Pesticides:
Economic Research Service's Analyses of Proposed EPA Actions
RCED-89-75BR: Published: Mar 14, 1989. Publicly Released: Apr 27, 1989.
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In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Economic Research Service's (ERS) activities during fiscal years 1985 through 1988, focusing on: (1) how ERS analyzed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) pesticide regulatory proposals; (2) cost of ERS analyzing the EPA proposals and purposes for which ERS used the funds; (3) the number of proposals ERS analyzed; and (4) the impact on EPA of ERS analysis and comments.
GAO found that: (1) ERS conducted its pesticide analyses as part of the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program (NAPIAP); (2) ERS conducted independent studies on water quality, pesticides, and nonpesticide proposals affecting agriculture; (3) NAPIAP, in conjunction with agricultural experts, scientists, and universities, developed and analyzed information on pesticide use, and assessed EPA pesticide regulations' impact on agriculture and the environment; (4) ERS evaluated the economic impact on producers and consumers of EPA-proposed pesticide regulations; (5) in fiscal years 1985 through 1988, ERS spent about $550,000 to $650,000 annually on database development, economic modelling, and analyses related to EPA pesticide regulations; (6) NAPIAP commented on all 15 EPA proposals to change or cancel certain pesticides; (7) ERS responded to only 7 of 15 EPA pesticide regulations because it felt that the pesticides were not agriculture-related, or because NAPIAP did not assemble an assessment team; (8) ERS and NAPIAP analyses did not impact EPA proposals for three of the four pesticides GAO reviewed, but provided useful comments and limited analytical efforts for three pesticides, and contributed valuable and timely data for one pesticide; and (9) EPA officials believed that ERS pesticide analysis had been objective, and that the agencies' employees regularly communicated informally on pesticides and other matters.
Jan 15, 2021
Farmworkers:
Additional Information Needed to Better Protect Workers from Pesticide ExposureGAO-21-63: Published: Jan 15, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 15, 2021.
Nov 20, 2020
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Food Safety:
CDC Could Further Strengthen Its Efforts to Identify and Respond to Foodborne IllnessesGAO-21-23: Published: Oct 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 2020.
Nov 16, 2020
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Farm Programs:
USDA Has Improved Its Completion of Eligibility Compliance Reviews, but Additional Oversight Is NeededGAO-21-95: Published: Oct 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2020.
Sep 16, 2020
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Agriculture Spending:
Opportunities Exist for USDA to Identify Successes and Challenges of the Farmers to Families Food Box Program to Inform Future EffortsGAO-20-711R: Published: Sep 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 16, 2020.
Sep 14, 2020
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USDA Market Facilitation Program:
Information on Payments for 2019GAO-20-700R: Published: Aug 21, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 14, 2020.
Aug 10, 2020
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National Bio and Agro-defense Facility:
DHS and USDA Are Working to Transfer Ownership and Prepare for Operations, but Critical Steps RemainGAO-20-331: Published: Jul 10, 2020. Publicly Released: Aug 10, 2020.
May 7, 2020
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Food Safety:
FDA and USDA Could Strengthen Existing Efforts to Prepare for Oversight of Cell-Cultured MeatGAO-20-325: Published: Apr 7, 2020. Publicly Released: May 7, 2020.
Apr 13, 2020
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Priority Open Recommendations:
U.S. Department of AgricultureGAO-20-288PR: Published: Apr 6, 2020. Publicly Released: Apr 13, 2020.
Dec 23, 2019
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Nutrition Assistance Programs:
Agencies Could Do More to Help Address the Nutritional Needs of Older AdultsGAO-20-18: Published: Nov 21, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 23, 2019.
Dec 6, 2019
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Imported Seafood Safety:
Actions Needed to Improve FDA Oversight of Import Alert Removal DecisionsGAO-20-62: Published: Nov 6, 2019. Publicly Released: Dec 6, 2019.
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