Food Safety: USDA Data Program Not Supporting Critical Pesticide Decisions
IMTEC-92-11
Published: Jan 31, 1992. Publicly Released: Jan 31, 1992.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Coordinated Pesticide Data Program to determine whether: (1) the program produces the data needed for making improved pesticide regulatory decisions; and (2) USDA has an effective strategy for managing program data.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Agriculture | To help establish a better foundation for the success of the UDSA Coordinated Pesticide Data Program, the Secretary of Agriculture, after completing the current data collection effort with the existing 6 states, 7 commodities, and 11 pesticides, should not proceed with further residue data collection activities until the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), evaluates, in conjunction with EPA and FDA officials, the results of current data collection efforts. |
Closed – Implemented
EPA and FDA officials have communicated in writing to the Administrator, AMS, their agencies' support for the continuation of the Pesticide Data Program.
|
| Department of Agriculture | The Secretary of Agriculture should direct the USDA Office of Information Resources Management, working with the USDA components involved in the program, to develop and implement an information technology strategy, plan, and implementation schedule that details how USDA will manage, process, and disseminate all pesticide data being compiled under the Pesticide Data Program. |
Closed – Implemented
USDA has produced an information technology plan and installed a system that is managing the data being collected under the program.
|
| Department of Agriculture | To help establish a better foundation for the success of USDA Coordinated Pesticide Data Program, the Secretary of Agriculture, after completing the current data collection effort with the existing 6 states, 7 commodities, and 11 pesticides, should not proceed with further residue data collection activities until the Administrator, AMS, reaches agreement with EPA and FDA on how the Pesticide Data Program can most efficiently provide statistically reliable data, meet users' needs, and support interagency pesticide responsibilities. |
Closed – Implemented
AMS has refined its commodity sampling methodology so that statistically reliable results will be possible that are representative for the pesticide findings in the wholesale markets for the states where the program is administered.
|
| Department of Agriculture | To help establish a better function for the success of the USDA Coordinated Pesticide Data Program, the Secretary of Agriculture, after completing the current data collection effort with the existing 6 states, 7 commodities, and 11 pesticides, should not proceed with further residue data collection activities until the Administrator, AMS, documents those agreements with EPA and FDA. |
Closed – Implemented
In June 1992, a Memorandum of Understanding between USDA, EPA, and FDA documented interagency support for the Pesticide Data Program and established an Interagency Steering Committee to develop annual plans for the program.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Data collectionFarm produceFood inspectionHealth hazardsInformation managementInformation systemsInteragency relationsPesticide regulationPesticidesFood safetyTesting