Pesticides: A Comparative Study of Industrialized Nations' Regulatory Systems
PEMD-93-17
Published: Jul 30, 1993. Publicly Released: Sep 09, 1993.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO compared the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations' pesticide regulatory standards and regulations with those of the United States, focusing on the: (1) types of experimental test data required to register food-use pesticides; (2) organizational structures, risk assessment, and risk management procedures used to evaluate pesticides; and (3) enforcement of pesticide standards.
Recommendations
Matter for Congressional Consideration
| Matter | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Several fundamental differences exist in the pesticide regulatory systems of OECD nations. Although at this time these disparities are too great to warrant taking what may be the final step in broader pesticide harmonization--recognition and acceptance of other nations' registration decisions--further work should be conducted to clarify these differences. Congress may wish to encourage EPA to expand its present efforts to include a more in-depth review of these differences in order to determine what resolutions are possible. |
Closed – Implemented
|
EPA continues to examine other countries' regulatory decisions on individual pesticides as part of its own pesticide registration and reregistration regulatory reviews. In addition, EPA continues to work through existing international organizations, including OECD and the U.N.-sponsored Codex Commission, to resolve differences that may exist in countries' pesticide regulatory approaches. The agency, however, has no plan to accept other countries' registration decisions as a substitute for conducting its own formal pesticide registration review. |
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Agricultural productsComparative analysisConsumer protectionContaminated foodsFood inspectionInternational tradeInternational trade regulationPesticide regulationPesticidesSafety standardsRisk assessment