2491, Draft 2 |publisher=Council of the County of Kaua'i |date=October 17, 2013}}</ref>

The first legislation providing federal authority for regulating pesticides was enacted in 1910.<ref name="Goldman 2007" />