Better Regulation of Pesticide Exports and Pesticide Residues in Imported Food Is Essential

American agricultural imports in fiscal year 1977 totaled over $13 billion making other countries' pesticide practices increasingly important because pesticide residues may be on these imports. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has identified neither the pesticide practices of nor all pesticides used in other countries. Such knowledge is essential if the agency is to make sure that food imports do not contain harmful residues of pesticides that have been suspended, canceled, or never registered in the United States. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has neither informed other governments of pesticide suspensions, cancellations, and restrictions in the United States nor revoked tolerances for residues of these pesticides on imported foods.